County resource guide
Autism Resources in McKinley County, New Mexico
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in McKinley County. New Mexico statewide resources also apply.
McKinley County (Gallup) has significant Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo population. Gallup Indian Medical Center serves enrolled tribal members. Gallup-McKinley County Schools provides special education. EPICS (NM PTI) provides free statewide advocacy. Families seeking comprehensive evaluations travel to Albuquerque. NM's FIT Program serves young children.
Provider directory
Local Providers26 providers in McKinley 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 McKinley 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.
Gallup · multi-county
Gallup Indian Medical Center — IHS Behavioral Health
Indian Health Service facility serving McKinley County's large Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo populations. Provides behavioral health services including developmental screenings. Families seeking full autism evaluations are coordinated through IHS or Navajo Nation tribal health programs.
IHS services are available to enrolled tribal members. Navajo Nation also operates tribally funded health and disability programs through the Navajo Division of Social Services.
Farmington · multi-county
San Juan Health Partners — Developmental Services (Farmington)
San Juan Health Partners in Farmington is the primary medical system for San Juan County in the Four Corners region. Developmental concerns are addressed locally, and complex autism evaluations are coordinated with UNM Children's in Albuquerque (~185 miles south).
Four Corners families may also access Colorado providers in Durango (~50 miles) for some pediatric developmental services.
Gallup · multi-county
UNM Health — Telehealth Developmental Pediatrics
UNM Children's Hospital telehealth services reduce the barrier for McKinley County families who would otherwise face a 140-mile trip to Albuquerque for a developmental evaluation. Telehealth consultations available for autism assessments and follow-up care.
Ask specifically for developmental pediatrics telehealth. Gallup families are strong candidates for remote services.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Gallup · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Western Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for McKinley County, including families on and near the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo. FIT provides free evaluations and in-home services for children under 3. Culturally responsive services available.
FREE. Serves both off-reservation and on-reservation families. Bilingual English/Navajo services may be available.
Grants · multi-county
Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program — Western Region
New Mexico's IDEA Part C early intervention program for Cibola County. Free evaluations and home-based services for children birth to three in Grants and surrounding communities, including families on Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo lands within the county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Tribal families on Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo lands are eligible. FIT works with IHS and tribal health programs.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Farmington · multi-county
Catalyst ABA — Farmington / San Juan County
ABA therapy for San Juan County children with autism in Farmington and surrounding Four Corners communities. BCBA-supervised programming with NM Medicaid acceptance for this underserved rural region.
NM Medicaid (Centennial Care) accepted. San Juan County is one of NM's more populated rural counties with growing ABA access.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
New Mexico DOH Respite Program
Short-term temporary care for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, so a caregiver can have a break. New Mexico is unusually flexible about where it happens: the family and provider decide together, and it can be the family's own home, the provider's home, a respite home, or a community setting the family chooses such as a community center, a park or a swimming pool. For a child who does badly with unfamiliar buildings, that flexibility is the whole difference.
Also on (505) 841-4736. Respite is separately funded under the HCBS waivers — worth asking about both, given DD Waiver waits of 10 to 12 years.
~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.
Farmington · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico — Four Corners / San Juan County
The Autism Society of New Mexico provides peer support and statewide resources for San Juan County families in Farmington, Aztec, and Bloomfield. The Four Corners region has a growing autism family community.
Virtual support is important for San Juan County families given the distance to Albuquerque.
Gallup · multi-county
Autism Society of New Mexico — Western NM Outreach
The Autism Society of New Mexico provides statewide support including outreach to western New Mexico communities like Gallup. Resource navigation, family connections, and event information for McKinley County families.
Statewide support — contact them about local Gallup-area resources and peer connections.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs / Parents Reaching Out
New Mexico's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for New Mexico families. Serves a uniquely diverse population including Native American families across the state.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Strong cultural competency serving New Mexico's Native American and Hispanic families.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — IEP Advocacy for San Juan County
EPICS, New Mexico's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy for San Juan County families in Farmington Municipal Schools, Aztec Municipal Schools, Bloomfield Schools, and surrounding Four Corners districts.
FREE. Remote/phone advocacy is the primary access mode for San Juan County families who cannot travel to Albuquerque.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
NM's statewide PTI with strong experience serving Native American families in McKinley County. EPICS provides IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and family support — with cultural competency for the Navajo Nation and Zuni communities.
FREE. Historically served Native American families; bilingual and culturally responsive. Phone/remote advocacy available.
Albuquerque · multi-county
EPICS — Parent Training & Information Center
New Mexico's federally funded PTI with strong experience serving Native American families, including Navajo Nation and Pueblo families in Cibola County. Free IEP advocacy and special education rights training; bilingual and culturally responsive services.
FREE. EPICS is NM's original PTI for Native American families — strong cultural competency for Cibola County's diverse population.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Santa Fe · multi-county
New Mexico Governor's Commission on Disability - recreation and adaptive sports
The state commission maintains a recreation and adaptive sports listing - the closest thing New Mexico has to a statewide index, and worth checking outside Albuquerque and Santa Fe where organized provision is very thin.
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.
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Helpful guides
Guides for McKinley 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 McKinley County
Serving families across McKinley County including Gallup, Zuni, Tohatchi, Crownpoint, Rehoboth, Church Rock, Continental Divide, Ramah, Thoreau and Vanderwagen and more.
See all New Mexico resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New Mexico.
New Mexico state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve McKinley County, New Mexico?
We list 14 providers serving McKinley County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, advocacy & legal, early intervention (0–3) and diagnostic clinics, plus 2 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 McKinley County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for McKinley County state that they accept Medicaid, including Catalyst ABA — Farmington / San Juan County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in McKinley County?
ABA providers serving McKinley 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 McKinley County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving McKinley County offers 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 McKinley County?
2 providers serving McKinley 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico families can apply to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver, Medically Fragile Waiver and Supports Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is 10–12 years for the DD Waiver, 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 McKinley County?
If none of the McKinley County providers is the right fit, these New Mexico counties currently have the most listed providers: Bernalillo County (22), Valencia County (22), Rio Arriba County (19), Grant County (17). 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 Mexico
You know things we don’t
Still missing from McKinley County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in McKinley 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.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- 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?
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 McKinley County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in McKinley 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 McKinley 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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