Autism Resources in Centre County, Pennsylvania
12 providers in State College, Bellefonte, Pittsburgh and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Centre County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Centre County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Penn State Health — State College Outpatient Center, Developmental Pediatrics
State College, PA
Penn State Health's outpatient facility in State College provides developmental pediatric services for Centre County families. As the home of Penn State University, the area also benefits from university-affiliated research programs and clinical training. Families may also access the main Hershey Medical Center for specialized evaluations.
Penn State Hershey Medical Center (1 hr east) is also a common referral for specialized autism evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Centre County Early Intervention Program
Bellefonte, PA
Pennsylvania Early Intervention for children birth to age 3 in Centre County. Free developmental evaluations and therapy services for eligible children. Administered through Centre County Human Services under the state's Early Intervention system.
FREE through Pennsylvania Early Intervention. Any child under 3 with developmental concerns is eligible for a free evaluation.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Health Works — State College
State College, PA
Center-based ABA therapy in State College serving Centre County. BCBA-supervised programs with individualized treatment focused on communication, daily living skills, and learning readiness. Accepts Pennsylvania commercial insurance and Medicaid.
Speech therapy
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Penn State University — Communication Sciences & Disorders Clinic
State College, PA
Penn State's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders operates a training clinic providing speech-language evaluations and therapy at reduced cost. Supervised by licensed SLPs. Serves autistic children and adults working on language development, social communication, and AAC.
University training clinic — reduced-cost option supervised by licensed SLPs. Good alternative for uninsured or underinsured families.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEAL Center — Centre County Families
Pittsburgh, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania's federally funded PTI serving Centre County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy and IDEA training for families navigating State College Area School District and surrounding rural Centre County districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Pennsylvania families.
Also serving Centre County
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Centre 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.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Health Works — Clearfield County
Clearfield, PA · serves several counties
In-home and community-based ABA therapy for children in Clearfield County. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Pennsylvania Medicaid and commercial insurance. Serves a geographically dispersed rural population.
Pennsylvania requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Behavioral Health Works — Mifflin County
Lewistown, PA · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Mifflin County and the Lewistown area. BCBA-supervised programming accepting Pennsylvania Medicaid and commercial insurance under the state's ABA insurance mandate. Home-based services are critical given limited local providers.
Pennsylvania requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
PA Caregiver Support Program — check the age rules first
Statewide, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania reimburses caregivers up to roughly $600 a month toward respite and other caregiving costs — but read the eligibility before you pin hopes on it, because it is built around older adults. The routes are: caring for an older adult with Alzheimer's or a related disorder; being 55 or over and raising a child under 18; or being 55 or over and caring for an adult with a disability. A parent in their thirties caring for their own autistic child will often not qualify. Grandparents raising grandchildren frequently do, and are the group most likely to be missing out on it.
Apply through your county Area Agency on Aging. If the age rules exclude you, ask your county about ODP waiver respite instead — that is the route built for younger families.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, PA
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, PA
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
2 providersParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of Central PA — Clearfield County Families
Clearfield, PA · serves several counties
Clearfield County autism families connect through central Pennsylvania autism support networks and the statewide Autism Society of PA, with resource navigation and peer support.
Autism Society of Pennsylvania — North Central Region
Lock Haven, PA · serves several counties
The Autism Society of Pennsylvania connects Clinton County families to statewide peer support networks and north-central PA regional resources. Online and phone-based connections for this rural county.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEAL Center — Clearfield County Families
Pittsburgh, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania's federally funded PTI serving Clearfield County at no cost. Free IEP advocacy and training for families in one of Pennsylvania's most rural counties, where local advocacy resources are scarce.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Pennsylvania families.
Activities, clubs & recreation
11 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Camp PARC
Central-western Pennsylvania, PA · serves several counties
A volunteer-run overnight summer camp plus year-round recreational and social activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — and, deliberately, their neurotypical peers alongside them. Reverse-inclusion formats like this often work better for a capable autistic camper than a disability-only setting.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, PA
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, PA
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, PA
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, PA
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, PA
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.
See all 11 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, PA
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.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, PA
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, PA
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, PA
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, PA
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 Centre County
Centre County (State College) is home to Penn State University, whose Commonwealth Campus and Huck Life Sciences building support disability-related research. Mount Nittany Medical Center handles general healthcare, while Penn State Hershey (an hour away) is the primary evaluation center for complex cases. State College Area School District is large and has well-developed special education programs. PEAL Center provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Centre 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 Pennsylvania resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Centre County, Pennsylvania?
We list 12 providers serving Centre County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, activities, clubs & recreation, early intervention (0–3) and respite care, 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 Centre County accept Medicaid?
3 of the providers we list for Centre County state that they accept Medicaid, including Behavioral Health Works — Clearfield County, Behavioral Health Works — Mifflin County and Behavioral Health Works — State College. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Centre County?
ABA providers serving Centre 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 Centre County?
2 providers serving Centre County deliver 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania families can apply to the Consolidated, Community Living and P/FDS Waivers (ODP), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Varies by county and urgency category, 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 Centre County?
If none of the Centre County providers is the right fit, these Pennsylvania counties currently have the most listed providers: Cambria County (17), Philadelphia County (17), Montgomery County (15), Bucks County (14). 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 Pennsylvania
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Centre County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Centre 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?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
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 Centre County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Centre 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 Centre 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 Centre County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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