Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Center is located at: 4601 Market St., Philadelphia PA 19139, and 2801 Grant Ave., Philadelphia PA 19114.

The Center for Autism is not a school or an educational facility. We are an outpatient treatment facility, and use a comprehensive assessment to guide treatment/services. The goal of treatment is to alleviate the core deficits of autism, which are impairments in communication and social interaction, restrictive/repetitive play and other related underlying issues. Through treatment, we teach individuals how to communicate and build relationships with significant people in their life, and learn the skills they need to help succeed beyond their time in our programs.

The Center for Autism provides year-round evaluation and assessment services to individuals of all ages. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Intake Department at 215-220-2121. An Intake Coordinator will collect basic information and ask questions about the person to be evaluated/assessed. To learn more about these services, click here.

Though scheduling times vary throughout the year, the Center can generally schedule you for an evaluation 2-4 months from the time that you speak with our Intake Department.

Medical Assistance & Medicaid

The Center’s services can be accessed & paid for through Medicaid in Philadelphia by Community Behavioral Health. In Pennsylvania, children with severe disabilities, like autism spectrum disorders, are eligible for Medicaid through Social Security regardless of the parent’s income. This is known as the Pennsylvania Loophole. You can apply for Medicaid/Medical Assistance at http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/.

Private Insurance

Pennsylvania’s Autism Insurance Act (Act 62) requires private insurers to cover autism-related treatment & diagnosis up to $36,000 annually for individuals under 21. If you are a resident of Pennsylvania and would like more information on autism coverage, please contact your insurer. Please contact the Intake Department at 215-220-2121 to find out if your private insurance covers our services.

Yes, we offer evaluation and assessment services at both Philadelphia locations.

The Center offers a variety of treatment programs for children with autism and their families. These include the CORE Program, Social Competency Program, the S.T.E.P. Program, and Individual Outpatient Therapy. To learn more about these programs, click here.

The time-frame for program admission can vary. Children new to the Pre-K and First Friends Program begin attending in September. The Social Competency and Outpatient Programs admit new individuals throughout the year based on availability.To learn more about our Intake Procedure, please click here for a PDF.

Individuals enrolled in the CORE Program, Social Competency, and S.T.E.P. Programs are eligible to receive transportation to & from programming through a contracted transportation service provider.