County resource guide
Autism Resources in Buffalo County, Nebraska
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Buffalo County. Nebraska statewide resources also apply.
Buffalo County (Kearney) is a regional hub in south-central Nebraska. CHI Health Good Samaritan provides medical services. Kearney Public Schools provides special education. PTI Nebraska provides free statewide IEP advocacy, and the Nebraska Early Development Network (EDN) serves young children. Families seeking specialized evaluations travel to Omaha or Lincoln.
Provider directory
Local Providers30 providers in Buffalo 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.
0 providers in Buffalo 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.
Minden · multi-county
CHI Health Good Samaritan — Developmental Referrals (Kearney Co.)
Kearney County families in Minden access specialist and developmental services at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney (~15 miles north). For comprehensive autism evaluations, referrals go to Children's Nebraska or Bryan Health.
Kearney city (CHI Good Samaritan) is ~15 miles north of Minden. Grand Island also accessible.
Lexington · multi-county
Good Samaritan Hospital — Pediatric Services (Lexington)
Pediatric care and developmental referrals at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington. Dawson County's large Hispanic/Latino community benefits from bilingual care coordination. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families are referred to Children's Nebraska in Omaha or Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) care coordination available. Kearney (~30 min) has additional specialist services.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Lexington · multi-county
Early Development Network — Central Nebraska (Dawson Co.)
Nebraska Part C Early Intervention for children under 3 in Dawson County. Free evaluations and in-home services coordinated through EDN. Bilingual services available for Spanish-speaking families.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Bilingual coordination available. Parents can self-refer.
Minden · multi-county
Early Development Network — Kearney County
Nebraska Part C Early Intervention for children under 3 in Kearney County. Free evaluations and in-home developmental services coordinated through EDN. Self-referral accepted.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Parents can self-refer.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Kearney · multi-county
CHI Health Good Samaritan — Speech & Rehab
Speech-language pathology and rehabilitation services at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, serving Adams County and nearby communities. Pediatric speech therapy for children with autism including AAC and language development.
Also serves Buffalo County (Kearney). Nebraska Medicaid accepted.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Kearney
Kearney Regional Medical Center — Pediatric OT
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Nebraska Lifespan Respite Subsidy Program
Nebraska pays a respite subsidy of up to $125 a month toward the cost of respite for unpaid family caregivers, with up to a further $2,000 a year available in exceptional circumstances. Income must be at or below 312 percent of the federal poverty level, which is a far higher ceiling than most families expect. Nebraska also eliminated its developmental disabilities registry entirely in 2025, so waiver respite is genuinely reachable here too.
312% of the federal poverty level is generous — check the figure for your household size before assuming you earn too much.
~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.
Lexington · multi-county
Autism Society of Nebraska — Statewide Support
Statewide parent support, resource navigation, and advocacy for Dawson County autism families through the Autism Society of Nebraska. Connects Lexington families to central Nebraska and statewide networks.
Minden · multi-county
Autism Society of Nebraska — Statewide Support
Statewide parent support, resource navigation, and advocacy for Kearney County autism families. Connects Minden-area families to Kearney city and statewide networks.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Omaha · multi-county
Nebraska PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Nebraska's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Nebraska families statewide.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute in Nebraska.
Lexington · multi-county
PTI Nebraska — IEP Advocacy (Dawson Co.)
Free IEP and special education advocacy for Dawson County families from Nebraska's statewide PTI. Phone and video consultations available; bilingual support available for Spanish-speaking families.
FREE. Bilingual advocacy available. Call before any IEP meeting or school dispute.
Minden · multi-county
PTI Nebraska — IEP Advocacy (Kearney Co.)
Free IEP and special education advocacy for Kearney County families from Nebraska's statewide PTI. Phone and video consultations available statewide.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting or school dispute in Nebraska.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Omaha · multi-county
Munroe-Meyer Institute Dental Clinic (UNMC)
6902 Pine St., Omaha, NE 68106
One of the most thoughtfully adapted dental environments we have found anywhere. Rooms can be darkened and the lighting color changed, equipment stays concealed until it is actually needed, and the space adapts around wheelchairs and individual preference. It serves patients of all ages and abilities across the whole lifespan, and sits inside Munroe-Meyer, which runs more than fifty clinical services for people with disabilities. The stated aim is a lifelong positive relationship with dental care rather than getting through one appointment.
Say when you book that your child needs the low-sensory setup - it is a deliberate feature here, not a favor. Sedation is available for anxious patients.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Omaha · multi-county
Easterseals Nebraska - camp and respite
Summer camp and mini-camp respite weekends for young people with autism, adapted in detail - a sensory room on site, communication devices available, and staffing built around it. Respite weekends through the year matter as much as the summer week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Buffalo County.
School & special education
- Kearney Public Schools — Special Education
Kearney is the county seat and largest city in Buffalo County.
Services & benefits
- Nebraska DHHS — Buffalo County DD Services
Contact Nebraska DHHS for Buffalo County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- Nebraska DHHS — Buffalo County DD Services
Contact Nebraska DHHS for Buffalo County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- Nebraska DHHS — Buffalo County DD Services
Contact Nebraska DHHS for Buffalo County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Buffalo 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 Buffalo County
Serving families across Buffalo County including Kearney, Gibbon, Shelton, Ravenna, Elm Creek, Overton, Miller, Amherst, Pleasanton and Riverdale and more.
See all Nebraska resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Nebraska.
Nebraska state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Buffalo County, Nebraska?
We list 18 providers serving Buffalo County, covering parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, speech therapy, early intervention (0–3) and activities, clubs & recreation, plus 5 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 Buffalo County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Buffalo County state that they accept Medicaid, including CHI Health Good Samaritan — Speech & Rehab. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Buffalo County?
ABA providers serving Buffalo 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 Buffalo County?
2 providers serving Buffalo 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska families can apply to the Autism Waiver, Comprehensive and Developmental Disabilities Adult Day waivers, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is No waitlist — the registry was eliminated in June 2025, 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 Buffalo County?
If none of the Buffalo County providers is the right fit, these Nebraska counties currently have the most listed providers: Valley County (24), Furnas County (23), Washington County (22), Adams 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 Nebraska
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Buffalo County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Buffalo 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 Buffalo County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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