Autism Resources in Elkhart County, Indiana
16 providers in Goshen, Elkhart and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Elkhart County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Elkhart County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Beacon Health System — Goshen Hospital Developmental Pediatrics
Goshen, IN · serves several counties
Beacon Health System's Goshen Hospital serves Elkhart County with pediatric developmental evaluations. The dominant health system for Elkhart County, with referral access to South Bend specialists. Note: Elkhart County has a large Amish population — Beacon staff are experienced with culturally sensitive communication around evaluations.
Elkhart County includes a significant Amish community — providers are experienced with culturally considerate approaches to evaluation and services.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
First Steps — Elkhart County Early Intervention
Goshen, IN
Indiana's First Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Elkhart County. Services include speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy. Goshen and Elkhart families may access culturally sensitive providers through the county program.
FREE for eligible children. Cultural and language considerations available for Amish families.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers — Elkhart
Elkhart, IN · serves several counties
Hopebridge's Elkhart center provides multidisciplinary autism therapy — ABA, speech, and OT — for Elkhart County children. BCBA-supervised with individualized programs. Accepts commercial insurance under Indiana's ABA mandate and Medicaid waiver.
Note cultural considerations for Amish families in Elkhart County — discuss service delivery format at intake.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Indiana — Elkhart County
Goshen, IN · serves several counties
Autism Society of Indiana family support for Elkhart County. Support groups, resource navigation, and community events for Goshen, Elkhart, and Nappanee families in northern Indiana.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy (Elkhart County)
Goshen, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded PTI provides free special education advocacy for Elkhart County families covering Goshen Community Schools, Elkhart Community Schools, and Baugo Township schools.
FREE statewide PTI.
Also serving Elkhart County
These 23 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Elkhart 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.
Diagnostic clinics
2 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Beacon Children's Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics
South Bend, IN · serves several counties
Beacon Children's Hospital in South Bend is Michiana's primary pediatric hospital, offering developmental pediatrics services including autism evaluation. Beacon coordinates with Riley Hospital and University of Notre Dame's Eck Institute for complex cases. St. Joseph County families also have access to Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago and C.S. Mott in Ann Arbor.
Michiana's leading children's hospital. Chicago and Ann Arbor specialists accessible for complex evaluation needs.
Beacon Health System — LaGrange County Developmental Referrals
LaGrange, IN · serves several counties
LaGrange County families access autism evaluations through Beacon Health System (South Bend / Goshen) or Parkview Health (Fort Wayne), both within 50 miles. LaGrange County has one of Indiana's largest Amish communities — providers are experienced with culturally sensitive evaluation approaches.
LaGrange County has a significant Amish population — providers have experience with culturally considerate approaches.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Indiana First Steps — LaGrange County
LaGrange, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's Part C Early Intervention program for LaGrange County infants and toddlers (birth–3). Free evaluations and IFSP services. Providers are experienced with Amish and Mennonite families and culturally appropriate communication.
FREE through age 3. Culturally sensitive services available for Amish families.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Healthcare — South Bend
South Bend, IN · serves several counties
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in South Bend serving St. Joseph County. BCBA-supervised programs using naturalistic and structured approaches. Accepts Indiana Medicaid and most commercial insurance under Indiana's ABA insurance mandate.
Indiana's ABA mandate covers most commercial plans. One of the larger ABA networks in northern Indiana.
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers — Northern Indiana (LaGrange Area)
LaGrange, IN · serves several counties
ABA therapy for LaGrange County children, with awareness of the county's large Amish population. BCBA-supervised. Indiana ABA insurance mandate applies to commercial plans; Amish families often discuss payment options at intake.
Discuss service delivery format and payment at intake for Amish families.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Indiana Caregiver Support — available WHILE you wait for a waiver
Statewide, IN · serves several counties
This is the answer to Indiana's hardest problem. Families sitting on the Family Supports Waiver waiting list can apply for Caregiver Support services, which provide temporary assistance to families caring at home for someone with an intellectual or developmental disability — you do not have to hold a waiver to get it. Given that Indiana froze movement onto both waivers, this is the practical route for families who would otherwise be told to wait years with nothing.
If you already hold the FSW or CIH waiver, respite is a selectable service instead — your case manager provides the provider list. Different route, same outcome.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, IN
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, IN
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.
Parent & family support
2 providersParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Indiana — LaGrange County
LaGrange, IN · serves several counties
Autism Society of Indiana statewide support for LaGrange County families. Peer connection and resource navigation for this rural northern Indiana community with a significant Plain community population.
Autism Society of Indiana — Michiana Chapter
South Bend, IN · serves several counties
The Autism Society of Indiana's Michiana chapter serves St. Joseph County and the broader South Bend metro with peer support groups, family resource events, and advocacy programming. The University of Notre Dame community adds intellectual and volunteer resources to the local autism family network.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy for LaGrange County
LaGrange, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy for LaGrange County families navigating Lakeland School Corporation and surrounding rural districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI covering all 92 Indiana counties.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy for St. Joseph County
South Bend, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center supporting St. Joseph County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and dispute resolution assistance. Helps families navigate South Bend Community Schools, Penn-Harris-Madison, and other local districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Bilingual support available — important in South Bend's diverse community.
Activities, clubs & recreation
11 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Camp Millhouse
South Bend, IN · serves several counties
25600 Kelly Rd, South Bend, IN 46614
A long-running northern Indiana camp for people with disabilities - swimming, music, arts and crafts, adaptive art with specialized equipment, indoor and outdoor sport, a low ropes course and campfire singing.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, IN
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, IN
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, IN
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, IN
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, IN
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.
See all 11 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, IN
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.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, IN
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, IN
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, IN
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, IN
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.
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About autism services in Elkhart County
Elkhart County — home to Elkhart, Goshen, and Nappanee — is in northern Indiana. Elkhart General Hospital and Goshen Health provide healthcare services. Elkhart Community Schools and Goshen Community Schools provide special education. Indiana's First Steps is available for children under 3. IN*SOURCE provides free IEP advocacy statewide, and families sometimes travel to South Bend for additional evaluation resources.
Helpful guides
Guides for Elkhart 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 Elkhart County
Serving families across Elkhart County including Elkhart, Goshen, Nappanee, Middlebury, Bristol, Wakarusa, Millersburg, Shipshewana, Lagrange (Lagrange Co.) and Topeka and more.
See all Indiana resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Indiana.
Indiana state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Elkhart County, Indiana?
We list 16 providers serving Elkhart County, covering parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, activities, clubs & recreation, ABA therapy and early intervention (0–3), plus 2 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 Elkhart County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Elkhart County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Healthcare — South Bend and Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers — Elkhart. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Elkhart County?
ABA providers serving Elkhart 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 Elkhart County?
2 providers serving Elkhart 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 Indiana?
Indiana families can apply to the Family Supports Waiver (FSW) and Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver (CIH), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Years for FSW; CIH is crisis-entry only, 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 Elkhart County?
If none of the Elkhart County providers is the right fit, these Indiana counties currently have the most listed providers: Allen County (30), Marion County (30), Monroe County (27), Fountain County (25). 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 Indiana
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Elkhart County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Elkhart 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 Elkhart County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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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