County resource guide
Autism Resources in Aurora, South Dakota
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Aurora. South Dakota statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
15 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Mitchell · multi-county
Avera Queen of Peace — Behavioral Health
Avera Queen of Peace provides behavioral health and developmental evaluations in Mitchell, the regional hub for central South Dakota. Serves Davison, Hanson, and surrounding rural counties.
Plankinton · multi-county
Avera Queen of Peace — Developmental Referrals (Aurora County)
Aurora County families in Plankinton access developmental and autism evaluation services through Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell (Davison County, ~25 miles). Mitchell is the regional hub for central South Dakota.
Chamberlain · multi-county
Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center in Brule County provides primary care and developmental referrals. Families are referred to Sanford Pierre (~60 miles) or Sanford Sioux Falls (~160 miles) for comprehensive autism evaluations.
Chamberlain sits on the Missouri River — mid-state hub for south-central SD.
Salem · multi-county
Sanford Children's Hospital — Developmental Referrals (McCook County)
McCook County families in Salem are within ~45 miles of Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD's primary autism evaluation center. Ask your primary care provider for a referral to Sanford Developmental Pediatrics.
Salem is ~45 min from Sioux Falls — one of the more accessible rural SE SD counties for specialty care.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Mitchell · multi-county
SD Birth to 3 — Davison County
South Dakota's federally mandated early intervention program for children under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Free evaluations and services in Davison County coordinated through the SD DOH.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Request evaluation by calling the state coordinating office.
Plankinton · multi-county
South Dakota Birth to 3 — Aurora County
South Dakota's Part C early intervention program for children birth–3 in Aurora County. Provides in-home therapy, service coordination, and family support at no cost to eligible families.
FREE under IDEA Part C for eligible children birth to age 3.
Salem · multi-county
South Dakota Birth to 3 — McCook County
South Dakota's Part C early intervention program for children birth–3 in McCook County. Provides in-home therapy, service coordination, and family support at no cost to eligible families.
FREE under IDEA Part C for eligible children birth to age 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Plankinton · multi-county
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Aurora County)
Telehealth ABA therapy for Aurora County families in this very rural central South Dakota agricultural community. BCBA-supervised parent training and behavior support. SD Medicaid accepted.
SD Medicaid covers ABA therapy. Mitchell in-person options are ~25 min away.
Chamberlain · multi-county
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Brule County)
Telehealth ABA therapy for Brule County families in Chamberlain. BCBA-supervised parent training and behavior support. SD Medicaid accepted. No in-person ABA clinic in Brule County.
SD Medicaid covers ABA therapy. Telehealth is the primary ABA option here.
Salem · multi-county
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (McCook County)
Telehealth ABA therapy for McCook County families in Salem. BCBA-supervised parent training and behavior support. SD Medicaid accepted. Sioux Falls in-person ABA is ~45 min away.
SD Medicaid covers ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Plankinton
Autism Society of South Dakota
South Dakota's statewide autism chapter connects Aurora County families to support groups and resource navigation. Mitchell-area resources are the closest hub for this small central SD community.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Plankinton · multi-county
South Dakota Parent Connection
Free IEP advocacy and one-on-one support from SD's federally funded PTI for Aurora County families. Phone and remote support essential in this isolated central SD county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Chamberlain · multi-county
South Dakota Parent Connection
Free IEP advocacy and one-on-one support from SD's federally funded PTI for Brule County families. Phone and remote support are essential in this mid-state Missouri River community.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Salem · multi-county
South Dakota Parent Connection
Free IEP advocacy and one-on-one support from SD's federally funded PTI for McCook County families. Phone and remote support supplement the Sioux Falls-area resources for southeast SD families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Mitchell · multi-county
South Dakota Parent Connection — Mitchell Outreach
SDPC provides free IEP advocacy, training workshops, and phone consultation to families in Davison County and central South Dakota. Federally funded; no income limits.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
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See all South Dakota resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in South Dakota.
South Dakota state guide →