If your child has autism and NC Medicaid, ABA therapy may be just one piece of the puzzle. Medicaid also covers services that many families never hear about — free rides to appointments, breaks for caregivers, and a care manager who helps you keep track of it all.

This guide breaks those resources into simple categories. You do not need to use all of them. Start with the one that would help your family most right now.

In this guide:

1. A care manager to help you coordinate everything
2. Respite care: a real break for caregivers
3. The Innovations Waiver: get on the list now
4. Free rides to medical appointments
5. Your child’s full health benefits (EPSDT)
6. Support for school and for you as a parent
7. Help with everyday family needs

One tip before we start: almost everything below begins with one phone call — the Member Services number on the back of your child’s Medicaid card. If you only remember one thing from this post, remember that number exists.

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1. A Care Manager to Help You Coordinate Everything

Managing therapy schedules, doctor visits, school meetings, and paperwork is a job in itself. NC Medicaid offers Tailored Care Management to many children with autism or other developmental disabilities.

A care manager is one person whose job is to know your child’s whole picture. They can help you:

• Find providers and schedule services
• Understand what your child’s plan covers
• Connect with the programs listed in this guide
• Coordinate between doctors, therapists, and school

Cost: Free. It is part of your child’s Medicaid benefits.

How to start: Call the Member Services number on your child’s Medicaid card and ask if your child can get Tailored Care Management. If your child is on a Standard Plan, ask whether they qualify to move to a Tailored Plan, which is designed for people with developmental disabilities and offers extra services.

2. Respite Care: A Real Break for Caregivers

Caregiver burnout is real. Respite care means a trained worker cares for your child so you can rest, run errands, or spend time with your other children.

NC Medicaid’s 1915(i) services include respite for children ages 3 and up with a developmental disability, including autism. The same program also offers Community Living and Supports, where a worker helps your child build daily living skills at home and in the community.

Two things make 1915(i) different from other programs:

• There is no waitlist. If your child qualifies, the service is a benefit they are entitled to.
• In some cases, a family member or friend can be paid to provide the care.

Who qualifies: Children with NC Medicaid Direct, a Tailored Plan, or the EBCI Tribal Option. These services are not available on Standard Plans — one more reason to ask about switching if your child has a developmental disability.

How to start: Call the Member Services number on your child’s Medicaid card and ask for a 1915(i) eligibility assessment.

3. The Innovations Waiver: Get on the List Now

The NC Innovations Waiver is Medicaid’s biggest support program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It can pay for in-home supports, respite, home modifications, and much more. It also counts only your child’s income — not the whole family’s — so families who earn too much for regular Medicaid may still qualify.

Here is the hard truth: the waitlist is very long, often many years. The list is first-come, first-served. That means the single most important step is getting your child’s name on it as early as possible, even if you do not need the services yet.

How to start: Call the agency (called an LME/MCO) that serves your county:

• Wake County families: Alliance Health, 1-800-510-9132
• Franklin County families (this includes some Wake Forest addresses): Vaya Health, 1-800-962-9003
• Not sure which county you’re in? Call the state’s customer service line at 1-855-262-1946.

Ask to apply for the Innovations Waiver waitlist (some staff still call it the “Registry of Unmet Needs”). Ask for written confirmation of the date your child was added, and keep that letter. While you wait, your child may still get 1915(i) services like respite.

4. Free Rides to Medical Appointments

No car? Car in the shop? One parent at work with the only vehicle? NC Medicaid covers Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) — free rides to and from Medicaid-covered appointments, including therapy.

Good to know:

• A parent or caregiver rides along with any child under 18.
• Ask for the ride at least 2 days before the appointment (4 days for NC Medicaid Direct).
• If you drive your child yourself, you may be able to get money back for mileage. The rules depend on your plan, so ask.

How to start: Call the number on your child’s Medicaid card and ask to schedule a ride.

5. Your Child’s Full Health Benefits

Every child under 21 with Medicaid is covered by a federal rule called EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment). In plain language: if a service is medically necessary for your child, Medicaid must cover it — even if that service is not normally on the covered list for adults.

That includes:

• Regular well-child checkups
• Dental, vision, and hearing care
• Speech, occupational, and physical therapy
• Mental and behavioral health care
• Medical equipment and supplies

If a service your child needs is ever denied, ask your provider or care manager about requesting it under EPSDT. Many denials can be appealed, and EPSDT gives children strong protections.

6. Support for School and for You as a Parent

Some of the best help is not medical at all.

Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) — North Carolina’s parent training center. Their staff are parents of children with disabilities themselves. They help families understand IEPs, prepare for school meetings, and know their rights in special education. They serve all 100 NC counties, and every service is free. Call 1-800-962-6817 or visit ecac-parentcenter.org.

Family Support Network of North Carolina — Connects you with a trained “support parent” who has walked a similar road. Sometimes the most useful thing is talking to another parent who gets it. ECAC’s website lists the chapter for your county.

Autism Society of North Carolina — Offers support groups, workshops, and resource specialists who help families find local services.

7. Help with Everyday Family Needs

Raising a child with special needs can stretch a family budget. These programs help with the basics:

• NC 211 — Dial 2-1-1 from any phone, any time of day. A real person will connect you with local help for food, housing, utility bills, and more. Free and confidential.
• Your county Department of Social Services (DSS) — The place to apply for food assistance (FNS/SNAP), child care subsidies, and Medicaid itself. Wake County and Franklin County each have their own DSS office.
• WIC — Nutrition support for pregnant moms and children under 5. Many Medicaid families qualify automatically.

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Where to Start If This Feels Like a Lot

Pick one:

1. If you are exhausted: ask about respite (Section 2).
2. If paperwork is drowning you: ask about a care manager (Section 1).
3. If you have not done it yet: get on the Innovations Waiver waitlist today (Section 3). Future you will be grateful.

At ABCs of Learning, we work with NC Medicaid families every day, and helping you connect with these supports is part of what we do. If you have questions about ABA services or where to begin, reach out — we are happy to point you in the right direction.

Program details and phone numbers were checked in July 2026. Programs can change, so always confirm details with your health plan.