Autism Resources in Franklin County, Kentucky
11 providers in Frankfort and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Franklin County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Franklin County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
UK HealthCare — Kentucky Children's Hospital (Franklin KY)
Frankfort, KY · serves several counties
As Kentucky's state capital, Frankfort (Franklin County) has excellent access to UK HealthCare in Lexington (approximately 25 miles). UK's developmental pediatrics program provides comprehensive autism evaluations and is the primary specialist hub for Franklin County families.
Frankfort is 25 miles from Lexington. Norton Children's Louisville also accessible.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
KY First Steps — Franklin County Early Intervention
Frankfort, KY
Kentucky First Steps provides early intervention for Franklin County children under 3. The state capital's location between Lexington and Louisville gives EI families strong specialist access for speech, OT, and autism services.
Free under IDEA Part C. State capital EI office may have additional resources.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hopebridge — Frankfort ABA Therapy
Frankfort, KY · serves several counties
Frankfort's capital-city location and I-64 access support ABA therapy options including Hopebridge and other Lexington-affiliated providers. Center-based ABA with BCBA supervision is accessible for Franklin County families between the two major metro areas.
Kentucky requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
KY-SPIN — Special Parent Involvement Network (Franklin KY)
Frankfort, KY · serves several counties
KY-SPIN provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Franklin County families. Located in the state capital, Franklin County families may also benefit from proximity to state disability agency offices.
FREE. State capital location means direct access to CHFS, KDE, and other state agencies.
Also serving Franklin County
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Franklin 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.
UK HealthCare — Anderson County Referral Pathway
Lexington, KY · serves several counties
Anderson County (Lawrenceburg) is approximately 30 miles southwest of Lexington, giving families direct access to UK HealthCare and Kentucky Children's Hospital for comprehensive autism evaluations — one of the best-positioned small counties in central Kentucky.
Anderson County is well-positioned for UK HealthCare access (~30 min drive).
UK Kentucky Children's Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics (Woodford County Referral)
Versailles, KY · serves several counties
Woodford County families in Versailles are just 15 miles west of UK Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington — one of the shortest drives in the state to a major autism evaluation center. Direct access to the state's premier academic autism program.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Hart-Supported Living — respite WITHOUT a Medicaid waiver
Statewide, KY · serves several counties
This matters more in Kentucky than almost anywhere, because the Michelle P. waiting list runs past 13,000 people and a decade. Hart-Supported Living is a NON-Medicaid state program that funds personal care, respite, home modifications, equipment and skills training so a disabled Kentuckian can stay living at home — no waiver required. Kentucky also publishes a free statewide Respite Provider Directory of independent providers, searchable by location, service and population served.
If you are on the Michelle P. or SCL waiting list, Hart-Supported Living is the thing to ask about now rather than in eight years.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, KY
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, KY
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
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of the Bluegrass — Anderson County / Lawrenceburg
Lawrenceburg, KY · serves several counties
Anderson County families have strong access to the Lexington-based Autism Society of the Bluegrass chapter programming just 30 miles east.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
KY-SPIN — Anderson County Outreach
Lawrenceburg, KY · serves several counties
Free IEP advocacy and training for Anderson County families from Kentucky's federally funded PTI. Helps families navigate Anderson County Schools.
FREE.
Autism-friendly dentists
2 providersDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Lee Specialty Clinic
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
4501 Louise Underwood Way, Louisville, KY 40216
Not only a dental clinic - a whole healthcare system built for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and one of very few of its kind anywhere. Under one roof: dental, medical, psychiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nutrition and applied behavior analysis. For an autistic adult whose care is usually scattered across providers who each know a little about disability, a single team that knows a lot is a different proposition entirely.
Best known for serving adults with IDD. Ask what they can take on together rather than booking a single service.
UofL Special Care Dentistry
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
The University of Louisville runs Special Care Dentistry for people of ALL ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral issues and physical limitations - the all-ages part matters, because most special-care dentistry stops at 18 or 21. A sensory-friendly environment, techniques aimed at lowering anxiety, and sedation where it is genuinely needed. Delivered across several Louisville sites plus a community clinic in Owensboro.
Ask which of the Louisville locations suits your child - they include the Graduate Pediatric Dentistry Practice and the Kosair for Kids Center. Owensboro is a separate community clinic.
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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 Franklin County
Franklin County — home to Frankfort, Kentucky's state capital — has access to state agencies and the Frankfort Regional Medical Center. Families seeking specialized autism evaluations typically travel to nearby Lexington. Kentucky's First Steps serves children under 3, and KY-SPIN provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Franklin 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 Kentucky resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Kentucky.
Kentucky state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Franklin County, Kentucky?
We list 11 providers serving Franklin County, covering parent & family support, respite care, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3) and advocacy & legal, 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.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Franklin County?
ABA providers serving Franklin 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Kentucky?
Kentucky families can apply to the Michelle P. Waiver (MPW) and Supports for Community Living (SCL), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Commonly reported at 8–10 years, with more than 13,000 waiting, 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 Franklin County?
If none of the Franklin County providers is the right fit, these Kentucky counties currently have the most listed providers: Oldham County (23), Pulaski County (21), Caldwell County (20), Jefferson County (20). 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 Kentucky
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Franklin County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Franklin 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 Franklin County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Franklin 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 Franklin 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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