County resource guide

Autism Resources in Nobles County, Minnesota

Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Nobles County. Minnesota statewide resources also apply.

Nobles County — home to Worthington — is in far southwestern Minnesota near Iowa and South Dakota. Sanford Worthington Medical Center provides healthcare services. Worthington and other local school districts provide special education. Provider availability is limited; families sometimes travel to Sioux Falls or Mankato for specialized evaluation. PACER Center provides free statewide IEP advocacy.

Provider directory

Local Providers25 providers in Nobles County

About our listings

Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.

Filter by age

0 providers in Nobles County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.

Diagnostic clinics

Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.

Jackson · multi-county

Mayo Clinic Health System — Jackson County Referral

Jackson County families access developmental and autism evaluation referrals through Mayo Clinic Health System facilities in Mankato (~60 miles northeast) or Worthington. Jackson County is a rural southwestern Minnesota agricultural county on the Iowa border.

Ages 0–18(507) 625-4031

Rural SW Minnesota. Mankato and Sioux Falls (SD) are the nearest major diagnostic centers.

Worthington · multi-county

Sanford Worthington Medical Center — Developmental Pediatric Services

Sanford Worthington is the primary hospital for Nobles County and the Worthington-area community in southwest Minnesota. Provides developmental pediatric evaluations and autism referrals to Sanford's Sioux Falls network. Worthington has one of Minnesota's largest Somali and Latino immigrant communities, adding important cultural competency considerations.

Ages 0–18(507) 372-2941

Ask about bilingual and culturally responsive evaluators — Worthington has significant Somali and Latino immigrant populations.

Early Intervention (0–3)

Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.

Worthington

Nobles County Early Childhood Special Education

Nobles County and the Worthington Public Schools provide free Early Childhood Special Education services for children birth through age 5. Bilingual early intervention services are available given Worthington's significant Somali and Latino populations. Entry point for all early intervention in Nobles County.

Ages 0–5Accepting new patients(507) 376-6111

FREE under IDEA. Bilingual services available. Contact Worthington Public Schools or Nobles County for referrals.

ABA therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.

Pipestone · multi-county

REACH for Resources — Pipestone County ABA

In-home and telehealth ABA services for families in Pipestone County and the southwest Minnesota prairie region. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.

Ages 2–21TelehealthIn-home(952) 474-5570

Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Telehealth important for this rural prairie county.

Luverne · multi-county

REACH for Resources — Rock County ABA

In-home and telehealth ABA services for families in Rock County and the southwest Minnesota prairie border region. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate.

Ages 2–21TelehealthIn-home(952) 474-5570

Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Sioux Falls providers may also be accessible across the border.

Jackson · multi-county

REACH for Resources — Southwest MN ABA (Jackson County)

REACH for Resources provides in-home and community-based ABA therapy for Jackson County families. BCBA-supervised programming accepts Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance under Minnesota's ABA mandate. In-home model is practical in this rural agricultural county.

Ages 2–21In-home(952) 474-5570

Slayton · multi-county

REACH for Resources — Southwest MN ABA (Murray County)

REACH for Resources provides in-home and telehealth ABA services reaching Murray County and southwest Minnesota. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance.

Ages 2–21TelehealthIn-home(952) 474-5570

Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Telehealth essential in this rural prairie county.

Worthington · multi-county

REACH for Resources — Southwest MN ABA (Nobles County)

REACH for Resources provides in-home and telehealth ABA services reaching Nobles County and the Worthington area. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Minnesota Medical Assistance and commercial insurance. Ask about multilingual services given Worthington's diverse population.

Ages 2–21TelehealthIn-home(952) 474-5570

Minnesota requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. Multilingual services important in Worthington.

Respite care

Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.

~3,000 providers nationwide

ARCH National Respite Locator

A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.

Most states run one

Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program

Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.

Parent & family support

Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.

Jackson · multi-county

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) — Southwest MN (Jackson County)

AuSM connects Jackson County families to statewide autism support resources and peer networks. Southwest Minnesota families often feel geographically isolated — AuSM's statewide programming provides an important community connection.

Ages All ages(651) 647-1083

Worthington

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) — Southwest MN (Nobles County)

AuSM connects Nobles County families in Worthington to statewide autism support resources and programming. Worthington's remarkable cultural diversity — with large Somali and Latino communities — means autism support should include culturally responsive approaches.

Ages All ages(651) 647-1083

Contact AuSM for southwest Minnesota resources. Culturally responsive programming especially important in Worthington.

Advocacy & legal

Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.

Jackson · multi-county

PACER Center — Jackson County Families

PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, serves Jackson County families with free IEP advocacy, training, and remote consultation. Critical for families in this rural southwestern county far from Twin Cities resources.

Ages All agesAccepting new patientsTelehealth(952) 838-9000

FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties. Virtual consultations available.

Worthington · multi-county

PACER Center — Nobles County & Southwest MN

PACER Center, Minnesota's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy, training, and parent support for Nobles County families. PACER has multilingual resources important for Worthington's diverse immigrant community navigating special education.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(952) 838-9000

FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties. Multilingual resources available.

Luverne · multi-county

PACER Center — Rock County & Far Southwest MN

PACER Center provides free IEP advocacy and virtual consultation for Rock County families navigating rural southwest Minnesota school districts. Minnesota's most southwestern county benefits particularly from PACER's remote consultation model.

Ages All agesAccepting new patientsTelehealth(952) 838-9000

FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all 87 MN counties statewide.

Activities, clubs & recreation

Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.

200+ locations nationwide

ACEing Autism

Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ages 5–18

Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.

~4,000 camps nationwide

American Camp Association — camp finder

A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.

Nationwide — find your local chapter

Best Buddies

One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ages Middle school through adult1-800-892-8339

A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.

Local affiliates across most of the country

Easterseals — camps and recreation

Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.

A national programme 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 affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.

Week-long camps hosted nationwide

iCan Shine (iCan Bike)

Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.

Local chapters in a number of US cities

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)

Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ages Children and young adults

Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.

900+ divisions nationwide

Little League Challenger Division

Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ages 4–18, or 15+ with no upper limit in Senior League

Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.

200+ communities

Miracle League

Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.

Every state — county-level programs

Special Olympics

Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ages 8+

Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.

Through local clubs and state associations

TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)

The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.

A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.

Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.

For providers

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Helpful guides

Guides for Nobles County families

Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.

See all Minnesota resources

Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Minnesota.

Minnesota state guide →

Common questions

Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.

How many autism providers serve Nobles County, Minnesota?

We list 13 providers serving Nobles County, covering parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3), advocacy & legal and ABA therapy. 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 Nobles County?

ABA providers serving Nobles 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.

Are there telehealth autism services for Nobles County families?

Yes — 6 providers serving Nobles County offer telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.

Can autism therapy happen at home in Nobles County?

5 providers serving Nobles 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 Minnesota?

Minnesota families can apply to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is No statewide queue, but county allocations create local delays, 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 Nobles County?

If none of the Nobles County providers is the right fit, these Minnesota counties currently have the most listed providers: Dakota County (23), Cass County (22), Hennepin County (21), Morrison County (21). 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 Minnesota

You know things we don’t

Still missing from Nobles County

These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Nobles 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.

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 Nobles County? We'll email you.

One email when we verify a new provider in Nobles 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 Nobles 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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For providers

Are you a provider serving Nobles County?

Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.

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