County resource guide
Autism Resources in Onondaga County, New York
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Onondaga County. New York statewide resources also apply.
Onondaga County (Syracuse) is home to SUNY Upstate Medical University's pediatric developmental clinic — the primary academic medical resource for central New York. Syracuse City School District and Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES provide special education and autism support. ARISE Child & Family Service supports families navigating the system. OPWDD's regional office serves Onondaga County residents for adult DD services. New York's ABA insurance mandate applies statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers37 providers in Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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.
Cortland · multi-county
Cortland Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Cortland Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital for Cortland County. Developmental pediatric concerns are screened and referred to SUNY Upstate in Syracuse (40 min north) or UHS Binghamton (30 min south) for comprehensive autism evaluations. Cortland County's central location gives families two strong academic referral options.
Both SUNY Upstate (Syracuse, 40 min) and UHS Binghamton (30 min) are accessible. Contact both simultaneously to compare waitlists.
Auburn · multi-county
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Cayuga County Referrals
Cayuga County families seeking comprehensive autism evaluations access SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse (45–60 min east), the primary academic medical center for Central New York. The Upstate autism and neurodevelopmental program conducts ADOS-2 evaluations and multidisciplinary assessments. Auburn Community Hospital also provides initial screenings and warm referrals.
Syracuse (SUNY Upstate, ~50 min) is the primary autism evaluation hub for Cayuga County. Call early for the waitlist.
Oneida · multi-county
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Central NY Autism Program (Madison County)
Madison County families access comprehensive autism evaluation through SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse (Onondaga County, ~35–40 min west). Upstate's autism and neurodevelopmental program conducts gold-standard ADOS-2 assessments. Madison County sits between the Syracuse and Utica markets, giving families options in both directions.
Syracuse (SUNY Upstate) is ~35 min west. Utica (Mohawk Valley Health System) is ~30 min northeast — both are accessible from Madison County.
Oswego · multi-county
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Oswego County Families
Oswego County families seeking comprehensive autism evaluations access SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse (45–60 min south), the primary academic medical center for Central New York. Upstate University Hospital — Oswego also provides initial pediatric screening and warm referrals into the Upstate autism and neurodevelopmental program.
SUNY Upstate (Syracuse, ~50 min) is the primary autism evaluation hub for Oswego County. Call early for the waitlist.
Syracuse · multi-county
Upstate University Hospital — Autism and Neurodevelopmental Program
SUNY Upstate Medical University's autism and neurodevelopmental program provides comprehensive evaluations for children across Central New York. The interdisciplinary team conducts gold-standard ADOS-2 and ADI-R assessments and has direct referral pathways to Upstate's speech-language, OT, and psychiatry departments. Upstate is the primary academic medical center for the Syracuse region.
Central New York's academic medical center for autism evaluation. Plan for a waiting period.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Syracuse
Onondaga County Early Intervention Program
Onondaga County's official Early Intervention program provides free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 who show developmental delays or early autism signs. Coordinated through the county Health Department, the program assigns service coordinators who help families navigate evaluations, build an IFSP, and transition to CPSE at age 3.
FREE for eligible children. Don't wait — earlier intervention produces better outcomes.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Auburn · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cayuga County
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Cayuga County with center-based and in-home services. Auburn is the county seat — some families also access Syracuse-area center-based ABA. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies. Syracuse providers (45–60 min) offer more center-based options.
Oneida · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Central NY (Madison County)
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Madison County with center-based and in-home options. Madison County's central location between Syracuse and Utica gives families access to multiple ABA clinics. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies. Center-based options in Syracuse (~35 min) and Utica (~30 min).
Cortland · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cortland County
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Cortland County families with in-home and center-based options. Cortland's central location between Syracuse and Binghamton gives families access to ABA providers in both metro areas. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA mandate applies. Both Syracuse and Binghamton area ABA providers serve Cortland County.
Oswego · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Oswego County
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Oswego County with in-home and center-based services. Oswego County's proximity to Syracuse gives families access to the broader CNY ABA provider network. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies. Syracuse-area providers (45–60 min) offer expanded center-based options.
Syracuse · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Syracuse
Onondaga County ABA provider offering BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based therapy for children and adolescents in the Syracuse metro. Individualized treatment plans using both naturalistic teaching and structured ABA. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid for qualifying families.
NY ABA insurance mandate covers commercial plans. NY Medicaid covers ABA therapy.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Syracuse · multi-county
Upstate University Hospital — Speech-Language Pathology (Pediatric)
SUNY Upstate Medical University's pediatric speech-language pathology program serves children with autism-related communication challenges, including minimally verbal children, AAC evaluation, social pragmatic language, and feeding therapy. The academic program provides access to specialized expertise and research-based approaches not available in private practice settings in Central New York.
Academic SLP program — expertise in complex AAC cases. Also explore Syracuse University's Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic for lower-cost services.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Syracuse · multi-county
Upstate University Hospital — Pediatric Occupational Therapy
SUNY Upstate Medical University's occupational therapy program provides sensory integration therapy, fine motor intervention, and daily living skills training for Central New York children with autism. OT services coordinate with Upstate's neurodevelopmental program for integrated care. Accepts Medicaid and most commercial insurance, serving Onondaga County's diverse population.
Coordinated with Upstate's autism and neurodevelopmental program. Medicaid accepted.
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.
Syracuse · multi-county
Autism Society of Central New York
The Central New York chapter of the Autism Society of America serves Onondaga, Madison, and surrounding counties with parent support groups, family events, and connection to local resources. Monthly meetings in Syracuse feature peer support, guest speakers on local topics, and a robust parent mentor program for newly diagnosed families.
Auburn · multi-county
Autism Society of Central New York — Cayuga County
The Central New York Autism Society chapter serves Cayuga County families with parent support groups and resource navigation. Auburn-area families connect to the broader CNY chapter network based in Syracuse.
Utica · multi-county
Autism Society of Central New York — Oneida County
The Central New York Autism Society serves Oneida County families through its broader chapter network, providing parent support groups, family resources, and community connections across the Mohawk Valley region. Meetings in the Utica and Rome areas connect families to the local provider and advocacy landscape.
Oswego · multi-county
Autism Society of Central New York — Oswego County
The Central New York Autism Society chapter serves Oswego County families with parent support groups and resource navigation. Families in Oswego and Fulton connect to the broader CNY chapter network based in Syracuse.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Syracuse · multi-county
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO
New York's Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) operates the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in Syracuse. OPWDD-funded services include day programs, residential supports, respite, and family support services for eligible individuals with autism across Onondaga and surrounding counties. OPWDD eligibility is required and must be established before services begin.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — it opens access to Medicaid waiver services. Contact your local DDSO.
Auburn · multi-county
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Cayuga County)
Cayuga County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Syracuse. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Apply for OPWDD eligibility well before your child's 18th birthday.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — services require eligibility first and waiver waitlists exist.
Cortland · multi-county
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Cortland County)
Cortland County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Central New York DDSO. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — the process takes several months.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility before age 18 to prevent a gap in adult services.
Oneida · multi-county
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Madison County)
Madison County families access OPWDD-funded autism services through the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Syracuse. OPWDD eligibility is required for day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — services require eligibility first, and the process takes months.
Oswego · multi-county
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Oswego County)
Oswego County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Syracuse. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — services require eligibility first. Start before age 16 to prepare for adult services.
Cortland · multi-county
Parent Network of Western New York — Cortland County
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP coaching and IDEA rights support for Cortland County families. Phone and virtual consultations available. Cortland's location between Syracuse and Binghamton gives families access to advocacy resources in both metro areas.
FREE PTI services by phone and video.
Oneida · multi-county
Parent Network of Western New York — Madison County
Free IEP coaching, IDEA rights training, and one-on-one parent support for Madison County families through the federally funded PTI. Phone and virtual consultations available for families in Oneida City, Cazenovia, and surrounding communities.
FREE federally funded PTI. Available by phone for all Madison County families.
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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County
Serving families across Onondaga County including Syracuse, Salina, Dewitt, Camillus, Geddes, Lysander, Manlius, Clay, Van Buren and Cicero 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 Onondaga County, New York?
We list 25 providers serving Onondaga County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3) and advocacy & legal, 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 Onondaga County accept Medicaid?
6 of the providers we list for Onondaga County state that they accept Medicaid, including Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cayuga County, Behavioral Intervention Associates — Central NY (Madison County), Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cortland County and Behavioral Intervention Associates — Oswego County, plus 2 more. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Onondaga County?
ABA providers serving Onondaga 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 Onondaga County families?
Yes — 2 providers serving Onondaga County offer 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 Onondaga County?
5 providers serving Onondaga 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 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 Onondaga County?
If none of the Onondaga County providers is the right fit, these New York counties currently have the most listed providers: Queens County (28), Kings County (25), Albany County (24), New York 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 Onondaga County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Onondaga 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 Onondaga County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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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