County resource guide
Autism Resources in Black Hawk County, Iowa
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Black Hawk County. Iowa statewide resources also apply.
Black Hawk County (Waterloo, Cedar Falls) is home to the University of Northern Iowa, which contributes to local workforce training. Waterloo Community School District and Cedar Falls Community School District provide special education. Iowa Compass (PTI) provides free statewide advocacy, and Iowa's Early ACCESS early intervention serves young children under 3.
Provider directory
Local Providers15 providers in Black Hawk County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Waterloo · multi-county
MercyOne Waterloo — Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental pediatrics and autism evaluation services at MercyOne Children's Hospital in Waterloo. Serves Black Hawk County and the Cedar Valley region.
Waverly · multi-county
MercyOne Waterloo — Developmental Pediatrics Referral
Bremer County families access developmental and autism evaluation services primarily through MercyOne Waterloo (25 miles south) or Allen Hospital. Provides comprehensive developmental assessments for children in the Cedar Valley region.
Waterloo is ~25 miles from Waverly. Cedar Falls options also accessible.
Grundy Center · multi-county
MercyOne Waterloo — Grundy County Developmental Referral
Grundy County families in Grundy Center access autism evaluation referrals through MercyOne Waterloo (~25 miles northwest) or McFarland Clinic in Ames. Grundy County is a rural agricultural county in north-central Iowa between the Cedar Valley and Ames.
Waterloo (~25 miles northwest) and Ames (~45 miles south) are the nearest evaluation hubs.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Waterloo · multi-county
Black Hawk County Early ACCESS
Iowa Part C early intervention program serving children birth–3 in Black Hawk County. Coordinates speech, OT, developmental, and family support services at home and in natural settings.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Contact AEA 267 for referral in Black Hawk County.
Grundy Center · multi-county
Grundy County Early ACCESS
Iowa Part C early intervention for children birth–3 in Grundy County. Coordinated by AEA 267, providing in-home developmental therapy and service coordination at no cost.
FREE under IDEA Part C for eligible children birth to age 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Waterloo · multi-county
Behavior Care Specialists — Cedar Valley
Iowa-based ABA provider offering home- and community-based behavior intervention for children and teens with autism in the Cedar Valley. Iowa Medicaid accepted.
Iowa Medicaid covers ABA therapy for eligible children.
Waverly · multi-county
Behavior Care Specialists — Cedar Valley / Bremer
Home- and community-based ABA therapy for children with autism in Bremer County. Iowa-based BCBA-supervised provider serving the Cedar Valley region. Iowa Medicaid accepted.
Iowa Medicaid covers ABA therapy for eligible children.
Grundy Center · multi-county
Behavior Care Specialists — Cedar Valley / Grundy
Home- and community-based ABA therapy for Grundy County families. Iowa-based BCBA-supervised provider serving the Cedar Valley region. Iowa Medicaid accepted.
Iowa Medicaid covers ABA therapy for eligible children.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Waterloo · multi-county
UnityPoint Health — Allen Hospital Speech Therapy
Outpatient speech-language pathology at Allen Hospital in Waterloo. Evaluates and treats autism-related communication, language, and AAC needs.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Grundy Center · multi-county
Autism Society of Iowa — North Central Iowa
Parent support and statewide resource connections for Grundy County autism families. Connects Grundy Center families to Cedar Valley and statewide autism networks.
Waverly · multi-county
Autism Society of Iowa — Northeast Iowa
Parent support, statewide resource connections, and advocacy for Bremer County autism families through the Autism Society of Iowa. Connects Waverly-area families to Cedar Valley and statewide networks.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Iowa City · multi-county
Iowa Compass — Information & Referral Network
Iowa's premier information and referral service for disability and special education resources. Operated by the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development. Free resource navigation, service coordination, and referrals statewide.
FREE. The first call for any Iowa family navigating autism services — excellent resource navigation.
Des Moines · multi-county
Iowa PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Iowa's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Iowa families statewide.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Essential before any IEP meeting or dispute in Iowa.
Waverly · multi-county
Iowa PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Free IEP advocacy and special education support for Bremer County families from Iowa's federally funded PTI. Phone, video, and in-person consultations available statewide.
FREE. Statewide service — call before any IEP meeting or school dispute.
Grundy Center · multi-county
Iowa PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Free IEP advocacy and special education support for Grundy County families from Iowa's federally funded PTI. Available statewide by phone, video, or in person.
FREE. Statewide service — call before any IEP meeting or school dispute.
For providers
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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Black Hawk County.
School & special education
- Waterloo Community School District — Special Education
Waterloo is the largest city in Black Hawk County.
Services & benefits
- Iowa HHS — Black Hawk County DD Services
Contact Iowa HHS for Black Hawk County HCBS waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- Iowa HHS — Black Hawk County DD Services
Contact Iowa HHS for Black Hawk County HCBS waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- Iowa HHS — Black Hawk County DD Services
Contact Iowa HHS for Black Hawk County HCBS waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County
Serving families across Black Hawk County including Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Hudson, Raymond, Elk Run Heights, Dunkerton, La Porte City, Gilbertville and Washburn and more.
See all Iowa resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Iowa.
Iowa state guide →Nearby counties in Iowa
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.
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