York County runs early intervention for a child under 3 through its own York/Adams MH-IDD Program, which also serves neighboring Adams County; no physician referral or diagnosis is required to start a referral. At age 3, responsibility for preschool special education moves to the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12.

This guide lists those numbers and links, the region's dedicated autism evaluation center (physically located in Lancaster but serving York County families), York 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 York (York County).

Early intervention under 3: York/Adams Early Intervention (birth–3) and Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 Preschool Early Intervention (3–5)

The York/Adams MH-IDD Program, part of York County's Department of Human Services, runs Early Intervention for children under 3 across both York and Adams counties; anyone — a parent, daycare provider, or pediatrician — can refer a child, and referrals should be submitted at least 60 days before the child's third birthday. A service coordinator typically contacts the family within days, and a developmental evaluation across five domains decides eligibility — a diagnosis is not required. At age 3, responsibility for special-education services moves to the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 (IU12). At school age, the family's own district takes over.

• York/Adams Early Intervention (birth–3) and Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 Preschool Early Intervention (3–5)
• Referral phone: 717-771-9893 (York/Adams EI, birth to 3) · 717-624-4616 (Lincoln IU12 Preschool EI, ages 3–5)

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

School districts and special education

York families begin a school-age evaluation with a written request sent to their child's school. York City School District's special-education office handles requests for the city's own students. Central York School District, whose attendance area borders the city, runs a larger special-education team led by a dedicated director and several supervisors.

• York City School District (School District of the City of York) — 717-845-3571 ext. 4063; 31 N. Pershing Ave, York, PA 17401
• Central York School District — 717-846-6789; 775 Marion Road, York, PA 17406; Director of Special Education Elizabeth Mason

IEP or 504 · If you disagree with the school

Evaluation and diagnosis pathways in York

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.

• WellSpan Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities (CADD) — diagnostic evaluation, behavior therapy, developmental therapy, and speech-language/OT support from infancy through adulthood, plus family education and care coordination with schools; no physician referral is required · 717-735-1920 · the center is physically located in Lancaster, roughly 25 miles from York, though WellSpan describes it as serving families across central Pennsylvania; its own page states it maintains a waitlist for evaluations and services due to high demand
• Acclaim Autism — York — in-home, BCBA-supervised ABA therapy, accepting Pennsylvania Medicaid · 888-805-8206

How assessment works · What to do while you wait

Disability services and waivers: York/Adams MH-IDD Program

The York/Adams MH-IDD Program, run by York County's Department of Human Services, registers children ages 3 to 18 with an autism or intellectual disability diagnosis, and adults 18 and up, for services including Medicaid waiver eligibility; it also runs birth-to-3 early intervention. Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (CCBHO) is the separate HealthChoices plan that funds and authorizes IBHS-delivered ABA for Medicaid-enrolled children in York County.

• York/Adams MH-IDD Program
• Phone: 717-771-9618 (York/Adams MH-IDD Program) · 1-866-542-0299 (Community Care Behavioral Health member services)

Local organizations that help York families

• Autism York — volunteer-run peer support group offering low- and no-cost programs, including an annual Fun Fest & Expo (717-801-1272)
• Special Olympics Pennsylvania — York County — part of the Capital Area Region, serving 200+ local athletes across 13 sports (717-846-1881)
• 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.

• The nearest WellSpan Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities clinical site to York is actually in Lancaster, roughly 25 miles away, even though WellSpan markets it as a central Pennsylvania resource; the center's own page also states it maintains a waitlist for evaluations due to high demand. (source)
• Once York City or Central York finishes the evaluation report, Pennsylvania rule gives the IEP team only 30 more calendar days to hold the meeting and complete the IEP. (source)
• Advocacy groups tracking Pennsylvania's ID/autism waiver rolls report roughly 11,600 people waiting statewide, close to 980 of them flagged specifically for autism, with some wait categories stretching beyond seven years. (source)