Autism Resources in Burlington County, New Jersey

Mullica Hill · multi-county

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Gloucester County Referral Network

Gloucester County families regularly access CHOP's comprehensive autism evaluations through CHOP's Voorhees specialty center (20 minutes away) or via the CHOP network primary care practices in Mullica Hill and Sewell. CHOP is widely considered the gold standard for South Jersey autism evaluations.

Ask your pediatrician for a CHOP referral. Voorhees campus is the closest full evaluation site. Waitlists are long — start early.

Voorhees · multi-county

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Voorhees Specialty Care Center

CHOP's Voorhees campus in Burlington County offers autism and developmental evaluations through the Center for Autism Research affiliate network. One of the most respected pediatric diagnostic programs on the East Coast. Families across South Jersey rely on CHOP for comprehensive evaluations.

CHOP is widely regarded as the premier diagnostic option in South Jersey. Expect significant waitlists — request a referral from your pediatrician early.

Camden · multi-county

Cooper University Health — Children's Regional Hospital Developmental Pediatrics

Autism and developmental evaluations at Cooper University Health's Children's Regional Hospital in Camden, South Jersey's primary academic medical center. Medicaid-accepting. Serves a diverse urban and suburban population across Camden County.

Medicaid-accepting. Cooper is South Jersey's major academic medical center and a key access point for families without commercial insurance.

Toms River · multi-county

Hackensack Meridian Community Medical Center — Pediatric Developmental Referrals

Ocean County families access autism evaluations primarily through Community Medical Center (Hackensack Meridian Health) in Toms River, which coordinates pediatric developmental referrals to K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune or CHOP in Philadelphia. Ocean County's large population and geographic spread make early referral essential.

Ask your pediatrician for a referral to K. Hovnanian Children's (Neptune) or CHOP for a comprehensive autism evaluation. Start early — waitlists are long.

Princeton · multi-county

Penn Medicine Princeton Health — Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Autism diagnostic evaluations and psychiatric support at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, serving Mercer County's diverse population from Trenton to Princeton. Connected to the University of Pennsylvania academic network. Strong private-pay practice base in the Princeton area.

Many private practices in Princeton area serve high-demand families. Expect waitlists — start early.

Mount Holly

Burlington County Early Intervention — County Lead Agency

Burlington County's federally funded Early Intervention program for children birth to 3. Free evaluations and IFSP development. Services include speech, OT, developmental therapy, and ABA for eligible infants and toddlers throughout Burlington County.

Free evaluation — call to start. Services are on a sliding-fee scale based on income.

Trenton · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Mercer County

In-home and center-based ABA therapy in Mercer County, serving families from Trenton through the Princeton corridor. BCBA-supervised. Accepts NJ commercial insurance and NJ Medicaid/DDD waiver.

Cherry Hill · multi-county

BlueSprig Autism — Cherry Hill

Center-based ABA therapy in Cherry Hill serving Camden County families. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic and structured teaching. Accepts most commercial insurance under NJ's ABA mandate and NJ Medicaid/DDD.

Mount Holly · multi-county

Centria Autism — Burlington County

Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in Burlington County. BCBA-supervised programming for children and teens. Accepts most commercial insurance under NJ's ABA insurance mandate and NJ Medicaid/DDD.

NJ requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Verify your plan and get a written authorization before starting.

Toms River · multi-county

Cornerstone Therapeutic Services — Ocean County

Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Ocean County families in Toms River and surrounding communities. BCBA-supervised with individualized behavioral programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under NJ's ABA insurance mandate and NJ Medicaid/DDD waiver.

Ocean County is a large, growing county — waitlists for ABA are common. Start the enrollment process as early as possible.

Statewide · multi-county

New Jersey respite — the door changes at 21

New Jersey splits respite at age 21 and families routinely knock on the wrong door for years. UNDER 21: respite sits inside Family Support Services through the Department of Children and Families' Children's System of Care, with PerformCare as the contracted point of access. OVER 21: respite is a Family Support Service through the Division of Developmental Disabilities, available to unpaid caregivers including family members and guardians. Same service, different agency, and nobody tells you when it changes.

Autism NJ publishes a plain guide to accessing respite in either system, and The Arc of NJ Family Institute has a 'respite go bag' checklist worth having ready before you need it.

~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.

Mount Holly · multi-county

Autism New Jersey — Burlington County Families

Autism New Jersey's statewide helpline and resource navigation serves Burlington County families. Provider referrals, insurance advocacy, DDD eligibility guidance, and connection to local support groups. One of the most respected autism organizations in the state.

FREE helpline. Call for provider referrals and DDD waiver guidance specific to South Jersey.

Cherry Hill · multi-county

Autism New Jersey — Camden County Families

Autism New Jersey connects Camden County families to local support groups, provider referrals, and DDD waiver guidance. Cherry Hill and surrounding suburbs have an active parent community with regular meetups.

FREE helpline. South Jersey has growing parent networks — Autism NJ can connect you to local groups.

Mullica Hill · multi-county

Autism New Jersey — Gloucester County Families

Autism New Jersey's helpline and statewide network serve Gloucester County families with resource navigation, local provider referrals, and DDD waiver guidance. Growing suburban population in Gloucester County means an active South Jersey parent community.

FREE helpline. Good entry point for new families in Gloucester County.

Robbinsville · multi-county

Autism New Jersey

New Jersey's leading statewide autism advocacy organization. Resource navigation, family conferences, policy advocacy, and the most comprehensive NJ autism provider directory. One of the strongest state autism organizations in the country.

Excellent statewide resource. Their helpline is well-regarded. Strong policy advocacy arm.

Robbinsville · multi-county

Autism New Jersey — Mercer County / Robbinsville HQ

Autism New Jersey's headquarters is in Robbinsville (Mercer County), making this the hub for their statewide helpline, family conferences, and provider directory. Resource navigation, DDD and waiver guidance, and insurance advocacy.

HQ location. Their annual conference is one of the largest autism family events on the East Coast.

Mount Holly · multi-county

SPAN — Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (Burlington County)

NJ's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serves Burlington County families at no cost. IEP preparation, Child Study Team navigation, and due process support. Free one-on-one appointments available.

FREE. Essential before any IEP meeting or Child Study Team dispute in NJ.

Camden · multi-county

SPAN — Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (Camden County)

NJ's federally funded PTI center serves Camden County families at no cost. IEP support, Child Study Team navigation, and special education rights training for urban and suburban families across Camden County.

FREE. Bilingual (Spanish/English) advocates available for Camden's large Latino community.

Woodbury · multi-county

SPAN — Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (Gloucester County)

NJ's federally funded PTI serves Gloucester County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, Child Study Team support, and due process assistance. Phone and virtual appointments available statewide.

FREE. Essential before any Child Study Team dispute or IEP hearing in NJ.

Toms River · multi-county

SPAN — Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (Ocean County)

NJ's federally funded PTI serves Ocean County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, Child Study Team navigation, and special education rights training. Ocean County has a large school-age population — SPAN is essential before any IEP dispute.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. One of the most effective IEP advocacy resources in New Jersey.

Brick · multi-county

POAC Autism Services

A long-running New Jersey autism nonprofit offering recreational and support services alongside parent and educator training, and training for police and first responders working with autistic children and adults - which is worth knowing about separately from recreation.

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.