County resource guide
Autism Resources in Tompkins County, New York
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Tompkins County. New York statewide resources also apply.
Tompkins County (Ithaca) is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, creating a university community with strong disability awareness and some research resources. Cayuga Health System provides developmental pediatric services. Ithaca City School District has well-developed special education programs. The Cornell-affiliated resources and OPWDD regional services provide a reasonable support ecosystem. New York's ABA insurance mandate applies statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers8 providers in Tompkins County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Ithaca · multi-county
Cayuga Health System — Developmental Pediatrics
Cayuga Health System, the primary hospital for Tompkins County, provides developmental pediatric services and autism evaluation referrals for Ithaca-area families. Cornell University's presence in Ithaca contributes to a relatively strong local resource landscape. For comprehensive ADOS-2 evaluations, families are referred to Golisano Children's in Rochester (1 hour) or SUNY Upstate in Syracuse (1 hour).
Ithaca has a relatively strong resource base for rural NY due to Cornell University. Both Rochester and Syracuse are ~1 hour for full evaluation.
Owego · multi-county
UHS Tioga (Guthrie Health) — Developmental Referrals
Tioga County families access developmental pediatric services through the UHS / Guthrie Health network, with full autism evaluations referred to UHS Binghamton (30 min east) or Golisano Children's in Rochester (1.5 hours north). Owego, the county seat, is a short drive from Binghamton's stronger specialist network.
UHS Binghamton (30 min east) is the primary autism evaluation destination for Tioga County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Ithaca
Tompkins County Early Intervention Program
Tompkins County's Early Intervention program provides free evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or autism signs. Coordinated through the county Health Department in Ithaca, EI service coordinators guide families through IFSP development and transition to CPSE at age 3.
FREE for eligible children. Tompkins County has a good EI provider network relative to its population size.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Owego · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Tioga County
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Tioga County with in-home and community-based services. Owego's proximity to Binghamton gives families access to the broader Southern Tier ABA network. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA mandate applies. Binghamton providers (30 min east) are well-accessible for Tioga County families.
Ithaca · multi-county
Behavioral Intervention Associates — Tompkins County / Ithaca
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy serving Tompkins County with in-home and center-based options in the Ithaca area. Ithaca's university town environment supports a relatively robust therapy provider landscape for rural New York. Accepts commercial insurance under New York's ABA mandate and NY Medicaid.
NY ABA insurance mandate applies. Ithaca has better ABA access than many similarly-sized NY communities due to Cornell.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Ithaca · multi-county
Autism Society — Finger Lakes / Ithaca Chapter
The Finger Lakes Autism Society chapter serves Tompkins County and the Ithaca area with parent support groups, family programming, and community connections. Cornell University's community creates a thoughtful environment for autistic adults — the chapter connects families to both local and university-linked resources.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Ithaca · multi-county
OPWDD — Finger Lakes DDSO (Tompkins County)
Tompkins County families access OPWDD-funded autism and developmental disability services through the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office. Services include day habilitation, community habilitation, respite, and Medicaid waiver supports. Cornell University students and researchers have also developed community programs for autistic individuals in Ithaca.
Apply for OPWDD eligibility early. Ithaca has Cornell-connected community programs worth exploring.
Owego · multi-county
Parent Network of Western New York — Tioga County
Federally funded PTI providing free IEP coaching and IDEA rights support for Tioga County families. Phone and virtual consultations available for families in Owego, Newark Valley, and surrounding Tioga communities.
FREE federally funded PTI. Virtual access is available for all Tioga County families.
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Helpful guides
Guides for Tompkins 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 →Nearby counties in New York
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