County resource guide
Autism Resources in Lake County, Illinois
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lake County. Illinois statewide resources also apply.
Lake County — encompassing Waukegan, Round Lake Beach, and Vernon Hills — sits along the Wisconsin border and is Illinois's third most populous county. Lake County Special Education District (LAKE) provides cooperative special education services across many of the county's districts. Illinois's Early Intervention program serves children under 3 countywide, and the IDHS Northern region handles DD waiver enrollment. The Family Resource Center on Disabilities is the area's federally funded PTI for free IEP advocacy.
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 Lake County:
Lake County Regional Office of Education — Special Education
Contact the Lake County ROE to be directed to your local district's Child Find coordinator. Each Lake County district maintains its own special education department.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers30 providers in Lake 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 Lake 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.
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 · 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
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.
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 · 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.
Vernon Hills
The Speech Pathology Group — Lake County
Pediatric speech-language therapy serving Lake County families, with expertise in autism-related communication needs including AAC, social pragmatics, and early language development. Clinic-based and telehealth options available.
Telehealth available for some services.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
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.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Illinois DHS respite — five different programs
Illinois funds respite in five distinct forms and families are rarely told about more than one: group respite, in-home respite, residential respite, voucher respite, and the Lifespan Respite Program run with the Illinois Respite Coalition. It covers holidays, rest, errands, family crisis and emergencies, and can be delivered by a personal assistant, homemaker or home health worker. Ask which of the five you qualify for rather than accepting the first answer.
Voucher respite is the one most often missed — it lets you choose and pay your own provider rather than taking an assigned agency.
~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.
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.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Waukegan · multi-county
Equip for Equality — Northern Illinois Outreach
Illinois's federally funded Protection & Advocacy organization provides free legal advocacy for people with disabilities in Lake County, including special education rights enforcement, transition planning disputes, and disability discrimination claims.
FREE. Federally funded P&A. Handles legal rights issues separate from PTI services.
Elk Grove Village · multi-county
Family Matters Parent Training & Information Center
Illinois's federally funded PTI serving families outside the Chicago metro, including McHenry County. Free IEP navigation, disability rights training, and one-on-one support for parents of children with disabilities.
FREE. Federally funded PTI for families outside Cook County.
Elk Grove Village · multi-county
Family Matters Parent Training & Information Center — DuPage
Illinois's federally funded PTI serving DuPage County families outside the Chicago metro. Free IEP navigation, disability rights training, and one-on-one support for parents navigating local school districts and state benefit systems.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Complements FRCD (Cook County PTI) for families in the collar counties.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Chicago · multi-county
UIC Inclusive Care Clinic
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
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Crystal Lake · multi-county
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA)
Year-round recreation for people with disabilities across northern Illinois, based in Crystal Lake.
Northbrook · multi-county
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)
An intergovernmental partnership of ten park districts, a city and a village serving Chicago's northern suburbs — one of the oldest and largest of the Illinois Special Recreation Associations.
Statewide · multi-county
Special Recreation Association Network of Illinois (SRANI)
Illinois is the only state in the country with legislation allowing two or more park districts or municipalities to join together specifically to run recreation programs for people with disabilities. The result is 29 Special Recreation Associations covering much of the state, offering sports, arts, social events, camps and fitness — year-round, local, and heavily subsidised because they are funded by member park districts rather than fees alone. If you live in Illinois this is almost certainly the best-value option available to you, and most families have never heard of it. Use the SRANI site to find which association covers your town, or ask your local park district.
Scholarships are available through many associations — ask. Your SRA is determined by which town you live in, not by which one you ring first.
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
Are you a provider serving this county?
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Lake County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
Helpful guides
Guides for Lake 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 Lake County
Serving families across Lake County including Waukegan, Round Lake Beach, North Chicago, Gurnee, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Grayslake, Zion and Highland Park and more.
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 Lake County, Illinois?
We list 18 providers serving Lake County, covering diagnostic clinics, parent & family support, ABA therapy, advocacy & legal and respite care, plus 5 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 Lake County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Lake County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Chicago. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Lake County?
ABA providers serving Lake 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 Lake County families?
Yes — 2 providers serving Lake County offer 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 Lake County?
2 providers serving Lake 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.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in Lake County?
Contact Lake County Regional Office of Education — Special Education, the Early Intervention program serving Lake County. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. Contact details are listed in the key contacts section of this page.
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 Lake County?
If none of the Lake 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 Lake County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Lake 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 Lake County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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