Local Autism Resources in Honolulu, HI
Clinics, programs, parks and people across Honolulu County, the island of Oahu, that help families of autistic kids, from Kapolei and Ewa Beach to Kailua and Kaneohe, each one checked against the organization's own website. No sponsored listings.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Ages 3-21
Hawaii Department of Education Child Find
School evaluation
Statewide line
The public school route to a special education evaluation for children 3 and older. Ask the neighborhood school, even if your child is not in school yet.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Hawaii Early Intervention Section
No cost to families
Statewide
Hawaii's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3. Anyone worried about a child's development can call the referral line, and families pay nothing.
BCBA note
Children and teens
Kapiolani Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
Autism evaluation
ADHD
Hospital clinic
Kapiolani's clinic for children and teens with developmental, behavioral and learning concerns, including autism and ADHD.
BCBA note
Ages 0-5
Hi'ilei Developmental Screening Program
Free screening
Statewide
A free Department of Health program that checks how a child from birth to 5 is developing, using a short questionnaire done online or by mail.
BCBA note
Kapiolani Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics Clinic
Developmental evaluation
Hospital clinic
A clinic inside Kapiolani Medical Center that evaluates developmental, behavioral and learning concerns in children and explains each child's strengths and challenges.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Honolulu and by telehealth anywhere in Hawaii, with independent BCBAs. Hawaii Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
Start your intake →
Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) intake
I/DD waiver
State program
The Department of Health office for intellectual and developmental disability services. Intake decides eligibility first, then people with Medicaid can apply for the I/DD waiver.
BCBA note
All ages
Med-QUEST (Hawaii Medicaid)
Medicaid
Statewide
Hawaii's Medicaid program and its QUEST Integration health plans. Coverage can open the door to state child mental health care and the DDD waiver.
BCBA note
AlohaCare QUEST health plan
Medicaid plan
Statewide
A nonprofit Hawaii Medicaid health plan for QUEST members on Oahu and the neighbor islands, with a member services line for questions about care and coverage.
BCBA note
Hawaii ABLE Savings Program
Savings account
Statewide
A tax-advantaged savings account for people with disabilities, so a family can save without losing SSI or Medicaid.
BCBA note
Hawaii Medicaid Ombudsman
Statewide
Medicaid help
Appeals
Help for Hawaii Medicaid members who have trouble getting care or answers from their QUEST Integration health plan, including filing a grievance or appeal.
BCBA note
HMSA QUEST health plan
Medicaid plan
Statewide
HMSA's plan for Hawaii QUEST Medicaid members, with a member line that answers at any hour for help finding doctors, care and prescriptions.
BCBA note
Kaiser Permanente QUEST health plan
Medicaid plan
Oahu and Maui
Kaiser Permanente's QUEST Integration plan for Hawaii Medicaid members on Oahu and Maui, so a family can use Kaiser doctors and clinics.
BCBA note
Under 18
Social Security SSI for children
Federal
Monthly payments
Monthly Social Security payments for children with disabilities, from birth, when the family's income and resources are limited.
BCBA note
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan QUEST Integration
Medicaid plan
Statewide
A Hawaii Medicaid health plan for QUEST Integration members that covers medical and behavioral health care and helps families find local programs such as respite care.
BCBA note
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Army Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Schofield Barracks
Military
IEP help
Support groups
The Army office that helps Oahu families of children with special needs find care, prepare for school meetings and meet other families.
BCBA note
Autism Society of Hawaii
Autism support
Sensory-friendly events
Statewide
Hawaii's Autism Society chapter since 1992, with education, advocacy, referrals and community events for autistic children, adults and their families.
BCBA note
Hawaii Disability Rights Center
Legal rights
Statewide
Hawaii's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, with casework on abuse and neglect, education, employment and housing.
BCBA note
Leadership in Disabilities and Achievement of Hawaii (LDAH)
Parent center
IEP help
Statewide
Hawaii's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, helping families with IEPs, special education rights and getting ready for kindergarten.
BCBA note
Marine Corps Base Hawaii EFMP
Military
Case management
Respite
The Marine Corps office at Kaneohe Bay that supports families of children with special medical or educational needs through moves, referrals and case management.
BCBA note
Navy and Air Force EFMP, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Military
Case management
Support groups
The Navy and Air Force office on Oahu that helps families of children with special needs find services, plan for moves and meet other families.
BCBA note
Special Parent Information Network (SPIN)
Parent to parent
Free newsletter
Statewide
Hawaii's parent-to-parent network for families of children and young adults with disabilities, with a warm line, a free newsletter and a yearly conference.
BCBA note
Hilopa'a Family to Family
Free help
Health care questions
A parent-staffed center that answers families' questions about care for children with special health care needs, by phone, text or email.
BCBA note
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Hawaii DOE Exceptional Support Branch
Special education
Statewide
The Department of Education branch that leads special education support for Hawaii's public schools and complex areas.
BCBA note
Community Children's Councils
Parent support
Workshops
Local councils where parents, schools and community providers meet to improve services for children, including those with disabilities and mental health needs.
BCBA note
Hawaii DOE Central District office
Special education
Public schools
The district office for central Oahu public schools, from Aiea, Moanalua and Radford to Mililani, Wahiawa and Waialua.
BCBA note
Hawaii DOE Honolulu District office
Special education
Public schools
The district office for urban Honolulu public schools in the Farrington, Kaiser, Kalani, Kaimuki, McKinley and Roosevelt complexes.
BCBA note
Hawaii DOE Leeward District office
Special education
Public schools
The district office for west Oahu public schools in Kapolei, Ewa, Pearl City, Waipahu, Nanakuli and Waianae.
BCBA note
Hawaii DOE Windward District office
Special education
Public schools
The district office for windward Oahu public schools, from Kailua and Kaneohe to Waimanalo, Kahuku and Sunset Beach.
BCBA note
Mediation Center of the Pacific
Mediation
Special education
A Honolulu nonprofit mediation center that offers special education mediation, set up through its Client Services team.
BCBA note
School Liaison Officers for military families on Oahu
Military
School moves
Each military branch on Oahu has a School Liaison Officer who helps families find and move into the right Hawaii public school.
BCBA note
Ages 5-18
Variety School of Hawaii
Private school
Small classes
A nonprofit private school in Honolulu for children whose challenges include social skills, communication and language, with therapy built into the school day.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
AccesSurf Hawaii Day at the Beach
Adaptive surf and swim
Free
Free beach days where trained volunteers help people with physical or cognitive disabilities swim, float and surf, or just enjoy the sand.
BCBA note
All ages
Bishop Museum sensory visit tips
Museum
Quiet times
Sensory tips
Hawaii's state museum of natural and cultural history shares tips for autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors, including its quietest hours and same-day re-entry for breaks.
BCBA note
Honolulu Parks Therapeutic Recreation Unit
City program
Beach wheelchairs
The city parks team that helps people with disabilities join park programs and reach park places, and lends beach wheelchairs.
BCBA note
Honolulu Zoo sensory supports
Sensory bags
Quiet areas
KultureCity certified
The Waikiki zoo is certified sensory inclusive, with trained staff, quiet areas and sensory bags with headphones and fidget tools to borrow.
BCBA note
Special Olympics Hawaii
Sports
Young Athletes
Sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities on every island, plus a play program for young children ages 2 to 7.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Army EFMP Respite Care, Schofield Barracks
Military
Respite
No cost
Short breaks for Army families caring for a family member with special needs, with up to 25 hours a month of care at home at no cost.
BCBA note
Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii (ATRC)
Assistive technology
Free loans
Statewide
Free loans and hands-on demonstrations of assistive technology for people with disabilities, with equipment shipped to any island.
BCBA note
Department of Health community dental clinics
Dental care
State clinics
State dental clinics on Oahu for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and others who have trouble getting dental care.
BCBA note
Pediatric Dentistry Kahala
Dentist
Special needs
Sedation
A Kahala children's dental office with a special needs dentistry service and hospital-level sedation for children who cannot get through long dental visits.
BCBA note
Under 21
Specialty Support Program
Care coordination
Statewide
Department of Health care coordination for children and youth under 21 with a long-term health condition who are under a specialist's care.
BCBA note
All ages
The Queen's Medical Center Dental Clinic
Dentist
Hospital clinic
Disability
A hospital dental clinic in Honolulu for patients of all ages who have trouble getting dental care elsewhere because of a disability or fragile health.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7
Call, text or chat
Call, text or chat 988 any time for free, confidential support during a mental health crisis, emotional distress or thoughts of suicide.
BCBA note
Ages 3-20
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD)
Free for eligible youth
Family Guidance Centers
Free mental health services for Hawaii children and youth with serious emotional or behavioral challenges, through Family Guidance Centers on every island.
BCBA note
Hawaii CARES 988
24/7
Call, text or chat
Statewide
Hawaii's 24/7 line for crisis, mental health and substance use help. Call, text or chat 988 to reach a local counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
Crisis Text Line
24/7
Text
Text HOME to 741741 any time to reach a trained volunteer crisis counselor. It is free and confidential.
BCBA note
DDD Crisis Outreach Helpline
For DDD participants
A crisis helpline for people enrolled in the state's developmental disabilities services. For immediate danger, call 911.
BCBA note
NAMI Hawaii
Free classes
Support groups
Free mental health support groups, classes and information for families and for people living with a mental health condition.
BCBA note
Veterans and Military Crisis Line
Military
24/7
Free, confidential crisis support for service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members and the people who support them.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Job training
State program
The state program that helps people whose physical or cognitive disability makes work harder prepare for, find and keep a job.
BCBA note
Best Buddies in Hawaii
Friendship
Leadership
One-to-one friendship and leadership programs that pair people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hawaii.
BCBA note
Adults
Goodwill Hawaii Intellectual Disabilities Services
Day program
Life skills
Day programs and one-on-one support on Oahu for adults with intellectual disabilities, with options whether or not they qualify for the Medicaid waiver.
BCBA note
Adults
Lanakila Pacific disability services
Day program
Job training
A Honolulu nonprofit with weekday Teaching and Learning Centers and job help for adults with disabilities, including the step from high school to work.
BCBA note
Adults
The Arc in Hawaii
Adult day health
Residential
A Honolulu nonprofit since 1954 that runs adult day health centers and group homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
BCBA note
Where to start
Know a place that belongs here? Email the team and we will check it and add it. Suggest a resource →
Questions Honolulu parents ask
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Honolulu?
For a child under 3, call the Early Intervention referral line at 808-594-0066, and there is no cost to families. For a child 3 or older, ask your neighborhood public school for a special education evaluation or call Child Find at 800-297-2070. For a medical evaluation, Kapiolani Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at 808-373-7555 evaluates children and teens for autism and ADHD.
What help is there for military families on Oahu with an autistic child?
Army families can call EFMP Family Support at Schofield Barracks, 808-787-4227, where staff help with IEPs and 504 plans and can attend school meetings with you. Families enrolled in Army EFMP can get up to 25 hours a month of no-cost respite care at home. Each service also has a School Liaison Officer for school moves, such as 808-787-5644 for the Army and 808-306-9247 for the Navy and Air Force.
Does Hawaii Medicaid help pay for autism care in Honolulu?
Coverage by a Med-QUEST Integration health plan is one of the routes into CAMHD's free mental health services for children and youth with serious emotional or behavioral challenges. For the Medicaid waiver for intellectual and developmental disabilities, start with Developmental Disabilities Division intake at 808-733-1689 on Oahu. Alpaca Health verifies Hawaii Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Honolulu?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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