Blue Sails Insights
In-depth guides and articles on mental health, autism care and finding support in Maryland. Start with a guide, or search and filter articles by topic.
Each guide covers signs, evaluation, treatment options and common questions for one area of care.
If you are in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Maryland programs and community listings are in our behavioral health resources guide.
Autism & Early Intervention
A Maryland guide to moving from early intervention to public preschool: the IFSP-to-IEP timeline, evaluation and consent rules, records to share, your IEP meeting…
Autism & Early Intervention
How Maryland families may fund autism testing and ABA through commercial insurance, Maryland Medicaid or TRICARE—what each path often covers and what to verify…
Autism & Early Intervention
How the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program works, who qualifies, how to make a referral and how MITP compares with or can be combined…
Autism & Early Intervention
Practical, low-pressure ideas for toilet training, picky eating and sensory routines for autistic children, plus signs it is time to check with your pediatrician.…
Autism & Early Intervention
Kindergarten readiness for children with autism often centers on everyday skills: self-care, toileting, following directions, attention, flexibility and peer play. A practical guide for…
Autism & Early Intervention
How group-setting and in-home ABA can differ for toddlers: peer practice, everyday routines, caregiver coaching, insurance logistics and questions to ask before you choose.
Autism & Early Intervention
How a structured early-intervention autism program and a traditional daycare differ for young children, what to ask on a tour, how insurance works and…
Autism & Early Intervention
What DSM-5-TR autism support levels 1, 2, and 3 mean for your child, why a level can change over time, and why Maryland insurance…
Autism & Early Intervention
A medical autism diagnosis and a Maryland school IEP eligibility determination answer different questions and follow different rules. Here's what each requires, how they…
