Autism Resources in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
13 providers in Wilkes-Barre, Pittsburgh and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Luzerne County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Luzerne County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Geisinger Wyoming Valley — Developmental Pediatrics
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre provides developmental pediatric evaluations for Luzerne County families. Geisinger is the dominant health system across northeast and north-central Pennsylvania, offering coordinated care from evaluation through therapy referral.
Geisinger covers a large multi-county area. Expect waitlists — ask about their community referral pathways.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Luzerne County Early Intervention Program
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Pennsylvania Early Intervention services for children birth to age 3 in Luzerne County. Free evaluations and therapy at no cost for eligible children with developmental delays or autism risk factors. Administered through the county MH/ID office.
FREE through Pennsylvania Early Intervention. No diagnosis required for evaluation.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Behavioral Health Works — Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Center-based ABA therapy in the Wilkes-Barre area serving Luzerne County. BCBA-supervised with individualized treatment programs. Accepts Pennsylvania commercial insurance under the ABA insurance mandate and Medicaid.
Pennsylvania's ABA insurance mandate requires commercial insurers to cover medically necessary ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of NEPA — Luzerne County
Wilkes-Barre, PA · serves several counties
The Northeast Pennsylvania Autism Society chapter serves Luzerne County families with parent support groups, resource navigation, and family events. Covers both the Wyoming Valley (Wilkes-Barre) and the Hazleton region.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEAL Center — Luzerne County Families
Pittsburgh, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania's statewide PTI serving Luzerne County families at no cost. IEP advocacy, IDEA training, and school district navigation. Covers Wilkes-Barre Area, Hazleton Area, and other Luzerne County districts where special education quality and practices can vary widely.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Pennsylvania families.
Also serving Luzerne County
These 20 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Luzerne 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
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Carbon County
Jim Thorpe, PA · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Carbon County and the Pocono/Lehigh Valley border area. BCBA-supervised programs accepting commercial insurance under Pennsylvania's ABA insurance mandate and Medicaid.
Pennsylvania requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Speech therapy
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center — Pediatric Outpatient
Wilkes-Barre, PA · serves several counties
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre provides outpatient pediatric speech-language therapy accessible to Wyoming County families. About 25 miles from Tunkhannock. Services include AAC evaluation and pragmatic language support.
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 NEPA — Carbon County Families
Lehighton, PA · serves several counties
Carbon County autism families connect through northeast PA and Lehigh Valley autism support networks, with resource navigation and connection to Allentown-Bethlehem area providers.
Autism Society of NEPA — Scranton/Lackawanna
Scranton, PA · serves several counties
Northeast Pennsylvania Autism Society chapter serving Scranton and Lackawanna County. Hosts parent support groups, family social events, and resource navigation for the greater Scranton area.
Advocacy & legal
3 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
HUNE — Northeast PA Parent Training
Wilkes-Barre, PA · serves several counties
HUNE, Inc. is Pennsylvania's second federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, serving northeast Pennsylvania including Monroe County. Provides free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and culturally responsive support for families, with particular strength in serving Spanish-speaking families.
FREE. HUNE is Pennsylvania's second PTI — particularly strong for Spanish-speaking families in northeast PA.
PEAL Center — Carbon County Families
Pittsburgh, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania's federally funded PTI serving Carbon County at no cost. Free IEP advocacy, IDEA training, and support for families navigating Jim Thorpe Area and Panther Valley school districts. Carbon County families straddling the Pocono and Lehigh Valley regions benefit from PEAL's statewide reach.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Pennsylvania families.
PEAL Center — Lackawanna County Families
Pittsburgh, PA · serves several counties
Pennsylvania's federally funded PTI serving Lackawanna County at no cost. Free IEP advocacy and training for families in Scranton and surrounding communities. Scranton City School District and suburban districts each have distinct special education practices — PEAL can help navigate them.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all Pennsylvania families.
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, 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.
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.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
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
Are you a provider serving this county?
Help families find accurate information about your services. Submit your practice for review so parents in this area can better understand their options.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
About autism services in Luzerne County
Luzerne County (Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton) is northeastern Pennsylvania's largest county, served by Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for evaluations. Wilkes-Barre Area and Hazleton Area school districts provide special education. PEAL Center provides free IEP advocacy statewide. Provider availability is more limited here than in urban counties — the PTI is an especially important first contact.
Helpful guides
Guides for Luzerne 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.
Communities served
Cities in Luzerne County
Serving families across Luzerne County including Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Kingston, Pittston, Nanticoke, Plains, Hanover, Edwardsville, Forty Fort and Swoyersville and more.
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 Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
We list 13 providers serving Luzerne County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, speech therapy and advocacy & legal, plus 2 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 Luzerne County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Luzerne County state that they accept Medicaid, including Behavioral Health Works — Wilkes-Barre and Centria Autism — Carbon County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Luzerne County?
ABA providers serving Luzerne 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 Luzerne County?
1 provider serving Luzerne 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 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 Luzerne County?
If none of the Luzerne 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 Luzerne County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Luzerne 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 Luzerne County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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 Luzerne County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
Add your practice →