County resource guide
Autism Resources in Franklin County, Illinois
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Franklin County. Illinois statewide resources also apply.
Franklin County is home to Benton, West Frankfort, and Zeigler in southern Illinois. Benton Community High School District 103 and West Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 serve the county's two largest communities. Provider availability is limited in this area; families often travel to Marion or the Metro East region for specialized autism services. IDHS's Southern region administers the DD waiver, and the Family Resource Center on Disabilities provides free statewide advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers26 providers in Franklin County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Franklin County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Herrin · multi-county
Herrin Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics (Franklin County)
Herrin Hospital in Herrin, IL, provides developmental pediatric services and autism referral coordination for Franklin County families in Benton, IL. The Marion-Herrin area serves as the regional medical hub for this former coal-mining county in SE Illinois.
Marion-Herrin corridor hub for Franklin County. Ask about developmental pediatric referrals.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
HSHS Good Samaritan Hospital — Jefferson County Developmental Referrals
HSHS Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon is Jefferson County's primary regional medical facility. Developmental pediatrics and autism diagnostic referrals connect families to SIU Medicine in Springfield or SIH in Carbondale for comprehensive evaluations serving this south-central Illinois hub county.
Pinckneyville · multi-county
Perry Memorial Hospital — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Perry Memorial Hospital in Pinckneyville provides primary care and developmental referrals for Perry County in southern Illinois. Full autism evaluations typically route to the Carbondale/SIU Medicine network (~25 miles south). Perry County includes a significant mining heritage community.
SIU Medicine in Carbondale (~25 miles south) is the primary autism evaluation resource for Perry County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Benton
Illinois Early Intervention — Franklin County
Illinois Early Intervention delivers Part C services to eligible children birth to age 3 in Franklin County through home-based visits in Benton, IL. Service coordinators connect families to speech, OT, and developmental therapy in this SE Illinois coal country region.
FREE for eligible children. Benton IL-based services for Franklin County.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Illinois Early Intervention — Jefferson County
Illinois Early Intervention provides free birth-to-3 developmental services and autism-related EI supports for Jefferson County families in Mount Vernon. State-coordinated providers serve this south-central Illinois county, a regional hub for the surrounding rural counties.
Illinois Early Intervention — statewide Child & Family Connections referral line (voice/TTY). Statewide contact verified August 2026.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Marion · multi-county
Centria Autism — Marion/Williamson County
In-home ABA therapy serving Williamson County and the Marion-Herrin area. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance under the Illinois ABA insurance mandate.
Illinois requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Marion · multi-county
Southern Illinois Healthcare — Autism Services (Franklin County)
Southern Illinois Healthcare's network in the Marion area provides autism behavioral health referrals and services accessible to Franklin County families in Benton. The SIH system serves as the primary healthcare infrastructure for SE Illinois.
Marion SIH hub for Franklin County. Ask about autism behavioral health referrals.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Autism Society of Illinois — South-Central Illinois (Jefferson County)
The Autism Society of Illinois connects Jefferson County families in Mount Vernon with virtual peer support and statewide resources. Online programming serves families in this south-central Illinois regional hub and surrounding rural communities.
Benton · multi-county
Autism Society of Illinois — Southern Illinois (Franklin County)
The Autism Society of Illinois connects Franklin County families in Benton, IL, to peer support and resources. The Marion-Carbondale autism community provides regional support group access for families in this SE Illinois county.
Marion · multi-county
Autism Society of Illinois — Southern Illinois (Williamson County)
Parent peer support and resource connection for autism families in Williamson County. Connects to SIU/Carbondale autism resources and statewide Illinois advocacy networks. Marion is a regional hub for southern Illinois families.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Marion · multi-county
Family Matters PTI — Williamson County
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Williamson County families with free IEP coaching and disability rights training for families navigating Marion, Herrin, and Johnston City school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
Pinckneyville · multi-county
Family Resource Center on Disabilities — Perry County IL
Illinois's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy and family support for Perry County families navigating Pinckneyville and rural southern Illinois school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois counties.
Benton · multi-county
Family Resource Center on Disabilities — Statewide (Franklin County)
Illinois's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy for Franklin County families in Benton, IL. FRCD advocates help families navigate Franklin County school districts in this former coal-mining SE Illinois community.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Available for SE Illinois families.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Family Resource Center on Disabilities — Statewide (Jefferson County)
Illinois's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy by phone and virtually for Jefferson County families in Mount Vernon. An important resource for families in this south-central Illinois regional hub county.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Franklin 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.
See all Illinois resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Illinois.
Illinois state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Franklin County, Illinois?
We list 14 providers serving Franklin County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, advocacy & legal, diagnostic clinics and early intervention (0–3). Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Franklin County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Franklin County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Marion/Williamson County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Franklin County?
ABA providers serving Franklin County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Franklin County?
2 providers serving Franklin County deliver services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Illinois?
Illinois families can apply to the Illinois DD Waiver, accessed through PUNS, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 5–10 years — selection is by time spent in 'Seeking Services', and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Franklin County?
If none of the Franklin County providers is the right fit, these Illinois counties currently have the most listed providers: Cook County (25), Sangamon County (25), Will County (23), Champaign County (22). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Illinois
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Franklin County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Franklin Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Franklin County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Franklin County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
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.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Franklin 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.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
Are you a provider serving Franklin County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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