County resource guide
Autism Resources in Cook County, Illinois
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Cook County. Illinois statewide resources also apply.
Cook County (Chicago) is served by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, one of the Midwest's top pediatric programs, and Rush University Medical Center — which is notable for offering robust adult autism diagnostic services, rare in most markets. The Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) is Chicago's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy for CPS and suburban families. Illinois requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Illinois's Early Intervention program is free and available statewide for children under 3.
School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in Cook County:
Chicago Public Schools — Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services
Contact Chicago Public Schools ODLSS to initiate a Child Find referral for children within Chicago. Suburban Cook County families should contact their local district or the ROE.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers19 providers in Cook County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Park Ridge · multi-county
Advocate Children's Hospital — Autism & Developmental Pediatrics
Advocate Children's Hospital's Park Ridge and Oak Lawn campuses serve Lake County families with developmental pediatrics, autism evaluations, and multidisciplinary assessments. Board-certified developmental pediatricians using evidence-based diagnostic protocols.
Multiple campuses — confirm location closest to you at time of scheduling.
Chicago
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital — Autism Assessment Program
Comprehensive autism evaluations at Chicago's leading pediatric hospital. Multi-disciplinary team with developmental pediatricians and neuropsychologists. Lurie's developmental pediatrics program is one of the Midwest's strongest.
High demand. Ask about the specific evaluation process and expected wait times.
Chicago · multi-county
North Shore Pediatric Therapy — Autism Testing
Autism testing and diagnosis services at multiple Chicagoland locations. Serves families across Cook and surrounding counties.
Source: https://www.nspt4kids.com/services/autism-testing-diagnosis
Chicago
Rush University Medical Center — Autism Program
Adult and pediatric autism evaluations and treatment at Rush University. One of the few centers in Chicago offering robust adult autism diagnostic services.
One of the few Chicago centers with strong adult autism diagnostic capacity.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Chicago · multi-county
Illinois Early Intervention Program
Illinois's IDEA Part C program provides free developmental services statewide for children under 3. Contact the state EI program to request an evaluation — no diagnosis required. Services can begin within 45 days of referral.
FREE under federal law. No diagnosis required. Act before your child turns 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Chicago
Action Behavior Centers — Chicago
Evidence-based ABA therapy in Chicago including West Loop, Lincoln Park, North Center, Logan Square, and Park Ridge. Also offers ADOS-2 autism evaluations.
Source: https://www.actionbehavior.com/city/chicago
Naperville · multi-county
Autism Home Support Services — DuPage
In-home ABA therapy for children and teens in DuPage County. BCBA-supervised programs focus on building communication, daily living, and social skills in natural home environments. Accepts commercial insurance under Illinois ABA mandate.
Illinois law requires commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy. In-home model reduces wait for clinic space.
Libertyville · multi-county
Behavioral Framework — Lake County
Illinois-based ABA provider offering center-based and in-home programs in Lake County. BCBA-supervised therapy with individualized skill acquisition plans. Accepts most commercial insurance under Illinois ABA coverage mandate.
IL-headquartered ABA organization with multiple suburban Chicago locations.
Chicago · multi-county
Caravel Autism Health — Chicago
Diagnostic evaluations and personalized ABA therapy for children 12+ months in Chicago. Telehealth evaluations across all of Illinois.
Source: https://caravelautism.com/autism-center/chicago/
Chicago · multi-county
Centria Autism — Chicago
In-home and center-based ABA therapy in the Chicago metro. BCBA-supervised. Accepts most commercial insurance and Illinois Medicaid.
Illinois requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Chicago
Illinois Autism Center
Clinic-based ABA therapy in Chicago for children ages 0–15, with programming matched to each developmental stage.
Source: https://ilautism.com
Chicago · multi-county
The Place for Children with Autism
One-on-one ABA therapy combined with group activities in a preschool-like setting. Multiple Chicago and Illinois locations.
Source: https://theplaceforchildrenwithautism.com
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Downers Grove · multi-county
Easter Seals Midwest — DuPage Speech Therapy
Speech-language pathology services for children with autism and developmental delays across DuPage County. Easter Seals therapists have experience with AAC, feeding, and social communication goals. Accepts Medicaid and most commercial plans.
Accepts Medicaid and commercial insurance. Ask about AAC evaluations specifically.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Chicago
Kids' Therapy Associates — Chicago
Pediatric OT and sensory integration therapy for Chicago-area families. Sensory gym, DIR/Floortime approach, and home program training.
Highland Park · multi-county
North Shore Special Recreation Association — Lake County
NSSRA provides adaptive recreation and social skills programming for individuals with disabilities across Lake County. Sensory-friendly programs complement clinic therapies and build community participation skills.
Hanover Park · multi-county
NWSRA Therapeutic Recreation — DuPage Sensory Programs
Northwest Special Recreation Association provides adaptive recreation and sensory-based programming for children and adults with disabilities in DuPage County. Programs complement OT goals with community integration activities.
Recreation-based programs complement clinic OT. Income-based scholarship may be available.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Chicago · multi-county
Autism Society of Illinois
Chicago metro chapter with active support groups, family resource events, and legislative advocacy. One of the more active state chapters in the Midwest.
Tinley Park · multi-county
Southwest Special Recreation Association — Will County
SWSRA provides adaptive recreation and leisure programs for individuals with disabilities in Will County, including social skills groups and sensory-friendly community programs. A good complement to clinical services for building peer connections.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Chicago
Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD)
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center for Chicago and Cook County families. Free IEP advocacy, training, and support for families navigating Chicago Public Schools and suburban districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential resource for CPS and suburban Cook County families.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Cook County
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Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Cook County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
Helpful guides
Guides for Cook County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Cook County
Serving families across Cook County including Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Harvey, Calumet City, Oak Lawn and Schaumburg and more.
See all Illinois resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Illinois.
Illinois state guide →Nearby counties in Illinois
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
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Know a great provider in Cook County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
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