This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in DuPage County, Illinois. You'll find 14 local resources listed here, alongside Illinois statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Illinois's starting point is Illinois's early intervention program; for school-age children, special education and IEPs run through your local school district. Confirm details directly with each provider.
Diagnosis & Early Intervention
Getting an evaluation and accessing early services.
Free CDC milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app help you follow your child's development from 2 months to 5 years, so you know what to watch for and when to act. A gentle first step when you're unsure whether to seek an evaluation.
This developmental pediatrics program in Chicago offers autism diagnosis and developmental evaluations for children from birth to age 18, plus speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies. It's a full team ready to assess your child and guide you forward.
Illinois' free statewide program evaluates babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 for developmental delays and, if your child qualifies, sets up therapies and support at no cost through a family service plan. One call connects you to your local Child and Family Connections office.
Rush University Medical Center in Chicago offers comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations and treatment for children, teens, and adults. It's a trusted hospital-based option when you need a thorough assessment and a plan for next steps.
Comer Children's Hospital provides autism diagnosis for infants and toddlers under age 3 as well as ongoing care for older children, using gold-standard tools like the ADOS. A caring team helps you understand your child and plan therapies.
Part of the University of Illinois, this state-partnered division helps families across Illinois navigate Early Intervention and connect children with special healthcare needs to evaluations and services. Their helpline can point you to the right local office.
This is the official front door for free early intervention in DuPage County if you have concerns about your child under age 3. A service coordinator will listen to your worries, arrange a developmental evaluation, and help set up any therapies your little one qualifies for.
Through the DuPage County Health Department, families of children from one month to age 5 can get a free developmental screening using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, either online or at a local event. It is a gentle first step to see whether your child could benefit from a fuller evaluation.
A local nonprofit clinic in Villa Park where a bilingual psychologist, occupational therapist, and speech-language pathologist evaluate children for autism using the ADOS and a caring, strengths-based approach. Call and ask for Mary Beth Scholtes to begin the intake process.
School & IEP Rights
IEPs, 504 plans, special education, and school advocacy.
Every state has a federally funded Parent Training & Information Center offering free help with IEPs, special-education rights, and early intervention. This hub's directory locates the center that serves your state.
A national nonprofit protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Use their member directory to find a special-education attorney or trained advocate near you when you need help with an IEP or a dispute with a school.
Every state has a federally mandated Protection & Advocacy agency that offers free legal help when a school isn't following your child's IEP or evaluating them as required. This directory connects you to the office serving your area.
Equip for Equality is Illinois's federally mandated disability rights legal organization, and their free Special Education Rights Parent Helpline lets you talk through IEP, 504, discipline, and evaluation concerns. They can also provide limited legal help at IEP meetings, mediations, and hearings.
Family Matters is Illinois's only federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, and as of October 2025 it serves families across the entire state. Their team offers free one-on-one coaching, IEP guidance, and workshops to help you understand your child's special education rights.
The state education agency's special education portal hosts A Parent's Guide to your child's educational rights and responsibilities, plus tools for IEPs, evaluations, and resolving disagreements with a school. It's the official Illinois source for how special education is supposed to work.
Therapy & Treatment
ABA, speech, OT, and finding the right providers.
You matter too. Psychology Today's therapist finder filters for 'caregiver stress' and 'autism family,' and Open Path Collective offers reduced-cost therapy sessions nationwide. You cannot support your child well without also supporting yourself.
The largest statewide autism network in the country, TAP connects families to screening, diagnostic evaluations, therapy (ABA, speech, OT/PT), and support groups through more than 20 centers across Illinois. A great first call when you're not sure where to start.
A university clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago providing autism diagnosis, psychological and speech-language evaluations, counseling, and behavior services for individuals ages 3 and up. Care is offered in English and Spanish by a bilingual, multidisciplinary team.
A University of Illinois Chicago program offering free care coordination for families of children with special healthcare needs in every Illinois county. Care coordinators help you find specialists, therapy, and services and navigate the paperwork that comes with them.
This Naperville center brings ABA, speech, occupational, and music therapy together under one roof for children and teens up to age 17. They handle insurance authorizations and billing in-house to ease the paperwork on families.
This long-established nonprofit offers autism diagnosis plus speech, occupational, physical, feeding, and behavior therapy for kids right here in DuPage County. Their centers in Villa Park, Naperville, and Elgin focus on early intervention and family support.
Rush's hospital-run directory helps you sort through therapy options like ABA, speech, OT, and feeding, with plain explanations of what each does. It is a trustworthy starting point when you are not sure which therapy your child needs.
Financial Assistance & Benefits
Medicaid waivers, SSI, ABLE accounts, and legal aid.
ABLE accounts let people with disabilities (onset before age 26) save money tax-free without losing Medicaid or SSI eligibility. This center compares every state's ABLE program so you can pick the best one for your family.
Equip for Equality is Illinois' federally designated disability rights protection and advocacy agency, offering free legal advice, self-advocacy help, and representation. Reach out if your child faces discrimination or you need help enforcing their rights.
Run by the Illinois State Treasurer, IL ABLE lets your family save and invest for disability-related expenses without risking SSI or Medicaid eligibility. Earnings and withdrawals for qualified costs like housing, therapy, and daily living are tax-free.
Illinois' Medicaid agency offers this waiver to help families cover things like assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, and behavior treatment so your child can stay at home. It serves kids and young adults ages 3-21 with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
DayOne PACT is DuPage County's local agency for getting on the state's PUNS waiting list, the first step toward Medicaid HCBS waiver funding for your child. Their coordinators walk families through registration, benefits, and long-term planning at no cost.
Free civil legal help for lower-income DuPage families, including appeals when SSI or Medicaid/disability benefits are denied or cut off. The West Chicago office serves DuPage and nearby counties and you can start an application by phone.
Support Groups & Community
Find your people, in person and online.
The nation's oldest grassroots autism organization. Their National Helpline connects families to information and referrals, and their affiliate finder points you to a local chapter in your area for in-person support and events.
The largest national community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local chapters offer advocacy, family support, and lifelong services. Use the chapter finder to locate the office nearest you.
Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org) to reach a free, confidential referral line for local health and human services in almost every US community, including disability services, respite, food, housing, and financial assistance.
A grassroots nonprofit serving families in Southern Illinois with support groups, education, advocacy, and recreation opportunities for children and adults with autism. Reach out to find local meetups and family programs near you.
A Chicago-area nonprofit that hosts monthly parent support meetings, a social and recreational club, and seasonal family events for children and adults with autism. It is a welcoming place to meet other families who understand.
A statewide nonprofit that helps Illinois family caregivers find a break, with respite referrals, training, and an emergency respite fund that offers stipends up to $500 for planned or unexpected situations. Call their toll-free line to talk through your options.
A Warrenville-based nonprofit serving DuPage families since 1965, Little Friends offers family respite services, a Family Support Network, and a Center for Autism alongside schools and adult programs. Their respite program gives caregivers a much-needed break while your child is cared for by people who understand autism.
Based in Lisle, Ray Graham has served DuPage families since 1950 with therapeutic recreation, family support, life-skills programs, and residential services for people with developmental disabilities. Their recreation and community programs help your child stay active, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging.
This Naperville nonprofit welcomes families across every life stage with family specialists, free community events like Open Play & Support days, and educational resources. It's a warm, grounded community where you can ask your hardest questions and connect with other parents walking the same road.
WDSRA runs hundreds of year-round recreation programs, adaptive sports, Special Olympics, camps, and social clubs for children, teens, and adults with disabilities across nine DuPage communities. It's a wonderful way for your child to make friends and have fun, and inclusion support in regular park-district programs is offered at no charge.
Adult Transition & Long-Term Planning
Aging out of school, adult services, and long-term planning.
A neurodivergent employment agency offering job support nationwide over Zoom: resume building, mock interviews, and career guidance, plus direct outreach to employers to help secure placements. Supports neurodivergent individuals roughly ages 16 to 50, and has been in business over 15 years.
A state agency that safeguards the rights of adults with disabilities, home to the Office of State Guardian, the nation's largest public guardianship program. They can guide your family through guardianship questions and connect you to legal help.
A free statewide program that helps families understand the sometimes confusing world of transition, adult services, waivers, and PUNS, with real people to talk through your next step. A trusted first call when your child is aging out of school services.
An Illinois nonprofit that has helped families set up and manage special needs (pooled) trusts for over 30 years, so savings won't jeopardize a loved one's benefits. They draft trust agreements and administer accounts that meet Social Security and Medicaid rules.
The county's own department connects adults 18 and older with disabilities to support like adult protective services, housing and utility assistance, caregiver resources, and help navigating benefits. A good local first call when you're not sure where to start.
When an adult child cannot make decisions on their own and no family member is able to serve, the state's Office of State Guardian can step in to help manage personal, financial, and legal affairs. Their intake line is a good starting point for understanding guardianship options in Illinois.
A note on these listings. This directory is informational and not an
endorsement. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change, so always confirm details
directly with the provider before relying on them. Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
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