Autism Resources in Benson County, North Dakota
10 providers in Minnewaukan, Fort Totten and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Benson County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Benson County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Spirit Lake Health Center — Tribal Health (Benson County)
Fort Totten, ND · serves several counties
The Spirit Lake Health Center (Indian Health Service) in Fort Totten serves enrolled Spirit Lake Nation members in Benson County. Developmental referrals and health coordination available for tribal families; off-reservation families are referred to Devils Lake (Mercy Hospital) or Grand Forks (Altru).
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
ND Early Intervention Program — Benson County
Minnewaukan, ND · serves several counties
North Dakota's IDEA Part C Early Intervention for Benson County, home to Devils Lake (Spirit Lake Nation) tribal lands. EI coordinates with tribal programs for enrolled Spirit Lake Nation families. Free services for children under 3.
North Dakota Part C early intervention — statewide coordinator line. Statewide contact verified August 2026.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Benson County)
Minnewaukan, ND · serves several counties
Telehealth ABA therapy for Benson County families. No local ABA providers; telehealth BCBAs are the primary option for this rural north-central ND county near Spirit Lake Nation. Accepts ND Medicaid.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota
Minnewaukan, ND · serves several counties
Free IEP advocacy and parent training for Benson County families including tribal school and public school IEP advocacy. Pathfinder has experience with tribal education contexts in ND.
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota — state Parent Training & Information Center. Statewide contact verified August 2026.
Also serving Benson County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Benson 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.
Towner County Medical Center — Referral Hub for Pierce County
Rugby, ND · serves several counties
Pierce County families seeking developmental evaluations are typically referred to Minot (Trinity Health, ~75 miles west) or Devils Lake (Mercy Hospital, ~60 miles east). Rugby, at the geographical center of North America, has limited local medical resources. Telehealth through Sanford or CHI St. Alexius is the recommended first step.
Geographic center of North America — very rural. Minot (~75 miles) or Devils Lake (~60 miles) are the specialist destinations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
ND Early Intervention Program — Ramsey County
Devils Lake, ND · serves several counties
IDEA Part C early intervention for infants and toddlers under 3 in Ramsey County. Free evaluations and home-based services; the earliest intervention available for young children in the Devils Lake area.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Pierce County)
Rugby, ND · serves several counties
Telehealth ABA therapy for Pierce County families in Rugby and surrounding communities. No local ABA providers; telehealth BCBAs are the only practical ABA option for this geographically central but service-sparse ND county. Accepts ND Medicaid.
ND Medicaid covers ABA. Telehealth is the only practical ABA option for this rural county.
Great Plains ABA — Telehealth (Devils Lake Area)
Devils Lake, ND · serves several counties
Great Plains ABA offers telehealth services for Ramsey County families in the Devils Lake area. In-person ABA is not available locally; telehealth is the primary option for this rural north-central ND region.
ND Medicaid covers ABA. Telehealth is standard for rural north-central ND.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, ND
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, ND
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
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota
Rugby, ND · serves several counties
Free IEP advocacy and parent training for Pierce County families. Remote advocacy is the primary mode for this very rural north-central ND county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote/phone advocacy essential.
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota — North-Central Outreach
Devils Lake, ND · serves several counties
Pathfinder provides free IEP advocacy and training for Ramsey County families by phone and remotely. Devils Lake families can also connect with tribal education resources given the proximity to Spirit Lake Nation.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Spirit Lake Nation also has tribal education services.
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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, ND
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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Helpful guides
Guides for Benson 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 North Dakota resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in North Dakota.
North Dakota state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Benson County, North Dakota?
We list 10 providers serving Benson County, covering ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3), advocacy & legal and diagnostic clinics. 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 Benson County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Benson County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Benson County) and Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Pierce County). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Benson County?
ABA providers serving Benson 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 Benson County families?
Yes — 4 providers serving Benson 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 Benson County?
1 provider serving Benson 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota families can apply to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver (ages 0–20) and the traditional IID/DD Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Minimal on the DD waiver; 52 waiting on the ASD waiver, 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 Benson County?
If none of the Benson County providers is the right fit, these North Dakota counties currently have the most listed providers: Stark County (22), Billings County (20), Burleigh County (19), Emmons County (18). 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 North Dakota
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Benson County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Benson 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 Benson County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Benson 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 Benson 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 Benson County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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