County resource guide
Richland County, Ohio
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Richland County. Ohio statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
7 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Mansfield
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital — Pediatric Developmental Services
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital provides pediatric care for Richland County. Developmental screenings and autism evaluation referrals are coordinated through their pediatric network. Families needing comprehensive autism evaluations are typically referred to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus (~75 miles south).
Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus is the primary referral for specialized autism evaluations for Richland County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Mansfield
Richland County Help Me Grow — Early Intervention
Ohio's Help Me Grow early intervention for Richland County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and therapy for children with developmental delays. Administered through Richland County Board of DD in natural environments.
FREE under federal law. No diagnosis required — refer any child under 3 with developmental concerns.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Hopebridge — Knox County
Hopebridge center-based ABA therapy serving Knox County families. BCBA-supervised with multidisciplinary approach. Accepts most commercial insurance and Ohio Medicaid. Knox County's rural character means some families may also access services in Columbus or Mansfield.
Mansfield · multi-county
Hopebridge — Mansfield
Hopebridge provides center-based ABA therapy in Mansfield serving Richland County families. BCBA-supervised with multidisciplinary approach integrating speech and OT. Accepts most commercial insurance and Ohio Medicaid.
Ohio's ABA insurance mandate covers commercially insured children.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Marion · multi-county
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)
Ohio's federally funded PTI serving Richland County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, IDEA rights training, and school district navigation for families in Mansfield City Schools and other Richland County districts.
FREE. Ohio's federally funded PTI — OCECD is headquartered in nearby Marion.
Marion · multi-county
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)
Ohio's federally funded PTI serving Knox County at no cost. Free IEP advocacy and IDEA training for families navigating Mount Vernon City Schools and other Knox County districts. OCECD's Marion headquarters is approximately 30 miles from Mount Vernon.
FREE. Ohio's federally funded PTI — OCECD in Marion is close to Knox County families.
Mansfield
Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Richland County's DD Board provides service coordination, eligibility determination, and access to county and state-funded disability supports. The local gateway to Ohio's developmental disability service system for Mansfield-area families across all life stages.
Ohio county DD Boards are unique. Apply early for HCBS waiver services.
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See all Ohio resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Ohio.
Ohio state guide →