Financial Assistance for Baltimore Families Raising a Child with Autism

Raising a child with autism in Baltimore costs a lot. According to Autism Speaks, families can spend up to $60,000 per year on therapies, equipment, and care. The good news? Financial assistance for Baltimore families raising a child with autism exists — and there’s more of it than most parents realize.

This guide breaks down every major program available to you right now: state waivers, federal benefits, local grants, respite funding, and insurance rights.

What Financial Help Can Baltimore Families Get?

• Maryland Autism Waiver — home and community-based services funded by Medicaid
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income) — up to $967/month in federal cash assistance (2025 rate)
• LISS Program — up to $2,000 in flexible state grants for families not on a waiver
• Maryland’s Insurance Mandate — requires most private insurers to cover ABA therapy
• The Arc Baltimore Family Fund — local grants accepted twice a year
• Maryland DHS Respite Grant — respite funding for families not on a DDA waiver
• AUSOM Madhu Fund — emergency small grants for autism families in Maryland

Now let’s go deeper on each one.

1. The Maryland Autism Waiver

The Maryland Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Children with ASD — commonly called the Autism Waiver — is the largest and most comprehensive financial support program available to Baltimore autism families.

It’s funded through Medicaid and covers:

• Intensive Individual Support Services (IISS) — one-on-one in-home support
• Respite care
• Family consultation and training
• Therapeutic Integration (after-school support at 3:1 or 1:1 staffing)
• Residential habilitation for children who cannot safely remain at home
• Environmental accessibility modifications to your home

Who qualifies? Children ages 1 through 21 who:

• Have an official ASD diagnosis (DSM-5)
• Have an active IEP with at least 15 hours/week of special education services
• Meet Medicaid financial eligibility (child’s income must not exceed 300% of SSI; countable assets under $2,000–$2,500)
• Are Maryland residents

Important: Your household income does not count toward eligibility. Only the child’s income is assessed.

The catch: The waiver is currently full. As of recent reporting, over 6,200 children are on the Autism Waiver registry, with an estimated wait of approximately eight years.

What you should do today: Call the registry at 1-866-417-3480 and get your child’s name on the list. The earlier you register, the sooner your child moves toward the top. For more information, contact the Maryland State Department of Education at 410-767-1446.

Source: Maryland State Department of Education — marylandpublicschools.org; The Coordinating Center — coordinatingcenter.org

2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Children with autism may qualify for monthly cash payments to help cover basic needs and disability-related costs.

2025 maximum benefit: $967 per month (federal benefit rate)

The actual amount your child receives depends on:

• Parental income (through a process called “deeming”)
• Household size and living arrangements
• Other income sources

To qualify, your child must:

• Be under 18 with a documented disability that causes marked or severe functional limitations
• Meet the SSA’s definition of disability for autism (documented deficits in social interaction, communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors)
• Have limited household income and resources

Children who receive SSI in Maryland often automatically qualify for Medicaid, which then covers ABA therapy and related services.

How to apply: Contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or start the process at ssa.gov.

Source: Social Security Administration — ssa.gov; Special Needs Answers — specialneedsanswers.com

3. Maryland’s Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program

The LISS Program, run by Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), provides up to $2,000 per year in flexible funding for children and adults with developmental disabilities — including autism — who are not currently receiving DDA waiver services.

What can LISS fund?

• Respite care
• Adaptive equipment and assistive devices
• Summer camps and therapeutic summer programs
• Community integration and recreational activities
• Child care costs
• Home modifications
• Uninsured medical expenses

How selection works: LISS uses a lottery (random selection process) held twice a year. You submit an application, and recipients are chosen at random. This makes it critical to apply every round.

For Baltimore City and Baltimore County families, the LISS contractor is: Penn-Mar Human Services Toll-free: 877-282-8202 Website: penn-mar.org/liss

Important note (2025 update): The LISS program has faced proposed budget cuts in Maryland. The Arc Maryland has been actively advocating to preserve it. Check current program status before applying.

Source: Maryland DDA — health.maryland.gov/dda; Penn-Mar Human Services — penn-mar.org; somdnews.com

4. Maryland’s Insurance Mandate for Autism Treatment

If your child has private insurance through a Maryland-regulated plan, the law is on your side.

Maryland’s Habilitative Services Mandate (strengthened by the 2021 Autism Insurance Reform) requires that most fully insured health plans cover ABA therapy for children with autism. Under this law:

• ABA cannot be denied on the grounds that it’s “experimental” or “investigational”
• Insurers must cover at least 25 hours/week for children under 6
• Insurers must cover at least 10 hours/week for children ages 6–18
• There are no annual dollar caps under Maryland law
• Maryland Medicaid covers ABA for all eligible children under 21

Who this doesn’t cover: Self-funded employer plans (ERISA plans) are governed by federal law and are not subject to Maryland’s mandate. If your employer self-funds its plan, call member services and ask: “Is this plan fully insured or self-funded?”

Source: Pathfinders for Autism — pathfindersforautism.org; Autism Speaks — autismspeaks.org

5. The Arc Baltimore Family Fund

The Arc Baltimore Family Fund provides direct financial grants to Baltimore-area families with children under 21 who have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability, including autism.

In 2025, The Arc Baltimore assisted 64 families, distributing nearly $27,000 in direct financial support for medical expenses, therapies, and essential services.

Applications open twice a year — February and August.

Grants help cover:

• Medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Therapy costs
• Essential services that improve quality of life

How to apply: Visit thearcbaltimore.org/family-fund or call The Arc Baltimore at 410-296-2272.

Source: The Arc Baltimore — thearcbaltimore.org; i95business.com

6. Maryland DHS Respite Grant Program

For families who are not enrolled in a DDA Medicaid waiver, the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) offers a Respite Grant Program that provides funding for temporary relief care.

Baltimore City residents can submit applications by email, mail, or fax.

Contact The Arc Baltimore for application forms and current deadlines: thearcbaltimore.org/respite-care

Source: The Arc Baltimore — thearcbaltimore.org

7. AUSOM Madhu Fund — Emergency Grants

The Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) offers small emergency grants through the Madhu Thibaudeau Family Fund for autistic individuals and their families facing urgent financial need.

These grants were created in 2020 and have been helping Maryland families with unexpected costs ever since.

Apply at: autismsocietymd.org/madhu-fund-emergency-grants

Source: Autism Society of Maryland — autismsocietymd.org

Financial Assistance Programs for Baltimore Autism Families

What to Do First

1. Call the Autism Waiver Registry at 1-866-417-3480 today — even if you don’t need it right now. The wait is long, and earlier is always better.
2. Check your insurance type. Call your insurer and ask if your plan is fully insured or self-funded. This determines your ABA coverage rights.
3. Apply for SSI. Even if you’re not sure your child qualifies, an application costs nothing and can unlock Medicaid eligibility.
4. Apply to LISS every round the lottery opens.
5. Mark your calendar for February and August for The Arc Baltimore Family Fund applications.

Move Up ABA Can Help You Navigate All of This

Figuring out funding shouldn’t be a second job on top of raising your child. At Move Up ABA, we work with Baltimore families every day — and we know this system inside and out.

Our team handles insurance verification, Medicaid authorization, and connects families to the resources they actually need. We provide in-home ABA therapy across Virginia and Maryland, including Baltimore, so your child gets support in the environment where it matters most.

Ready to talk? Schedule a free consultation with Move Up ABA — not just to start therapy, but to figure out how to pay for it.

Sources:

• Maryland State Department of Education Autism Waiver Fact Sheet: marylandpublicschools.org
• The Coordinating Center — Autism Waiver: coordinatingcenter.org
• Social Security Administration — SSI for Children: ssa.gov/ssi
• Maryland DDA — LISS Program: health.maryland.gov/dda
• Penn-Mar Human Services LISS Guide FY2025: penn-mar.org
• Pathfinders for Autism — Maryland Insurance Guide: pathfindersforautism.org
• The Arc Baltimore — Family Fund: thearcbaltimore.org
• Autism Society of Maryland — Madhu Fund: autismsocietymd.org
• Autism Speaks — Cost of Autism: autismspeaks.org
• Special Needs Answers — SSI for Autism: specialneedsanswers.com