Jacksonville, IL: Autism clinic opens to serve rural families

July 24, 2025, Telegraph: Autism Center opens Jacksonville clinic to serve rural families

An organization that works to ensure families that need autism services are getting them in a rural communities will be opening a clinic location in Jacksonville. 

A ribbon cutting is planned for the clinic at 10 a.m. Monday along with a hiring event from noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the new center at 1351 Lincoln Ave. 

Sarah Lewis, founder and CEO, is both a doctor who works with people with autism as well as a mother of an autistic child. 

In her experience, services are readily available in populated areas like Chicago or St. Louis, but much like other medical fields, rural areas do not always have the necessary services to accommodate the needs of the community. . . .

The clinic provides both clinic and in-home services, treatment plans, support and community training. Lewis said in addition to serving individuals, they work with local schools and staff to develop skills that will aid them in the classroom and develop specific, student-based plans. 

In addition to the clinics located in Dixon and Jacksonville, the Autism Center of Illinois also trains people who work remotely to serve people in their communities, especially if they are not close to the clinics. 

The staff for the center are evaluating clients and services are expected to start between the start of the school year and Labor Day. Lewis said people can get services in several ways, either by reaching out to the center or through a doctor referral. 

"We are already taking kids in Jacksonville and will soon be able to start direct services after we do their assessments to see what areas need to be addressed," Lewis said. 

During the hiring event, the organization will be looking to fill several positions, including a site director, speech language pathologists, behvior analyst, registered behavioral techs and autism paraprofessionals.

Lewis said she is excited to expand to Jacksonville and hopes to continue to expand their coverage area for both in-person and in-home services. 

"I really want to keep families with their families," Lewis said. "If someone grew up in Jacksonville, I don't want them to feel like they have to leave just to get services."