County resource guide
Autism Resources in Monroe County, New York
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Monroe County. New York statewide resources also apply.
Monroe County (Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit) is home to the University of Rochester Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital and the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities — one of the most respected autism programs in Upstate New York. The Advocacy Center (ENABLE) and other Rochester-area organizations provide IEP support resources. OPWDD's regional office coordinates adult DD services. New York's ABA insurance mandate applies statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers22 providers in Monroe 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 Monroe 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.
Rochester · multi-county
Golisano Children's Hospital — Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, is one of New York State's leading autism evaluation and treatment centers. The interdisciplinary team conducts comprehensive ADOS-2 assessments, cognitive testing, and co-occurring condition evaluation. The Center also houses research programs and connects families to URMC specialists across neurology, psychiatry, and genetics.
Rochester's premier academic pediatric center for autism evaluation. Expect a waitlist.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Rochester
Monroe County Early Intervention Program
Monroe County's official Early Intervention program administered through the county Department of Public Health. Provides free developmental evaluations and services for children birth to 3 years who show delays or early signs of autism. Service coordinators help families develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and transition smoothly to CPSE at age 3.
Call as soon as you notice any developmental concern — Early Intervention is FREE and time-sensitive.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Rochester
Autism Behavioral Services — Rochester
Monroe County ABA provider offering BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based therapy for children and adolescents in the Rochester area. Individualized programming using naturalistic developmental strategies and structured ABA. Accepts commercial insurance carriers under New York's ABA insurance mandate and Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies to commercial plans.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Rochester · multi-county
URMC — Speech-Language Pathology (Pediatric)
The University of Rochester Medical Center's pediatric speech-language pathology program provides comprehensive services for autistic children, including AAC evaluation and training, social communication therapy, feeding therapy, and family coaching. As an academic medical center, URMC offers specialized expertise including for minimally verbal children and those with complex communication needs.
Academic program — can serve complex cases. Also explore the UB Communication Disorders department for research-based speech services.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Rochester · multi-county
Golisano Children's Hospital — Occupational Therapy
Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center provides pediatric occupational therapy for Monroe County children with autism, including sensory integration therapy, fine motor evaluation, and daily living skills training. OT services are coordinated with the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities for integrated post-diagnosis care.
Coordinated referrals from the URMC Strong Center. Also explore private OT practices in Pittsford and Webster for shorter waits.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Rochester · multi-county
Autism Society of Rochester
Rochester's Autism Society chapter provides parent support groups, family social events, and community resource connections across Monroe County and surrounding areas. Regular meetings in Rochester and suburban locations, plus an active parent-to-parent network for newly diagnosed families.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Canandaigua · multi-county
Advocacy Center — Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County)
The Advocacy Center provides free IEP support, IDEA rights training, and parent advocacy for Ontario County families. As part of the Finger Lakes regional PTI network connected to URMC, the center maintains strong ties to the Rochester disability services ecosystem.
FREE parent advocacy and IEP support. Connected to Rochester's disability services network.
Rochester · multi-county
Advocacy Center of Tompkins County — Finger Lakes Outreach
The Advocacy Center serves families across the Finger Lakes and Rochester region, providing free support and training for parents navigating special education and disability services. Helps families understand IDEA rights, prepare for IEP meetings, and access community resources. Part of the New York State PTI network.
FREE parent advocacy and IEP support.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Rochester · multi-county
Eastman Institute for Oral Health — Specialty Care (special needs)
The University of Rochester's Eastman Institute runs a specialty care service for patients with special needs, and is one of the largest oral health institutes in the country. 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
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
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.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Monroe 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 Monroe County
Serving families across Monroe County including Rochester, Irondequoit, Greece, Brighton, Gates, Henrietta, Chili, Penfield, Pittsford and Webster and more.
See all New York resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in New York.
New York state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Monroe County, New York?
We list 10 providers serving Monroe County, covering advocacy & legal, ABA therapy, parent & family support, autism-friendly dentists and occupational therapy & sensory, plus 4 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 Monroe County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Monroe County state that they accept Medicaid, including Autism Behavioral Services — Rochester. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Monroe County?
ABA providers serving Monroe 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.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Monroe County?
1 provider serving Monroe County delivers 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 York?
New York families can apply to the OPWDD Home and Community Based Services Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Eligibility itself takes months; service waits vary by region, 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 Monroe County?
If none of the Monroe County providers is the right fit, these New York counties currently have the most listed providers: Queens County (28), Kings County (25), Onondaga County (25), Albany County (24). 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 York
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Monroe County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Monroe 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 Monroe County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Monroe 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 Monroe 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
Are you a provider serving Monroe County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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