Autism Resources in Erie County, New York

Buffalo · multi-county

John R. Oishei Children's Hospital — Autism Evaluation Clinic

Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo is western New York's primary pediatric medical center, housing a dedicated autism evaluation clinic with developmental pediatricians and neuropsychologists. The clinic performs comprehensive autism spectrum assessments including ADOS-2 and cognitive testing, and coordinates closely with the regional CPSE system and University at Buffalo's autism programs.

Western New York's top children's hospital. Long waits — get on the list early.

Buffalo

University at Buffalo — Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Program

The University at Buffalo's autism research program offers evaluations and intervention studies for children and adults on the autism spectrum, often at reduced or no cost through research participation. UB's Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences and the ACES Lab are particularly active in early intervention and language research.

Research participation may offer evaluations at reduced cost. Check for open studies.

Buffalo · multi-county

Spectrum Behavioral Services — Buffalo

BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Erie County and the Buffalo metro area with center-based and in-home services. Uses evidence-based naturalistic teaching strategies tailored to each child's developmental profile. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and coordinates with local school districts and CPSE.

New York ABA insurance mandate applies.

Jamestown · multi-county

Spectrum Behavioral Services — Western NY (Chautauqua)

Chautauqua County families seeking ABA therapy are served through western New York providers that offer in-home services. Spectrum Behavioral Services extends from the Buffalo area to Chautauqua County for in-home BCBA-supervised ABA. Commercial insurance coverage applies under New York's ABA mandate; NY Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children.

In-home ABA is primary in rural Chautauqua County. Travel time may affect scheduling.

Buffalo · multi-county

Say It Right Speech Therapy — Buffalo

A western New York speech-language pathology practice specializing in autism communication, AAC evaluation, social communication, and feeding therapy for children in Erie County. Therapists are experienced with naturalistic language facilitation approaches including PECS and aided language stimulation. Accepts commercial insurance and private pay.

Also explore UB's Communication Disorders Clinic for university-supervised speech services at reduced cost.

Buffalo · multi-county

ECMC — Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Erie County Medical Center's occupational therapy program serves Buffalo-area children with autism-related sensory processing challenges, fine motor delays, and daily living skill deficits. ECMC is a major safety-net hospital accepting Medicaid, making OT services accessible to Buffalo's diverse population including lower-income families who may otherwise lack access.

Accepts Medicaid. Also explore Children's Guild (Oishei system) and private OT practices in suburban Erie County.

Statewide · multi-county

OPWDD respite services — via the Front Door

New York funds respite in the home or out of it, during the day, in the evening or overnight, including cover when a family member is ill or a regular carer is on leave. Access runs through your regional OPWDD Front Door office rather than through providers directly. NY Connects is a single intake line that screens you for OPWDD alongside several other programs in one call.

Start with the OPWDD Front Door for your region. Ask about both in-home and out-of-home respite — families are often told about only one.

~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.

Buffalo · multi-county

Autism Society of Western New York

The Western New York chapter of the Autism Society of America provides peer support groups for parents, social programming for autistic individuals, community events, and local resource navigation across Erie County and the Buffalo region. Regular meetings in Buffalo and suburban Erie County locations.

Buffalo · multi-county

OPWDD — Western New York DDSO (Chautauqua)

Chautauqua County families access OPWDD-funded services through the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office. OPWDD services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite care, and Medicaid waiver supports. The WNY DDSO has a field office serving Chautauqua County and can guide families through the eligibility process.

Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — services require eligibility first and waiver waitlists exist.

Buffalo · multi-county

Parent Network of Western New York

The Parent Network of Western New York is the federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) center for upstate New York families, including Erie County. Provides free workshops, one-on-one parent support, IEP preparation assistance, and training on IDEA rights. Serves families of children with any disability from birth through age 26.

FREE federally funded PTI. Call for free IEP coaching and parent training.

Jamestown · multi-county

Parent Network of Western New York — Chautauqua County

The federally funded Parent Training and Information center for western New York directly serves Chautauqua County families. The Parent Network WNY is based in Buffalo and has long-standing outreach to Chautauqua County, providing free IEP coaching, IDEA rights workshops, and one-on-one parent support for navigating the Jamestown-area school districts.

FREE federally funded PTI. Chautauqua County is within the WNY PTI's core service area.

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.