If you live in Montreal and English is your stronger language, this list can help you find which door to knock on. We checked the entries on the review date above; the things that change fastest (wait times, prices, schedules) are ranges, and you should confirm them on the organization's own page before acting.
For a shorter, ranked list of local organizations, application help, accessible outings and media, browse our curated directory. Each entry explains why it may be useful.
Public access points
These are free, and most do not require a diagnosis to start.
| Access point | What it does | Language | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLSC and Agir tôt | Quebec's early-development program for children under 7. No diagnosis needed. Call your local CLSC; a caseworker discusses your concerns and can route you to services. | FR / EN | Agir tôt (quebec.ca) |
| Info-Santé / Info-Social 811 | A nurse or a psychosocial worker by phone, any hour, for health or mental-health questions, including where to start. | FR / EN | Info-Social 811 |
| 211 Grand Montréal | Free directory of community and social services, by phone or chat, in more than 200 languages. Ask for autism, respite, or parent groups near you. | Multilingual | 211qc.ca |
| Family Support Program | Provincial respite, childcare and occasional-assistance funding for families living with a person with a disability or autism, based on assessed need. Apply through your CISSS/CIUSSS. | FR / EN | Family Support Program (quebec.ca) |
| Services for persons with a disability | Official overview of rehabilitation, family support and community services, with a link to find your territorial establishment. | FR / EN | quebec.ca |
| Montreal Children's Hospital, Brain Development and Behaviour | Multidisciplinary developmental evaluation for ages 0 to 17, including autism. Community physicians refer through the CISSS/CIUSSS. | EN / FR | montrealchildrenshospital.ca |
CIUSSS DI-TSA-DP access desks, island of Montreal
The linked government and CIUSSS pages describe access to DI-TSA-DP services (intellectual disability, autism and physical disability), including intake and needs assessment. Check your territory’s page for its current entry point. 3, 4, 5, 6 In most territories the request goes through a professional or the CLSC's psychosocial intake (accueil psychosocial); the West Island desk states that parents can also contact it directly and that a formal diagnosis is not always required before early stimulation services. Find your territory by postal code on the quebec.ca page above.
| Territory | Neighbourhoods (examples) | Link |
|---|---|---|
| CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île | West Island, Lachine, Dorval, LaSalle, Pierrefonds | Access to services and FAQ (EN) |
| CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île | NDG, Côte-des-Neiges, Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Westmount, Outremont | ID-ASD-PD access desk (EN) |
| CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île | Plateau-Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, Sud-Ouest, Verdun | 211 listing (EN) |
| CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île | Ahuntsic, Saint-Laurent, Villeray, Saint-Michel, Montréal-Nord | DI-TSA-DP services (FR, EN toggle) |
| CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île | Rosemont, Hochelaga, Mercier, Anjou, Pointe-aux-Trembles | Personne avec une déficience (FR) |
Organizations
| Organization | What it does | Language | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fédération québécoise de l'autisme (FQA) | Provincial reference for over 40 years: information, rights, a parent section, English resource list, and the research podcast Le spectre sur les ondes. Points you to your regional association. | FR, some EN | autisme.qc.ca · English resources |
| Autisme Montréal | The island's autism association: parent support and advocacy, diagnosis navigation, accompaniment to meetings, weekend and summer respite, camps, swimming. | FR / EN | autisme-montreal.com |
| Regroupement des associations PANDA | ADHD support network across Quebec: workshops, conferences and parent resources through regional chapters. | FR, some EN | associationpanda.qc.ca |
| Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities (MCLD) | Guidance for overlapping learning disabilities, ADHD and autism; formal parent programming currently paused. | EN | ldmontreal.ca |
| Maison de l'autisme / Autism House | Interactive resource portal, discussion groups, webinars and social activities for autistic adults, parents and caregivers. | FR, some EN | lamaisondelautisme.ca |
| Miriam Foundation / Gold Centre | Clinical, educational and leisure programs for autism and intellectual disability, including early intervention and parent coaching. | EN / FR | miriamfoundation.ca |
| Giant Steps | Autism school and resource centre, ages 4 to 21, plus adult services. | EN / FR | giantstepsmontreal.com |
| Summit School | Large school for neurodivergent students, several Montreal campuses. | EN / FR | summit-school.com |
| Autisme-Asperger-Québec (AAQc) | French information platform on autism, ADHD, Tourette and neurodiversity, for parents and teachers. | FR | autismeaspergerquebec.com |
| Inspirations | Special-needs news publication of the English Montreal School Board, with a database of more than 500 resources: camps, tutoring, respite. | EN / FR | inspirationsnews.com |
| WIAIH | West Island association for autism and intellectual disability since 1958: developmental centre for young children, camps, parent support groups and information sessions. | EN / FR | wiaih.qc.ca |
| Montreal Special Needs Family Organization | Registered charity covering the cost of speech, ABA and occupational therapy for underprivileged children. | EN / FR | msnf.ca |
| EMSB Student Services | How to request evaluation and special-needs support within the English Montreal School Board. | EN | emsb.qc.ca |
| Fondation Philippe Laprise | ADHD foundation with more than 25 free online trainings for parents. | FR | fondationphilippelaprise.com |
Off-island: Autisme Québec serves the Quebec City region (FR); 4Korners lists English-accessible neurodiversity services in the Laurentians and links to Laval resources.
English-language parent groups
- MCLD parent support: its page currently says formal parent programming is paused while the team continues to offer navigation help. Contact the organization before planning around a group. ldmontreal.ca/services-for-parents
- Autisme Montréal parent support, individual and group, English and French. Family support service
- WIAIH parent support groups and information sessions, Pointe-Claire. wiaih.qc.ca
- Montréal Neurodiverse Connection (Meetup): bilingual social meetups for neurodivergent adults and their loved ones; useful for parents who are themselves neurodivergent. meetup.com
- Private Facebook groups for Montreal and West Island parents exist and are where many recommendations travel. We do not list them because they are private; Autisme Montréal, MCLD and WIAIH may be able to point you to them.
Private clinics: categories and honest cost ranges
We do not endorse individual clinics. Prices are indicative, from Autisme Montréal's diagnosis page and our March 2026 landscape review; confirm directly and ask about insurance.
| Service | Typical private cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Autism diagnostic assessment (psychologist or neuropsychologist) | $1,600–$4,200 | Not covered by RAMQ; some group insurance contributes. Public route via CLSC or physician is free but waits can range from 6 to 24 months. |
| ADHD neuropsychological assessment | $1,800–$4,000 | Same coverage caveat. |
| Speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, psychoeducation (per session) | varies | Ask for the hourly rate and whether a receipt is issued for tax and insurance purposes. |
The public or private assessment page helps you decide. The money and benefits page covers what you can claim back.
This week
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Sources
- The Agir tôt program (2026)
- Family Support Program (2023)
- Services for persons with a disability (2023) ↩1
- ID-ASD-PD frequently asked questions (2026) ↩1
- Guichet d'accès DI-TSA-DP (2026) ↩1
- Personne avec une déficience (2026) ↩1
- How to get a diagnosis (2026)
- 211 Grand Montréal (2026)