County resource guide
Whiteside County, Illinois
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Whiteside County. Illinois statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
8 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Sterling
CGH Medical Center — Developmental Pediatric Referrals
CGH Medical Center in Sterling is the primary hospital for Whiteside County and the Sterling/Rock Falls community. Developmental screening and pediatric referrals for children with autism concerns. Complex evaluations are typically referred to OSF Children's Hospital in Peoria or Rush/Lurie in Chicago.
For comprehensive autism evaluations, ask about referrals to OSF Children's in Peoria or Northwestern/Lurie in Chicago.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Sterling
Whiteside County — Illinois Early Intervention Services
Whiteside County intake for Illinois's IDEA Part C Early Intervention program. Free developmental evaluations and services for children under age 3 — speech, OT, and developmental therapy. No diagnosis required to request a free evaluation.
FREE under IDEA. Call the statewide EI hotline — they route to Whiteside County providers.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Dixon · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works Illinois — Dixon/Lee County
In-home ABA therapy serving Lee County and the Dixon area. BCBA-supervised services accepting Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance. Telehealth supplements in-person services in this rural county.
Illinois requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Telehealth is often primary in rural Lee County.
Sterling · multi-county
Centria Autism — Whiteside County
In-home ABA therapy serving Whiteside County and the Sterling/Rock Falls area. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting Illinois Medicaid and commercial insurance under the Illinois ABA insurance mandate. In-home model is especially practical for this rural northwest Illinois county.
Illinois requires commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy. Telehealth services may supplement in-person care in this rural area.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Dixon · multi-county
Autism Society of Illinois — Northwest Illinois (Lee County)
Parent peer support and resource navigation for autism families in Lee County and surrounding northwest Illinois. Connects to Illinois statewide advocacy and regional provider networks.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Sterling
Equip for Equality — Northwest Illinois (Whiteside County)
Illinois's federally funded Protection & Advocacy organization providing free legal advocacy for disability rights in Whiteside County. Covers IDEA violations, Medicaid appeals, and civil rights enforcement. Distinct from Family Matters PTI — focused on legal rights.
FREE. Federally funded P&A. Call if a school or agency is violating your child's rights.
Elk Grove Village · multi-county
Family Matters PTI — Lee County
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Lee County families with free IEP coaching and disability rights training. Dixon area school districts are the primary focus for Lee County families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
Elk Grove Village · multi-county
Family Matters PTI — Whiteside County
Illinois's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Whiteside County families with free IEP coaching, disability rights training, and one-on-one support. Essential for navigating Sterling Public Schools and rural Whiteside County district special education programs.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Illinois families outside Cook County.
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See all Illinois resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Illinois.
Illinois state guide →