Autism Resources in Kankakee County, Illinois
11 providers in Kankakee, Elk Grove Village and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Kankakee County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Kankakee County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Riverside Healthcare — Pediatric Developmental Services
Kankakee, IL
Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee is the primary health system for Kankakee County, providing developmental pediatric evaluations and autism-related referrals. Families often travel to Lurie Children's or Advocate Children's in Chicago for comprehensive autism evaluations.
Chicago metro is ~60 miles north — Lurie Children's is a common destination for complex evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Kankakee County — Illinois Early Intervention Services
Kankakee, IL
Kankakee County intake for Illinois's IDEA Part C Early Intervention program. Free developmental evaluations and services for children under 3. No diagnosis required to request an evaluation.
FREE under IDEA. Call the statewide EI hotline to initiate services.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Acorn Health — Kankakee ABA
Kankakee, IL · serves several counties
Acorn Health provides center-based ABA therapy serving Kankakee County children and adolescents. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic teaching strategies. Accepts Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance.
Illinois requires commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society — Kankakee County Chapter
Kankakee, IL
Parent support group for families raising autistic children in the Kankakee area. Monthly meetings with connection to Autism Society of Illinois statewide resources.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Family Matters PTI — Kankakee County
Elk Grove Village, IL · serves several counties
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Kankakee County families. Free IEP coaching, disability rights training, and support navigating Kankakee CUSD 111 and surrounding district special education processes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
Also serving Kankakee County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Kankakee County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
ABA therapy
3 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Acorn Health — Grundy County ABA
Morris, IL · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Grundy County and surrounding north-central Illinois communities. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance under the Illinois ABA mandate.
Illinois requires commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy.
BlueSprig Autism — Joliet
Joliet, IL · serves several counties
Center-based ABA therapy in Joliet for children and teens with autism. BlueSprig is a national ABA provider with Illinois locations offering BCBA-supervised programs. Accepts commercial insurance under Illinois mandate and Medicaid.
Insurance accepted; verify in-network status with your specific plan before enrollment.
Centria Autism — Iroquois County
Watseka, IL · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Iroquois County and surrounding east-central Illinois communities. BCBA-supervised services accepting Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance. Telehealth supplements in-person services in this agricultural county where in-home delivery is the most practical option.
Illinois requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Telehealth ABA may be primary for some Iroquois County families given limited local center options.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, IL
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, IL
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Family Matters PTI — Grundy County
Elk Grove Village, IL · serves several counties
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Grundy County families. Free IEP coaching and disability rights training for families in Morris and Coal City area school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
Family Matters PTI — Iroquois County
Elk Grove Village, IL · serves several counties
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Iroquois County families. Free IEP coaching and disability rights training — an important resource in this very rural county where families have fewer local advocacy options.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
UIC Inclusive Care Clinic
Chicago, IL · serves several counties
801 S. Paulina St., Rm 127, Chicago, IL 60612
Purpose-built for patients who cannot manage an ordinary dental visit - the clinic has a multi-sensory room to bring anxiety down before treatment, noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, personal entertainment tablets and private treatment rooms. It names autism and ADHD explicitly among the conditions it serves, alongside intellectual and physical disabilities. Licensed social workers are on hand for patients and families, and a wheelchair lift means a patient can be treated without leaving their chair.
Ages 15 and up. The sensory room is part of the appointment - say when you call that your child needs it.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, IL
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, IL
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, IL
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, IL
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, IL
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, IL
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, IL
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, IL
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, IL
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, IL
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
About autism services in Kankakee County
Kankakee County — home to Kankakee, Bourbonnais, and Bradley — sits south of the Chicago suburbs and has moderate provider access with some ABA and therapy options locally. Kankakee School District 111 and Bourbonnais School District 53 are among the larger districts serving the county. IDHS's Metro South region administers DD waiver enrollment, and families within commuting distance of the Chicago metro can access the full range of specialist providers. The Family Resource Center on Disabilities covers Kankakee County families for free IEP advocacy.
Helpful guides
Guides for Kankakee 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 Kankakee County, Illinois?
We list 11 providers serving Kankakee County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, advocacy & legal, early intervention (0–3) and diagnostic clinics, plus 1 more. 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 Kankakee County accept Medicaid?
4 of the providers we list for Kankakee County state that they accept Medicaid, including Acorn Health — Grundy County ABA, Acorn Health — Kankakee ABA, BlueSprig Autism — Joliet and Centria Autism — Iroquois County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Kankakee County?
ABA providers serving Kankakee 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.
Are there telehealth autism services for Kankakee County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving Kankakee County offers telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Kankakee County?
2 providers serving Kankakee 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 Kankakee County?
If none of the Kankakee County providers is the right fit, these Illinois counties currently have the most listed providers: Cook County (25), Sangamon County (24), Champaign County (22), Will 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 Kankakee County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Kankakee 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.
- 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?
- Who has managed an eye exam here?
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 Kankakee County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Kankakee 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 Kankakee 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 Kankakee County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →