What your childcare options actually are in Philadelphia when your child is autistic — from inclusive daycare and therapeutic preschools to the Pennsylvania Early Intervention services that can come to whatever setting your child is already in.
Finding childcare is hard for any working parent. Finding childcare that will genuinely welcome and support an autistic child — not just tolerate them until the first hard day — is harder, and it is one of the most common stress points families tell us about.
The good news in Philadelphia is that there are real options, and they connect. This page explains the difference between inclusive daycare, therapeutic preschool, and Early Intervention, and lists verified local programs that support young autistic children.
A longstanding Philadelphia nonprofit offering state-licensed preschool and STAR 4-rated childcare (Pennsylvania's highest tier), plus infant/toddler and preschool Early Intervention and ABA services, at centers in Frankford and the Far Northeast. Childcare enrollment: spinenroll@spininc.org.
Visit siteElwyn's Seedlings program provides preschool Early Intervention for children roughly ages 3-5 with autism, built on ABA principles with speech, OT, and PT as needed. Elwyn coordinates preschool EI across Philadelphia; Access to Care line 215-222-8054.
Visit siteFELS runs two childcare centers in Northeast Philadelphia and states that it serves children with developmental delays, behavioral challenges or special medical needs in its classrooms alongside their peers.
Visit siteCORA's Huntingdon Mills Early Years site at 2137 E. Huntingdon Street (Kensington/Fishtown) uses an inclusion classroom model designed to support children on the autism spectrum alongside peers.
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