Talk About Curing Autism (TACA)

Free and Low-Cost Services

We have compiled this list of resources to help families. We will continue to update it as information becomes available. If you are aware of any further financial assistance resources that we have not included, please contact us.

1. Counseling
2. Grants – Scholarship – Aid/Services
3. Legal Information
4. MAPS Doctors and Supplements
5. Therapy and Treatments
6. Daily Living Core Needs
7. Emergency – Natural Disasters

Counseling

• Marriage and Family
  • Healthy Marriage Initiative
  • Special Assistant for Marriage Education (202) 260-1550
• Individual
  • Help Pro – website with a searchable database of marriage and family counselors (781) 862-5215 - select “Advanced Search” and you can search for counselors who have a sliding scale payment option.
  • Salvation Army
    • USA National
      615 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22313
      (703) 684 5500
    • USA Central Territory
      10 West Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
      (847) 294 2000
    • USA Eastern Territory
      440 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, New York 10994-0635
      (845) 620 7200
    • USA Southern Territory
      1424 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2088
      tel: (404) 728 1300
    • USA Western Territory
      180 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
      (562) 436-7000
  • Catholic Charities
    • Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314
      (703) 549-1390

Grants – Scholarship – Aid/Services

• Grants or Scholarships available from other Autism organizations
  • Alternate Funding Spreadsheet
• Government funding
  • SSI 800-772-1213
  • State Medicaid 800-633-4227
  • Food Stamps - SNAP (find your State’s contact number)
  • WIC (find your State’s contact number)
• Aid/Services
  • Easter Seals - 800-221-6827

Legal Information

• Divorce
  • Divorce Advice for Special Needs Families
  • Yahoo Group: Autism & Divorce
• Special Education
  • National Disability Rights Network
    900 Second Street, NE, Suite 211
    Washington, DC 20002
    Phone: 202-408-9514
  • Special Education Tips & Links

MAPS Doctors and Supplements

• Medical Treatment on a Budget
• Health Insurance on A Budget
• Family Scholarship Program
• NAA’s Helping Hands
• Quest Diagnostics Financial Assistance Program
  Quest Diagnostics is committed to providing clinical laboratory services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Through our Financial Assistance Program we may adjust some or all laboratory charges for patients who are uninsured and cannot afford to pay for their clinical laboratory testing.  This is a program at Quest where you can apply for a free or lower cost on a test, income-dependant.  Includes all tests available at Quest.
• QuestCares
  For $10 a year, the QuestCares™ Uninsured Patient Program gives special prices on tests doctors order most often.  This program is not income-dependant but only covers the most popular Quest tests.  Check to see if your tests are included before joining.
• LabCorp’s LabAccess Partnership
  This lower-cost option is available to patients with no insurance or those who’s insurance excludes lab testing. They have removed references to this from their website but the program does exist. Contact your local branch and ask about their Lab Access Partnership Program
• Access2wellness.com
  database of patient assistance programs that offer more than 1,000 prescription medications, for free or at a discount, to people who qualify.

Therapy and Treatments

• Who Pays for What, National Guide
• Legal Rights with the educational system
• Health Insurance on A Budget
• Used therapy equipment
  • health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutismForSale
  • craigslist.org
  • www.ebay.com
  • groups.yahoo.com/group/Spec_Needs_Mktplc

Daily Living Core Needs

• Food
  • GFCFSF on Food Stamps (Yes, you can!)
  • Strength.org (800) 969-4767 National Food Bank Locator
  • WIC (Women, Infants and Children (under age 5))
    Find your State’s contact number
  • WIC Farmer’s Market Program
    Find your State’s contact number
  • Farm Gleaning 800-333-4597
  • Food Bank referrals
  • Food Bank Locator 800-771-2303
  • Head Start Program – if your child is under 4 years, two meals are provided through Head Start  866-763-6481
  • School Free and Reduced Price Breakfast and Lunch programs
    Find your State’s contact number
  • Summer Food Programs 703-305-2286
  • After-school care snacks and suppers
    Find your State’s contact number
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program
    Find your State’s contact number
• Transportation
  • Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services. If you or your child receives Medicaid, you can be transported to, or reimbursed for mileage, to all Medicaid-physician-prescribed non-emergency doctor and therapy appointments. Ask your Medicaid caseworker, or google search “Medicaid transportation (and your state)” for program information.
• Housing
  • HUD (US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development) (800) 225-5342
  • Foreclosure Counseling – Free. A nationwide list of HUD-approved counseling agencies. Don’t pay loan modification companies thousands of dollars when the service is available at no charge.
• Car Repair
  • Check with your local high school or trade school’s autoshop program.
• Utilities Help
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) If you receive Medicaid, you may be eligible for discounts on utilities such as electric, gas, phone, water and more.  Ask your Medicaid caseworker, or google search “Medicaid utility (and your state)” for program information. (202) 401-9351
  • Lifeline and Linkup (discounted phone service)  888-225-5322
  • Low Cost In-Home Internet Access - http://www.internetessentials.com/
  • This is a program by Comcast, but other companies may provide a similar program too, so if Comcast doesn't serve your area, contact your local provider and see if they offer a similar program. If your child qualifies for the reduced lunch program, your family can qualify for this offer - $10 a month for in-home internet plus low cost computers, free virus software, free Internet training — online, in print and in person.
• Holiday Giving
• There were too many to list here so you are sure to find one near you! Just Google or look in the Yellow Pages for Churches and other Religious organizations in your area.
• Salvation Army (see listing above)
• Catholic Charities
  (see listing above)
• Food Banks – for Holiday Meals
• National Food Bank Locator (800) 969-4767
• Food Bank Locator 1-800-771-2303

Emergency – Natural Disasters

• Autism Cares (888) 288-4762
• FEMA (800) 621-FEMA (3362)
• American Red Cross National Headquarters
  2025 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 303 5000
• Salvation Army
  • Has Social Services and help with Daily Living Core Needs and emergency help
• Catholic Charities
  • Has help with Daily Living Core Needs and emergency help
• The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Disasters
  (Find your State’s contact number)

Other Articles in the Autism on Public Assistance Series:

Autism on Public Assistance: Introduction

Resource List of Free and Low-Cost Services

GFCFSF Diet on Food Stamps (Yes, you can!)