Finding a daycare or preschool that is a good fit for a child with Autism can be especially challenging to parents. LV Autism Guide has gathered a list of some centers who have accommodated other parents in the past. However, it's important to ask the right questions and make sure it's a good fit for your child's individual needs. Ask if they allow TSS's there. This is the time that many parents and therapists work on modifying behavior, building foundation skills for later learning and play. Visit the day care/preschool with your child and watch your child's reaction, how the employees relate to your child and be candid about your child's needs. Click on the following link to read more about how to find the right child care.
​As you search for services, it's a good idea to compile a care binder or folder with his/her healthcare needs.
​
Having issues with your preschool? Start an Early Intervention Complaint Form. It's a form that parents can complete to request a formal complaint through the Bureau of Early Intervention Services.
Between toddler age and preschool, the Early Start Denver Model is the time frame this therapy is implemented. Click on https://www.esdm.co/ to learn more about this therapy.
Affordable Early Learning Options
Child Care Works: A Pennsylvania program that helps low-income families pay forchildcare while parents work or attend school by utilizing a co-pay system which can be as little as $5.00 per week but varies according to your income and the number of family members. Parents can choose their own childcare provider and all payments go directly to that childcare program.
​
Criteria:
•You and your family must live in Pennsylvania.
•You must have a child or children under age 13 who need childcare while you
work or attend an education program.
•All children in care must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.
•Your family’s income cannot be more than 200% of the federal poverty income
guidelines. For example, a family of four must earn less than $46,100 in 2012 to
be eligible (2012 Annual Federal Poverty Guidelines are located on
page 32 ).
•Each parent or guardian in your household must (a) work 20 or more hours
per week, OR (b) work 10 hours or more and go to school for 10 hours or more
per week, OR (c) have a promise of a job that will start within 30 days of your
application.
•Each parent or guardian must have proof of identification.
​
You can enroll in Child Care Works by using COMPASS, which is an online application that allows Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs.
Website: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/menuitems/childcareFAQ.aspx?Language=EN You can also mail, fax or hand in a paper application to your local Child Care Information Services (CCIS) agency. Call CCIS at 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (877-472-5437)
​Early Head Start (EHS) is a special Head Start program that provides free education, health, and social services for pregnant women and families with children under age 3. Services can be offered at a center or in the family’s home. EHS programs help families get needed social services to help them become self-sufficient. Families can apply for EHS services through their local EHS provider. You can find a program in your community through the Head Start Center Locator.
​
Pre-K Counts is a Pennsylvania preschool program that provides free, high quality education to help get young children ready for school. Pre-K Counts provides half-day or full-day pre-kindergarten programs. These programs use a curriculum that will help children grow academically and socially. Pre-K Counts classrooms offer small class sizes.
​Criteria:
•Are between age 3 and the entry age for kindergarten in the school district where the child lives
•Are at risk of school failure due to income (family income is below 300% of the federal poverty level, or a family of four earning not more than $69,050 in 2012), language (English is not the child’s first language), or special needs issues.
​Pre-K Counts Provider in Lehigh Valley is:
Lehigh Valley Childrens Centers
Where: Multiple locations in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton
Call: 610-820-5333
Email: info@LVCConline.org
Website: http://www.lvcconline.org/services/pre-k-counts
Private Day Cares
This is a listing of day cares in Lehigh and Northampton counties other parents have used who are open with inclusion and having OT/Speech/TSS's in the classrooms. Please check with the preschool to confirm what arrangements the staff is comfortable with. It's helpful to therapists and day care staff to share an "about me" bio or a vision statement of the preschool years for your child. If you're child's birthday falls after the school district's cutoff date, some parents hold their child back a year to work on more goals and therapies. That is a personal decision for your and your family.
​​
Advocacy:
​
Include Me Preschool Advocacy
Opportunities for increasing the capacity of inclusive practices in preschools exist throughout the state. Include Me PreSchool is an answer to these opportunities. Currently, Include Me PreSchool consultants work with select Pennsylvania School Districts, Intermediate Units, private pre-school settings, and Head Start providers to: provide support for early care and education programs; promote inclusive practices; and increase capacity within participating programs. The students, their families and the program staff all benefit from this support. Include Me PreSchool is funded through grants from the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the PA Bureau of Early Intervention Services (BEIS), and others.
Where: 301 Chestnut Street. Suite 403, Pennsylvania Place Harrisburg, PA 17101-2702
Contact: Mary Mahoney-Ferster
Email:mmahoneyferster@includemepa.org
Call: 717-234-2621 or toll-free 1-877-337-1970
Website: http://includemepa.org/what-we-do/programs-services/preschool.html
​
Lehigh County Private Daycares:
​
A Bridge to Creative Learning
Teachers all have a special education degree.
Where: 3614 Lehigh Street, Whitehall, PA 18052
Contact via online form: http://bridge2creativelearning.webs.com/contactus.htm
​
Asbury Preschool
Where: 1533 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA 18104
Call: 610-481-0242
Website: http://www.asburypreschool.org/
​
Bethany Church
Where: 1208 Brookside Rd, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18106
Call: (610) 395-3613
Website: www.bethanyumchurch.com
​
Cuddle Zone
Where: 445 Allentown Dr, Allentown, PA 18109
Call: 610-434-2644
Email: info@cuddlezone.com
Website: http://cuddlezone.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Cuddle-Zone-Learning-Center-948869611821312/
Grow Christian Preschool
Where: 3800 Brookside rd, Macungie, Pennsylvania 18062
Call:(610) 965-2493
Website: www.macungienazarene.org
​
Lehigh Children's Academy
A non-profit daycare partnered with Via of the Lehigh Valley that goes beyond care giving and also focuses on education.
Where: 5910 Hamilton Boulevard, Lower Macungie, PA 18106
Ages: 6wks to 6 years and school ages 5-12yrs
Hours: We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 6pm year round.
Call: 610-841-5801
Website: www.LehighChildrensAcademy.com
​
Lehigh Valley Children's Center
Where: 2002 South Albert St, Allentown, PA
Call: 610-791-4828
Website: http://www.lvcconline.org
Red Door Early Learning Center
Where: 4777 Saucon Creek Rd, Center Valley, PA
Call: (484) 264-2916
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedDoorEarlyLearningCenter/?rf=234507653326251
​
St. Anne's Nursery School
Where: P.O. Box 147, East Texas, PA 18046
Call: 610-398-3321 ext. 9
Website: http://stannesepiscopal.net/nursery/
​
Private Daycares Northampton & Surrounding Counties:
​
ABC Early Learning Childcare Center, LLC
Where: 417 S Lincoln Ave, Walnutport, Pennsylvania, PA 18088
Call: (484) 623-4711
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ABCELChildcare/?fref=nf
​
Bright Minds Learning Center
Where: 1205 Broadway, Fountain Hill, PA 18015
Call: (610) 419-1834
Website: www.brightmindspa.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bright-Minds-Learning-Center-517021245070973/
​
​​First Baptist Church (both daycare/preschool)
Where: 3235 Linden St.,Bethlehem, PA 18017
Call:610-865-4600
Website: http://fbc-bethlehem.org/mission-partners/nurseryschool/
​
First Presbyterian Church
Contact: Andrea Barbehenn, Director
Where: 2344 Center St, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Call: 610-867-5865 x236
​
​​New Beginnings Learning Center
Where: Dryland United Church of Christ, 4415 Newburg Road, Lower Nazareth, Pa 18064
Call: (610) 759-6200
Website: https://www.rsgpreschool.com/
​
Northampton Community College Child Care
Morning and afternoon childcare at 7:30am and from 3p.m. to 6pm. A certified teacher will supervise the class and NCC students studying early childhood education will observe classroom activities. Transportation is not provided. Full day Kindergarten class at Reibman Hall Children's Center is available from 8:30am to 3p.m.
Where: 3835 Green Pond Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020
Call: Karen Klein (610) 861-5477
​
Ready Set Go Preschool
Where: Forks United Church of Christ, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township, PA 18040
Call: (610) 759-7100
Website: https://www.rsgpreschool.com/
​
The Growing Place Childcare Centers (PAAC Approved)
Where: Chestnuthill Elementary School, 2147 Route 115, Brodheadsville, PA 18322
or Polk Elementary School, 630 Interchange Rd., Kresgeville, PA 18333
Call: 570-992-6206
Website: https://www.tgpchildcare.com/
​
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts funding is awarded on a competitive basis every five years (or when any additional funding is included in the state budget). A competitive Request for Application (RFA) process is anticipated to be released in Spring 2018. Announcements of the competitive RFA will be communicated through Penn Link, and through the PA Early Ed News (click here to subscribe) as soon as it becomes available.
Website: https://www.education.pa.gov/Early%20Learning/Pages/Pre-KCountsAwardees.aspx
​
Child Care Works Subsidy Add-on for Keystone STARS programs
As part of OCDEL’s commitment to continuous quality improvement in early learning, child care programs participating in Keystone STARS at the STAR 2 level or above will receive a subsidy add-on for every child they serve who is enrolled in Child Care Works.
This subsidy add-on, or “tiered reimbursement,” is applicable to centers at the STAR 2 level or higher, and increases with each STAR level. The add-on is automatically applied to the daily subsidized child care rate for the program by the CCIS. The additional daily amount may, in some circumstances, increase provider rates to an amount that exceeds the Maximum Child Care Allowance.
Website: https://www.pakeys.org/getting-started/ocdel-programs/child-care-works/
Head Start Supplemental Assistance (HSSAP) How to Apply
​Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) funding is awarded on a competitive basis every five years (or when any additional funding is included in the state budget). The next competitive Request for Application (RFA) process is anticipated to be released in Spring 2023.
​