Scranton School District has opened 18 new autistic-support classrooms over the past two years, bringing its total to 47, as the share of its special-education students carrying an autism diagnosis rose from about 8% in 2014 to roughly 16% today — a shift documented in 2026 public-radio reporting on the district's response. That growth is the backdrop for this guide to how the city's early-intervention, school, and Medicaid systems actually work.

Below are the phone numbers and links for early intervention, evaluation and ABA pathways, Lackawanna County's mental health and intellectual disability office, and the PH-95 Medicaid category many Pennsylvania families can use no matter their income.

Statewide programs, numbers, and rights are on the Pennsylvania page. This page adds the local entry points that are specific to Scranton (Lackawanna County).

Early intervention under 3: Lackawanna-Susquehanna Early Intervention (birth–3) and NEIU19 Preschool Early Intervention (3–5)

Lackawanna County's Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disability/Early Intervention program covers children under 3, with services delivered locally through Friendship House and the Scranton Counseling Center; call the county's main line to start a referral and reach a service coordinator for a free developmental evaluation — a diagnosis is not required. At age 3, responsibility for preschool special-education services shifts to the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19 (NEIU19), which serves 20 member school districts and 2 charter schools across Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, and Pike counties. At school age, the child's own district takes over.

• Lackawanna-Susquehanna Early Intervention (birth–3) and NEIU19 Preschool Early Intervention (3–5)
• Referral phone: 570-346-5741 (Lackawanna-Susquehanna BH/ID/EI, birth to 3) · 570-348-6100 (Scranton Counseling Center EI) · 570-876-9200 (NEIU19, ages 3–5)

New to early intervention? Read the plain-language guide first.

School districts and special education

To start a school-age evaluation in Scranton, send your child's school a written request. Scranton School District's Student Support Services office has expanded rapidly in recent years — public-radio reporting found the district opened 18 new autistic-support classrooms over two years, bringing its total to 47, as roughly 1 in 4 district students now receive special-education services, up from about 1 in 5 a decade ago. Abington Heights School District, in nearby Clarks Summit, publishes its own annual special-education public notice.

• Scranton School District — Student Support Services, 570-348-3400 option 3; Director Jennifer Bradley
• Abington Heights School District — 570-585-8278 (special education department); 200 East Grove Street, Clarks Summit, PA 18411

IEP or 504 · If you disagree with the school

Evaluation and diagnosis pathways in Scranton

These are hospital and university programs with public intake information. Listing here is informational — it is not a recommendation, and it is not medical advice. Public school evaluation is free and does not require any of these.

• Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute — comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluation, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, psychology, and speech-language pathology; the nearest clinical site to Scranton is in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, roughly 20 minutes away, with a second site in Lewisburg · 570-714-6420 · there is no Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute clinical site inside Scranton itself — the nearest is in neighboring Luzerne County
• Attain ABA — ABA therapy for ages 0–21 serving the Scranton/Carbondale area, accepting Medicaid and most private insurance · 866-625-4740
• Allied Services — Luger Scranton Rehab Center — outpatient speech, occupational, and physical therapy with direct access, meaning no physician referral is required to start · 570-348-1360

How assessment works · What to do while you wait

Disability services and waivers: Lackawanna County Department of Human Services — Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disability/Early Intervention Program

Lackawanna County's BH/ID/EI office, jointly administered with Susquehanna County, registers children for intellectual disability and autism services. For waiver-eligibility determinations specifically, the county uses the Advocacy Alliance Independent Eligibility Team. Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) is the separate HealthChoices plan that funds and authorizes IBHS-delivered ABA for Medicaid-enrolled children in Lackawanna County.

• Lackawanna County Department of Human Services — Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disability/Early Intervention Program
• Phone: 570-346-5741 (county BH/ID/EI) · 1-877-315-6855 (Advocacy Alliance eligibility team) · 1-888-251-2224 (Community Care Behavioral Health provider line)

Local organizations that help Scranton families

• Autism Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania — runs a Virtual Autism Support Hub, The Open Quest Project, and a B.E.A.M. family program (570-291-8078)
• Special Olympics Pennsylvania — Northeast Region — regional office headquartered in Scranton, serving Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties
• Greater Scranton YMCA — states it is a facility partner of Special Olympics Pennsylvania (570-342-8115)
• PAAutism.org (ASERT) — Pennsylvania's statewide autism resource and support-group directory

Documented waits and access notes

Wait times change. Each note below links to the public source it came from — confirm current status directly with the program.

• Scranton School District opened 18 new autistic-support classrooms over two years, bringing its total to 47, as the share of its special-education students with an autism diagnosis rose from about 8% in 2014 to roughly 16% today; the district has purchased a former Friendship House building for a $6 million renovation into new classroom space. (source)
• There is no Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute clinical location inside Scranton — the nearest is roughly 20 minutes away in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, with a second site in Lewisburg. (source)
• Once Scranton or Abington Heights completes the evaluation report, Pennsylvania rule requires the IEP itself to be finished within 30 calendar days — a distinct deadline from the 60-day evaluation window. (source)
• Act 62's state autism insurance mandate is worth up to $36,000 a year (rising with inflation) for a covered Lackawanna County child through age 20, but the law skips any employer plan that is self-funded. (source)