Autism Resources in Onondaga County, New York
21 providers in Syracuse and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Onondaga County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Onondaga County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Upstate University Hospital — Autism and Neurodevelopmental Program
Syracuse, NY · serves several counties
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)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Onondaga County Early Intervention Program
Syracuse, NY
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
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Syracuse
Syracuse, NY · serves several counties
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
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Upstate University Hospital — Speech-Language Pathology (Pediatric)
Syracuse, NY · serves several counties
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
1 providerOccupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Upstate University Hospital — Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Syracuse, NY · serves several counties
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.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO
Syracuse, NY · serves several counties
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.
Also serving Onondaga County
These 27 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Onondaga County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
4 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Cortland Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Cortland, NY · serves several counties
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.
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Cayuga County Referrals
Auburn, NY · serves several counties
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.
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Central NY Autism Program (Madison County)
Oneida, NY · serves several counties
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.
SUNY Upstate Medical University — Oswego County Families
Oswego, NY · serves several counties
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.
ABA therapy
4 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cayuga County
Auburn, NY · serves several counties
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.
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Central NY (Madison County)
Oneida, NY · serves several counties
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).
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Cortland County
Cortland, NY · serves several counties
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.
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Oswego County
Oswego, NY · serves several counties
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.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
OPWDD respite services — via the Front Door
Statewide, NY · serves several counties
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.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, NY
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, NY
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
6 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Cayuga County)
Auburn, NY · serves several counties
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.
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Cortland County)
Cortland, NY · serves several counties
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.
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Madison County)
Oneida, NY · serves several counties
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.
OPWDD — Central New York DDSO (Oswego County)
Oswego, NY · serves several counties
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.
Parent Network of Western New York — Cortland County
Cortland, NY · serves several counties
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.
Parent Network of Western New York — Madison County
Oneida, NY · serves several counties
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
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, NY
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, NY
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, NY
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, NY
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, NY
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, NY
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, NY
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, NY
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, NY
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, NY
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
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About autism services in Onondaga County
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.
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 21 providers serving Onondaga County, covering ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3), advocacy & legal and respite care, 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 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 (26), Kings County (25), Saratoga County (24), Albany County (23). 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?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
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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