County resource guide
Autism Resources in Dakota County, Minnesota
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Dakota County. Minnesota statewide resources also apply.
Dakota County — home to Apple Valley, Burnsville, and Eagan — is a growing suburban county south of the Twin Cities. Families benefit from direct access to Children's Minnesota and the broader Twin Cities provider network for specialized evaluation and ABA therapy. Minnesota's Early Intervention program is administered through Dakota County's Early Childhood Special Education services. PACER Center provides free IEP advocacy, and the CDCS and Brain Injury waivers are administered through the county for eligible residents.
Provider directory
Local Providers16 providers in Dakota 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.
Burnsville
Gillette Children's — South Metro Developmental Clinic
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare provides comprehensive autism and developmental evaluations for children in Dakota County and the south metro. Multi-disciplinary team includes developmental pediatricians and neuropsychologists serving the Burnsville and Apple Valley area.
Saint Paul · multi-county
MAC Midwest
Neurodevelopmental care including center-based ABA, outpatient mental health, and diagnostic assessments across Minnesota metro centers.
Source: https://www.mnautism.org
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Minneapolis · multi-county
Action Behavior Centers — Minneapolis
Individualized ABA therapy for children with autism in Minneapolis/St. Paul metro including Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Maple Grove. Diagnostic evaluations with no waitlists.
Source: https://www.actionbehavior.com/city/minneapolis
Apple Valley
Behavior Management Systems — Dakota County ABA
Behavior Management Systems (BMS) provides BCBA-supervised Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for autistic children in Dakota County. Services include in-home and clinic-based ABA, parent training, and school consultation for families in the Apple Valley area.
Minneapolis · multi-county
Fraser — Autism Services
One of Minnesota's largest autism service providers. Fraser offers ABA therapy, speech, OT, diagnostic evaluation, and adult day services under one roof. BCBA-supervised with a developmental approach. Major presence across the Twin Cities metro.
One of MN's most comprehensive autism service organizations — serves from early childhood through adulthood.
Red Wing · multi-county
Fraser — Southeast Metro ABA (Goodhue County)
Fraser provides ABA therapy reaching Goodhue County from its southeast metro locations. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Northfield · multi-county
Fraser — Southeast Metro ABA Services (Rice County)
Fraser, one of Minnesota's largest autism service organizations, extends services to Rice County families. BCBA-supervised ABA with in-home and center-based options. Accepts Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.
Fraser is one of MN's most comprehensive autism organizations — services from early childhood through adulthood.
Minneapolis · multi-county
Minnesota Autism Center
Center-based ABA therapy with multiple Twin Cities locations. BCBA-supervised programs for children and adolescents. Accepts most commercial insurance and Minnesota Medical Assistance.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Prior Lake · multi-county
REACH for Resources — ABA Services
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy with in-home and center-based options for families in Scott County. Accepts Minnesota Medical Assistance and most commercial insurance. Serves the Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Savage area.
Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Apple Valley
Speech Pathology Group — Apple Valley
The Speech Pathology Group's Apple Valley location serves autistic children and teens with speech-language therapy, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) support, and social communication skills. Specialists in autism-related language and pragmatic development.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Burnsville
Pediatric Therapeutic Services — Burnsville OT & Sensory
Pediatric Therapeutic Services offers occupational therapy and sensory integration treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder in Burnsville and southern Dakota County. Sensory gym, sensory diet development, and fine motor skill building for all ages.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Minneapolis · multi-county
Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM)
Minnesota's statewide autism organization, headquartered in Minneapolis. Support groups, the Autism Day at the Capitol advocacy event, social programming, adult services, and the STRIDE employment program.
AuSM runs the STRIDE supported employment program — important for adults.
Burnsville
Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) — Dakota County Chapter
AuSM's Dakota County chapter connects Burnsville and Apple Valley families to peer support groups, community events, and statewide autism advocacy resources. Monthly meetings, family retreats, and one-on-one support navigation for caregivers throughout Dakota County.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Minneapolis · multi-county
PACER Center
Minnesota's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center and one of the most respected disability family advocacy organizations in the country. Free IEP advocacy, training, workshops, and one-on-one support. PACER's resources are used nationally. Headquartered in Minneapolis.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. One of the nation's best parent advocacy centers — call before any IEP dispute.
Red Wing · multi-county
PACER Center — Goodhue County Families
PACER Center, Minnesota's nationally recognized federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy, training, and parent support to Goodhue County families navigating Red Wing Public Schools and rural Goodhue County districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties.
Minneapolis · multi-county
PACER Center — Scott County Families
PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, serves all Minnesota families including those in Scott County. Free IEP advocacy, training workshops, and parent-to-parent support. One of the nation's premier disability advocacy organizations.
FREE. Federally funded PTI — serves all MN counties statewide. Call before any IEP dispute.
For providers
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Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Dakota County.
School & special education
- ISD 196 — Special Education (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan)
ISD 196 is the largest school district in Dakota County.
Services & benefits
- Dakota County Social Services — Disability Services
Dakota County manages HCBS waiver intake and DD services.
Adult services
- Dakota County Social Services — Disability Services
Dakota County manages HCBS waiver intake and DD services.
Respite & support
- Dakota County Social Services — Disability Services
Dakota County manages HCBS waiver intake and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Dakota 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 Dakota County
Serving families across Dakota County including Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville, Inver Grove Heights, Farmington, Hastings, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul and West St. Paul and more.
See all Minnesota resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Minnesota.
Minnesota state guide →Nearby counties in Minnesota
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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