Autism Resources in Orange County, New York

Harris · multi-county

Catskill Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals

Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris serves as Sullivan County's primary hospital. Developmental pediatric screenings and referrals are available for autism concerns. Full ADOS-2 evaluations require travel to Garnet Health in Middletown (40 min), Westchester Medical Center, or telehealth specialists.

Full autism evaluation typically requires travel. Consider telehealth evaluation through Albany Med, Maria Fareri, or NYU Langone affiliates.

Middletown · multi-county

Garnet Health Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics

Garnet Health Medical Center (formerly Orange Regional Medical Center) in Middletown is the main hospital serving Orange County. The developmental pediatrics team provides initial autism screenings and referrals to regional evaluation centers. Families needing full ADOS-2 assessments are typically referred to Westchester Medical Center or Maria Fareri Children's Hospital.

For comprehensive autism evaluation, expect referral to Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla.

Suffern · multi-county

Good Samaritan Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics

Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern serves as Rockland County's primary hospital and provides developmental pediatrics consultations including autism screenings and referrals. Families requiring comprehensive ADOS-2 evaluations are typically referred to Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, a short drive away in Valhalla.

For full autism evaluation, expect referral to Maria Fareri Children's Hospital (Valhalla, 20 min).

Goshen

Orange County Early Intervention Program

Orange County's official Early Intervention program, administered through the county Department of Health. Provides free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or early autism signs. Service coordinators develop an IFSP with the family and coordinate transition to CPSE at age 3.

FREE for eligible children. Early Intervention is time-sensitive — call as soon as you have concerns.

Poughkeepsie · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Hudson Valley

In-home and center-based ABA therapy serving Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley with BCBA-supervised programming. Individualized treatment using naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and coordinates with Dutchess County CPSE teams and OPWDD service coordinators.

NY ABA insurance mandate applies. NY Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children.

Nanuet · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Rockland County

In-home and center-based ABA therapy for Rockland County children with BCBA-supervised individualized programming. Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention approach. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and coordinates with Rockland County CPSE teams and OPWDD service coordinators.

NY ABA insurance mandate applies. NY Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children.

Middletown · multi-county

BlueSprig Pediatrics — Orange County

Center-based and in-home ABA therapy serving Orange County children with BCBA-supervised, individualized treatment plans. Uses naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention alongside structured teaching. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA insurance mandate and NY Medicaid, making services accessible across Orange County's diverse communities.

NY ABA insurance mandate applies. NY Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children.

Monticello · multi-county

Crossroads for Kids — Sullivan County

ABA therapy serving Sullivan County families with in-home BCBA-supervised services. Sullivan County is rural with limited center-based options — in-home ABA is the primary service model. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.

Rural county — in-home ABA is primary. NY ABA insurance mandate applies.

Middletown

Orange County Speech-Language Associates

A speech-language pathology practice serving Orange County children with autism-related communication disorders, including AAC evaluation and training, social communication groups, and feeding therapy. Locations in Middletown and Newburgh serve families across Orange County's urban and rural communities. Accepts commercial insurance and private pay.

Also explore telehealth SLP options from NYC-based practices for families in more remote Orange County communities.

Middletown · multi-county

Garnet Health — Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Garnet Health Medical Center's rehabilitation department provides pediatric occupational therapy for Orange County children with autism, including sensory integration therapy, fine motor skill development, and daily living skills training. Orange County families also access OT through the Westchester Medical Center network in neighboring Valhalla.

Also explore private OT practices in Newburgh and Monroe. Maria Fareri Children's in Valhalla is accessible for more specialized OT needs.

Suffern · multi-county

Good Samaritan Hospital — Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Good Samaritan Hospital's occupational therapy program serves Rockland County autistic children with sensory integration therapy, fine motor skill building, and daily living skills training. Rockland County's suburban character and proximity to Westchester provide families with options including both Rockland-based and Westchester Medical Center OT services.

Also explore private OT practices in Nanuet and Nyack, and Maria Fareri Children's OT program in Valhalla (20 min).

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.

Poughkeepsie · multi-county

Autism Society — Hudson Valley Chapter

The Hudson Valley chapter of the Autism Society of America provides parent support groups, family programming, and local resource navigation for Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland county families. Monthly meetings in the Poughkeepsie area connect newly diagnosed families with experienced parent mentors and local service knowledge.

Newburgh · multi-county

Autism Society — Hudson Valley Chapter (Orange County)

The Hudson Valley Autism Society chapter serves Orange County families with parent support groups, family events, and resource navigation. Meetings are held at accessible locations in the Newburgh and Middletown areas, and the chapter maintains connections to Orange County's network of OPWDD and school-based services.

Nanuet · multi-county

Autism Society — Hudson Valley Chapter (Rockland)

The Hudson Valley Autism Society chapter serves Rockland County with parent support groups, family programming, and local resource connections. As a densely populated suburban county bordering NYC and Westchester, Rockland families have access to a robust network of service providers that chapter meetings help navigate.

New York · multi-county

Advocates for Children of New York — Mid-Hudson Outreach

Advocates for Children of New York extends free legal advocacy and IEP support to families across the mid-Hudson Valley, including Ulster County. Staff advocates can assist with IEP disputes, school district conflicts, and special education placement decisions. Free services for income-eligible families.

FREE legal advocacy. Priority given to low-income families but services are broadly available.

New York · multi-county

New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) — Rockland

NYFAC provides free IEP advocacy and special education navigation support to Rockland County families. Staff advocates attend IEP meetings, help families understand IDEA rights, and support dispute resolution without litigation. Rockland County families are served through NYFAC's outreach program extending from the NYC metro area.

FREE IEP advocacy. Call well before your IEP meeting — early contact improves outcomes.

Kingston · multi-county

OPWDD — Mid-Hudson DDSO

The Mid-Hudson Developmental Disabilities Services Office serves Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland counties with OPWDD-funded services including day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Families must establish OPWDD eligibility. The DDSO office provides information sessions and guides families through the eligibility process.

Apply for OPWDD eligibility well before adulthood. Waiver waitlists exist — get on them early.

Goshen · multi-county

OPWDD — Mid-Hudson DDSO (Orange County)

The Mid-Hudson DDSO serves Orange County families seeking OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services including day habilitation, respite, supported employment, and Medicaid waiver supports. OPWDD eligibility must be established. Orange County families can contact the DDSO office for eligibility information sessions and service planning guidance.

OPWDD services are funded through Medicaid waiver — eligibility and enrollment take time. Start early.

Monticello · multi-county

OPWDD — Mid-Hudson DDSO (Sullivan County)

Sullivan County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Mid-Hudson Developmental Disabilities Services Office. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Sullivan County's rural setting means families often travel for some services.

Apply for OPWDD eligibility early. Rural location — some services require travel.

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.