Autism Resources in Passaic County, New Jersey
11 providers in Paterson, Clifton and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Passaic County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Passaic County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
St. Joseph's Health — Children's Center for Developmental Disabilities
Paterson, NJ
Autism and developmental evaluations at St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, the primary safety-net hospital for Passaic County's large Hispanic and immigrant population. Medicaid-accepting. Bilingual evaluation team.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) evaluation team. Key access point for Paterson's large Latino community.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Passaic County Early Intervention — County Lead Agency
Paterson, NJ
Passaic County's federally funded Early Intervention program for children birth to 3. Free evaluations and IFSP development. Services include speech, OT, PT, developmental therapy, and ABA for eligible children.
Multilingual evaluation team available. Sliding-fee scale for services.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Trumpet Behavioral Health — Clifton
Clifton, NJ · serves several counties
Center-based ABA therapy in Clifton serving Passaic County. BCBA-supervised with individualized behavioral programming. Accepts commercial insurance under NJ's ABA mandate and NJ DDD/Medicaid waiver.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Passaic County Special Needs Parents Support Group
Clifton, NJ
Monthly support group for parents and caregivers of children with autism and developmental disabilities in Passaic County. Meetings rotate between Clifton and Paterson locations. Bilingual (Spanish/English) sessions offered.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Autism New Jersey — Passaic County Helpline
Paterson, NJ · serves several counties
Autism New Jersey's statewide helpline serves Passaic County families with resource navigation, DDD eligibility guidance, insurance advocacy, and provider referrals. Especially valuable for families navigating NJ's complex waiver system.
FREE helpline. Spanish-language support available.
Also serving Passaic County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Passaic County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Atlantic Health System — Goryeb Children's Center (Sussex County Families)
Newton, NJ · serves several counties
Sussex County families rely on Atlantic Health System's Goryeb Children's Center at Morristown Medical Center for comprehensive autism evaluations. The drive to Morristown is typically 45–60 minutes from most of Sussex County. St. Clare's Hospital in Denville is a closer option for initial pediatric referrals.
Rural northwest NJ — the drive to Morristown is standard for comprehensive evaluations. Ask your pediatrician for a direct referral to Goryeb.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Concepts — Parsippany
Parsippany, NJ · serves several counties
Center-based ABA therapy in Morris County serving children and teens. BCBA-supervised programming with naturalistic and structured teaching. Accepts most commercial insurance under NJ's ABA mandate and NJ Medicaid/DDD.
NJ requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy — verify your plan before enrolling.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
New Jersey respite — the door changes at 21
Statewide, NJ · serves several counties
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.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, NJ
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, NJ
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of New Jersey — Bergen Chapter
Paramus, NJ · serves several counties
Bergen County chapter with support groups, family events, and resource connections for families in North Jersey and the NYC suburbs.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Rutgers — Delta Dental of NJ Special Care Center
Newark, NJ · serves several counties
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine's special care center, where specialists supervise graduate and postgraduate students treating patients with disabilities. They regularly treat patients with autism spectrum disorder. Dental school clinics trade time for expertise: appointments run longer because students do the work under supervision, and there can be a wait for a first visit. In exchange you get a team that treats disabled patients every day, usually at a lower cost, and they generally accept Medicaid.
Activities, clubs & recreation
11 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Friends Connect Foundation
New Jersey, NJ · serves several counties
Free social programs for teenagers with special needs aged 12 to 21, across fitness, self-expression, music and social events. Free and aimed squarely at the teenage years, which is when families most often report that everything dries up.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, NJ
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, NJ
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, NJ
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, NJ
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, NJ
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
See all 11 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, NJ
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, NJ
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, NJ
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, NJ
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, NJ
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
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About autism services in Passaic County
Passaic County (Paterson, Wayne, Clifton) is a densely populated northern New Jersey county. St. Joseph's University Medical Center (Paterson) is a major regional healthcare provider with Medicaid acceptance. SPAN provides free IEP advocacy statewide. New Jersey's ABA insurance mandate and Community Care waiver both apply statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Passaic 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 Passaic County
Serving families across Passaic County including Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, Wayne, West Milford, Totowa, Woodland Park, Pompton Lakes, Hawthorne and Ringwood and more.
See all New Jersey resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New Jersey.
New Jersey state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Passaic County, New Jersey?
We list 11 providers serving Passaic County, covering diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal, parent & family support, ABA therapy and activities, clubs & recreation, plus 3 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 Passaic County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Passaic County state that they accept Medicaid, including Behavioral Concepts — Parsippany and Trumpet Behavioral Health — Clifton. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Passaic County?
ABA providers serving Passaic 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in New Jersey?
New Jersey families can apply to the DDD Supports Program and Community Care Program, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Supports Program has no wait; Community Care Program does, 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 Passaic County?
If none of the Passaic County providers is the right fit, these New Jersey counties currently have the most listed providers: Morris County (23), Burlington County (21), Middlesex County (21), Essex County (20). 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 New Jersey
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Passaic County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Passaic 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 Passaic County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Passaic 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 Passaic 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
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