Autism Resources in Ontario County, New York
11 providers in Canandaigua and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Ontario County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Ontario County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Thompson Health — Pediatric Developmental Services
Canandaigua, NY · serves several counties
Thompson Health in Canandaigua (part of UR Medicine) provides pediatric services for Ontario County, including developmental screenings and referrals. For comprehensive autism evaluation, families access the University of Rochester Medical Center's Golisano Children's Hospital Strong Center (~45 min west) — the regional academic center for autism in the Finger Lakes.
URMC Golisano Strong Center (~45 min west in Rochester) is the primary autism evaluation resource for Ontario County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Ontario County Early Intervention Program
Canandaigua, NY
Ontario County's Early Intervention program provides free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or early autism signs. Service coordinators develop an IFSP and support transition to CPSE at age 3. Ontario County's EI program benefits from the proximity to Rochester's strong provider network.
FREE for eligible children. Ontario County EI has access to Rochester-area specialists.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Autism Behavioral Services — Finger Lakes (Ontario County)
Canandaigua, NY · serves several counties
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Ontario County with center-based and in-home options through the Finger Lakes region network. Ontario County's proximity to Rochester gives families access to a broader ABA provider market. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies. Rochester (~45 min west) has expanded center-based ABA options.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Advocacy Center — Finger Lakes Region (Ontario County)
Canandaigua, NY · serves several counties
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.
OPWDD — Finger Lakes DDSO (Ontario County)
Canandaigua, NY · serves several counties
Ontario County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office. OPWDD eligibility is required for day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. The DDSO office serves the Finger Lakes region including Ontario County.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early — waiver waitlists exist in the Finger Lakes region.
Also serving Ontario County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Ontario 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
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Golisano Children's Hospital — Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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.
Speech therapy
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
URMC — Speech-Language Pathology (Pediatric)
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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
1 providerOccupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Golisano Children's Hospital — Occupational Therapy
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
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.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Rochester
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Advocacy Center of Tompkins County — Finger Lakes Outreach
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Eastman Institute for Oral Health — Specialty Care (special needs)
Rochester, NY · serves several counties
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
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.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Ontario County
Ontario County (Canandaigua, Geneva, Victor) is a Finger Lakes wine country county served by Thompson Health (UR Medicine) for local healthcare and with access to University of Rochester's Golisano Children's Hospital — a major autism evaluation resource — just 30–40 minutes away. Ontario County BOCES provides cooperative special education programs. OPWDD regional services and New York's ABA mandate apply statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Ontario 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.
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 Ontario County, New York?
We list 11 providers serving Ontario County, covering advocacy & legal, ABA therapy, parent & family support, autism-friendly dentists and occupational therapy & sensory, 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 Ontario County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Ontario County state that they accept Medicaid, including Autism Behavioral Services — Finger Lakes (Ontario County). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Ontario County?
ABA providers serving Ontario 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 Ontario County?
1 provider serving Ontario 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 Ontario County?
If none of the Ontario 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 Ontario County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Ontario 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 Ontario County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Ontario 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 Ontario 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 Ontario County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →