Autism Resources in Porter County, Indiana
14 providers in Valparaiso and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Porter County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Porter County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Franciscan Health Valparaiso — Pediatric Developmental Services
Valparaiso, IN · serves several counties
Franciscan Health's Valparaiso campus provides pediatric developmental evaluations for Porter County. Part of the Northwest Indiana health corridor with access to Chicago-area specialists via the I-65/I-94 corridor. Porter County families can also access Advocate Children's in the Chicago suburbs.
Northwest Indiana location — Chicago-area specialists are accessible. Confirm insurance network (Indiana vs. Illinois).
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
First Steps — Porter County Early Intervention
Valparaiso, IN
Indiana's First Steps program provides free early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Porter County. Services include speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Serves Valparaiso, Portage, and surrounding communities.
FREE for eligible children.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Valparaiso / Porter County
Valparaiso, IN · serves several counties
Centria Autism provides in-home and center-based ABA therapy for Porter County children in Valparaiso and surrounding communities. BCBA-supervised. Accepts commercial insurance under Indiana's ABA mandate and Medicaid waiver.
Indiana requires all commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Indiana — Northwest Indiana
Valparaiso, IN · serves several counties
Autism Society of Indiana support for Porter County and Northwest Indiana. Support groups, resource navigation, and community events for Valparaiso, Portage, and the Lake-Porter County autism community.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy (Porter County)
Valparaiso, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded PTI provides free special education advocacy for Porter County families. Covers Valparaiso Community Schools, Portage Township, and surrounding Northwest Indiana districts.
FREE statewide PTI.
Also serving Porter County
These 21 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Porter 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.
Franciscan Health — Pediatric Developmental Services
Munster, IN · serves several counties
Franciscan Health's pediatric services in Munster and Crown Point provide developmental evaluations and autism screenings for Lake County families. As the largest county in northwest Indiana, Lake County families also have access to Chicago-area specialists across the state line. Franciscan coordinates referrals to Riley Hospital and Chicago-area academic centers.
Northwest Indiana's proximity to Chicago gives Lake County families access to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and other major Chicago autism centers.
Franciscan Health Michigan City — Developmental Pediatrics
Michigan City, IN · serves several counties
Franciscan Health Michigan City provides pediatric developmental evaluations for LaPorte County. Part of the Northwest Indiana Franciscan Health network with referral pathways to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis and Chicago-area pediatric centers via the I-94 corridor.
Northwest Indiana location — Chicago-area specialists are accessible. Confirm insurance network.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — LaPorte County
La Porte, IN · serves several counties
Centria Autism provides in-home and center-based ABA therapy for LaPorte County children. BCBA-supervised individualized programs. Accepts commercial insurance under Indiana's ABA insurance mandate and Medicaid waiver.
Indiana requires all commercial insurers to cover ABA therapy.
Centria Healthcare — Merrillville
Merrillville, IN · serves several counties
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in Merrillville serving Lake County families. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic developmental approaches. Accepts Indiana Medicaid (Hoosier Healthwise) and most commercial insurance under Indiana's ABA insurance mandate.
Indiana's ABA insurance mandate applies to all commercial plans. Chicago-area ABA providers are also accessible from Hammond and Gary.
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 — LaPorte County
La Porte, IN · serves several counties
Autism Society of Indiana family support for LaPorte County. Support groups, resource navigation, and community events for Michigan City and La Porte families in Northwest Indiana.
Autism Society of Indiana — Northwest Indiana Chapter
Merrillville, IN · serves several counties
The Autism Society of Indiana's northwest chapter provides peer support groups, family resource events, and advocacy connections for Lake County and surrounding northwest Indiana communities. Lake County's proximity to Chicago also means families have access to Illinois Autism Society programming across the border.
Chicago-area Autism Society of Illinois programming is also accessible from Lake County.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy (LaPorte County)
La Porte, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded PTI provides free special education advocacy for LaPorte County families covering La Porte Community Schools and Michigan City Area Schools.
FREE statewide PTI.
IN*SOURCE — IEP Advocacy for Lake County
Crown Point, IN · serves several counties
Indiana's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center providing free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for Lake County families. Bilingual services available — important in a diverse county with large Spanish-speaking and other immigrant communities.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Bilingual support available. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute.
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, 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.
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.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
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.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Porter County
Porter County — home to Valparaiso, Portage, and Chesterton — is in northwestern Indiana, part of the Chicago-Gary metro. Valparaiso's medical resources and proximity to Chicago give families strong provider access. Duneland School Corporation and Portage Township Schools provide special education. Indiana's First Steps is available countywide, and IN*SOURCE provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Porter 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 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 Porter County, Indiana?
We list 14 providers serving Porter County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3), diagnostic clinics and advocacy & legal, 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 Porter County accept Medicaid?
3 of the providers we list for Porter County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — LaPorte County, Centria Autism — Valparaiso / Porter County and Centria Healthcare — Merrillville. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Porter County?
ABA providers serving Porter 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 Porter County?
3 providers serving Porter 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 Porter County?
If none of the Porter 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 Porter County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Porter 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 Porter County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Porter 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 Porter 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 Porter County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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