County resource guide
Franklin County, New York
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Franklin County. New York statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
14 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Malone
Alice Hyde Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone is the primary hospital for Franklin County, a remote North Country border county adjacent to Quebec. Developmental pediatric screenings and referrals for autism concerns are available through the Alice Hyde team. Comprehensive ADOS-2 evaluations typically require travel to CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh (~45 min east) or Albany Medical Center (~2.5 hrs south).
CVPH Plattsburgh (~45 min east) is a practical first referral step. Families near the Quebec border may explore evaluation options in Montréal for bilingual or French-speaking families.
Potsdam · multi-county
Canton-Potsdam Hospital (North Star Health) — Developmental Referrals
Canton-Potsdam Hospital, now part of North Star Health, is one of the primary hospitals serving St. Lawrence County. Developmental pediatric screenings and referrals are available, but comprehensive autism evaluations typically require travel to SUNY Upstate in Syracuse (2+ hours) or specialists in Ottawa, Ontario for northernmost families. Telehealth evaluation options are increasingly important for this remote region.
St. Lawrence County is one of NY's most rural counties. Telehealth evaluations are strongly recommended — ask about virtual options through SUNY Upstate or Albany Med.
Plattsburgh · multi-county
CVPH Medical Center (UVM Health Network) — Developmental Pediatrics
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) in Plattsburgh, part of the UVM Health Network, serves as the primary hospital for Clinton County and the North Country. Developmental pediatric screenings and referrals are available, but comprehensive autism evaluations typically require travel to Albany Medical Center (2 hours south) or the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT (30 min north across the border).
North Country families often travel to Burlington, VT (UVM Medical Center) for specialized autism evaluations — it is closer than Albany for most Clinton County residents.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Malone
Franklin County Early Intervention Program
Franklin County's Early Intervention program provides free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or early autism signs. Coordinated through the county Department of Health in Malone, EI service coordinators develop an IFSP and support transition to CPSE at age 3. In-home delivery is the norm across this large rural county.
FREE for eligible children. Franklin County EI coordinators are familiar with cross-border logistics and the limited local provider landscape.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Malone
Behavioral Intervention Associates — North Country (Franklin County)
ABA therapy for Franklin County families with in-home BCBA-supervised services. Franklin County's remote location near the Canadian border means in-home delivery is the primary model. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid for eligible children. Telehealth ABA coaching supplements in-person sessions.
Rural North Country county — in-home ABA and telehealth are primary. Plattsburgh providers (~45 min) may also serve Franklin County families.
Canton · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — St. Lawrence County
ABA therapy services for St. Lawrence County families, primarily through in-home delivery given the rural and spread-out nature of the county. BCBA-supervised programs with telehealth support components. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid. St. Lawrence County is significantly underserved — families may wait for local ABA and should also explore telehealth ABA options.
Severely underserved rural region. In-home and telehealth ABA are often the only realistic options.
Plattsburgh · multi-county
BlueSprig Pediatrics — North Country / Plattsburgh
ABA therapy serving Clinton County families. Northern NY is rural and underserved — in-home ABA services are the primary delivery model. BCBA-supervised programs accepting commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid. Some families supplement with telehealth ABA from Albany or Burlington-based providers.
Rural North Country — in-home ABA is primary. Consider telehealth ABA as a supplement if local slots are limited.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Malone
Autism Society New York State — North Country
Autism Society New York State connects Franklin County families to peer support, statewide advocacy, and resource navigation. Virtual programming makes meaningful connection possible for families in Malone, Saranac Lake, and other remote Franklin County communities. Quebec-border families may also find cross-border support resources helpful.
Virtual support groups available. Franklin County is among New York's most isolated counties — virtual connections are especially valuable here.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Plattsburgh · multi-county
OPWDD — Adirondack DDSO (Clinton County)
The Adirondack Developmental Disabilities Services Office serves Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington counties with OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Rural North Country families should contact the DDSO early — eligibility determination and service planning take time.
Rural DDSO — staffing and services can be limited. Apply for OPWDD eligibility as early as possible.
Watertown · multi-county
OPWDD — Adirondack DDSO (Jefferson County)
Jefferson County accesses OPWDD-funded services through the Adirondack DDSO. Services include community habilitation, day programs, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Rural setting means some services have wait times. Apply for OPWDD eligibility well in advance.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early. Fort Drum transition-age youth: coordinate OPWDD services with military separation planning.
Canton · multi-county
OPWDD — Adirondack DDSO (St. Lawrence County)
St. Lawrence County families access OPWDD-funded services through the Adirondack Developmental Disabilities Services Office. Services are limited by the county's rural character and distance from urban centers. OPWDD-funded services include day habilitation, community habilitation, and Medicaid waiver supports. Families should apply for OPWDD eligibility well in advance.
Very rural county — OPWDD services are limited. Apply early and ask about Medicaid waiver priority for rural families.
Malone
Parent Network of Western New York — Franklin County
The federally funded PTI center provides free IEP coaching, IDEA rights training, and one-on-one parent support for Franklin County families. Phone and virtual consultations are essential in this remote county — Malone families may have no local in-person advocacy resources available.
FREE federally funded PTI. Phone/virtual is the primary modality for Franklin County's geographic isolation.
Plattsburgh · multi-county
Parent Network of Western New York — North Country Outreach
The federally funded Parent Training and Information center provides free IEP coaching and IDEA rights support to families statewide, including Clinton County's rural North Country. Phone and virtual consultations are the primary access mode for North Country families. Particularly helpful for navigating small, under-resourced school districts.
FREE PTI services by phone and video — essential for rural North Country families with limited local resources.
Canton · multi-county
Parent Network of Western New York — St. Lawrence County
The federally funded Parent Training and Information center provides free IEP coaching and IDEA rights support for St. Lawrence County families by phone and video. St. Lawrence County's remote location makes virtual PTI access especially important. The PTI can help families advocate within small, rural school districts and navigate OPWDD services.
FREE PTI services. Phone and virtual consultations are essential for this remote region.
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