Autism Resources in South Dakota

A statewide guide to autism services across South Dakota — for families in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, and the small towns, farming and ranching communities, and tribal nations spread across a wide, rural state.

South Dakota has a small, dispersed population, and autism services here concentrate heavily in Sioux Falls and, to a lesser degree, Rapid City. The state has real assets: the Center for Disabilities at the USD Sanford School of Medicine serves as the statewide University Center and runs autism programs; LifeScape is a major Sioux Falls-based provider of therapy and autism services; Birth to Three delivers early intervention; and Medicaid covers ABA. South Dakota also has an insurance mandate — though one with age-based dollar caps — and the familiar rural challenges of provider shortages and long travel, most acute for families in the western half of the state and on the state's nine tribal nations.

This page walks through how the pieces fit together and where the gaps are — honestly.

We've written this as a starting point. South Dakota readers who know specifics better than we do — tell us what we got wrong or missed.