Autism Resources in Columbia County, Washington

7 providers in Dayton and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.

How we check listings

Filter by age

0 providers in Columbia County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.

Based in Columbia County

Diagnostic clinics

1 provider

Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.

Pullman Regional Hospital — Columbia County Referral

Dayton, WA · serves several counties

Pullman Regional Hospital is the nearest full-service hospital for Columbia County (WA) families and coordinates referrals for developmental pediatric evaluations. Dayton is approximately 25 miles from Pullman.

Pullman and WSU Health are the most accessible developmental resources for Columbia County families.

Ages 0–18

Early Intervention (0–3)

1 provider

Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.

Washington ESIT — Columbia County Early Support

Dayton, WA

Washington's Part C Early Intervention program for Columbia County children under age 3. In-home developmental evaluations and therapy at no cost for qualifying families in Dayton and surrounding communities.

FREE under IDEA Part C. In-home delivery is essential in this remote rural county.

Accepting new patientsAges 0–3In-home

Mental health

1 provider

Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.

UW Medicine — Telehealth Behavioral Health (Columbia County)

Dayton, WA

UW Medicine telehealth provides behavioral health and mental health support for Columbia County families via video. Essential for ongoing support given the county's rural character and distance from major health centers.

All agesTelehealth

Parent & family support

1 provider

Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.

Autism Society of Washington — Southeast WA (Columbia County)

Dayton, WA · serves several counties

The Autism Society of Washington supports Columbia County families through statewide online resources and the southeast WA regional network. Virtual peer support is the most accessible community connection.

All ages

Advocacy & legal

1 provider

Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.

Washington PAVE — Columbia County

Dayton, WA

Washington PAVE provides free IEP advocacy and training by phone and video for Columbia County families. Expert support for navigating Dayton School District's special education process.

FREE. Remote services are the primary advocacy support for this rural county.

Accepting new patientsAll ages

Also serving Columbia County

These 14 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Columbia 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 providers

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.

Ability Behavioral Group — Walla Walla

Walla Walla, WA · serves several counties

ABA therapy serving Walla Walla County through center- and home-based programs. BCBA-supervised, individualized programming. Washington's insurance mandate requires commercial plans to cover ABA. Serves Walla Walla's mix of agricultural families and college community (Whitman College, Walla Walla University).

Washington requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Ages 2–18In-home

Behavior Care Specialists — Whitman County

Pullman, WA · serves several counties

In-home ABA therapy serving Whitman County and the Palouse region. BCBA-supervised services accepting Apple Health and commercial insurance. The in-home model serves both Pullman families and those in rural Whitman County communities.

Washington requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.

Ages 2–18In-home

Respite care

2 providers

Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.

ARCH National Respite Locator

Searchable by state, WA

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, WA

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.

Activities, clubs & recreation

10 providers

Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.

ACEing Autism

227 programs in 32 states, WA

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, WA

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, WA

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.

Ages elementary school through adult

Easterseals — camps and recreation

Local Easterseals across the country, WA

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, WA

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, WA

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.

Ages 5–21
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providers

Little League Challenger Division

Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, WA

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.

Ages 4–18 (to 22 if in school); Senior League 15+

Miracle League

300 leagues — check for one near you, WA

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, WA

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.

Ages 8+ (Young Athletes: 2–7)

TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)

Through local soccer clubs, WA

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 guide

For providers

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Helpful guides

Guides for Columbia County families

Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.

See all Washington resources

Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Washington.

Washington state guide →

Common questions

Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.

How many autism providers serve Columbia County, Washington?

We list 7 providers serving Columbia County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, mental health and early intervention (0–3), plus 1 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.

Where can I find ABA therapy in Columbia County?

ABA providers serving Columbia 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 Columbia County families?

Yes — 1 provider serving Columbia County offers 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 Columbia County?

3 providers serving Columbia 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 Washington?

Washington families can apply to the DDA waivers — Basic Plus, Core, CIIBS, IFS, Community Protection, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Usually none — but enrolling in DDA is not the same as getting services, 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 Columbia County?

If none of the Columbia County providers is the right fit, these Washington counties currently have the most listed providers: King County (20), Thurston County (16), Pierce County (13), Skagit County (13). 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 Washington

You know things we don’t

Still missing from Columbia County

These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Columbia 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.

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 Columbia County? We'll email you.

One email when we verify a new provider in Columbia 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.

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Help the community

Know a great provider in Columbia 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.

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For providers

Are you a provider serving Columbia County?

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