Autism Resources in Douglas County, Nebraska

Omaha · multi-county

Children's Nebraska — Developmental Pediatrics

Developmental and autism evaluations at Children's Nebraska, Omaha's dedicated pediatric hospital. Multi-disciplinary team serving Douglas County and the broader metro.

Omaha · multi-county

Galliant Autism — Omaha

Autism testing, diagnosis, and ABA therapy at centers in Omaha, Lincoln, Elkhorn, and Gretna, Nebraska.

Source: https://www.galliantcare.com/nebraska-autism-therapy

Omaha · multi-county

Inner Circle Autism Network — Nebraska

Comprehensive autism evaluations at Northwest Omaha location. Evaluations available for $100 in partnership with a licensed clinical psychologist.

Source: https://www.innercircleautism.com/about-2/locations/nebraska-aba/

Omaha · multi-county

Munroe-Meyer Institute — Autism Programs

One of the Midwest's most respected University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The Munroe-Meyer Institute at UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Center) offers comprehensive autism evaluations, behavioral treatment, and family support. A research leader and clinical anchor for Nebraska and the surrounding region.

Nebraska's UCEDD and one of the Midwest's strongest autism programs. Worth the waitlist.

Omaha · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Omaha

In-home and center-based ABA therapy in Douglas County. BCBA-supervised. Accepts most commercial insurance under Nebraska's ABA insurance mandate.

Nebraska requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Omaha · multi-county

Lighthouse Autism Center — Omaha

Individualized ABA therapy and autism diagnostic testing at the Omaha, Nebraska location.

Source: https://lighthouseautismcenter.com/locations/omaha-autism-center/

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.

Omaha · multi-county

Autism Society of Nebraska

Nebraska's statewide autism chapter. Support groups, resource navigation, family events, and advocacy across Douglas County and statewide.

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.

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.

Omaha · multi-county

Camp Munroe - Munroe-Meyer Institute

A summer program from the University of Nebraska's Munroe-Meyer Institute focused on recreational play and social interaction for autistic children, with the clinical grounding of a university disability institute behind it.

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.