What The Autism Program of Illinois does

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is a state-established nonprofit program that coordinates autism screening, diagnostics, therapy, family support, training, and resource navigation across Illinois. Its Service Network combines 5 universities and 9 organizations operating 20 centers, with Hope as lead agency, and serves children and families affected by autism as well as educators, childcare providers, medical professionals, and first responders. Its referral portal routes families to participating service providers and is intended to address rural service-access gaps. Source:.\n\nOperationally, TAP uses a platform-plus-partner model rather than a centralized clinical delivery system. Partner organizations provide services including Applied Behavior Analysis, occupational, physical, speech, and counseling therapy, social-skills and support groups, family and community resource rooms, diagnostic evaluations, assistive technology, emergency-response materials, and educational tip sheets. The disclosed technical surface consists of an online referral portal and standard web, survey, and video integrations; no proprietary AI system, API, SDK, patent, or core technology product is disclosed. Source:.\n\nTAP is funded primarily by The Autism Program of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services, with most beneficiary services provided without direct charges. Its commercial surface is limited mainly to training: the two-day virtual ADOS-2 workshop has a disclosed $50 one-time registration fee, while Autism New Diagnosis Training is free. Families can access the network through self-referral, the online portal, statewide centers, workshops, website and social channels, email, and conferences, making TAP primarily a publicly funded service-coordination network rather than a fee-for-scale clinical platform.

Name

The Autism Program of Illinois

Legal name

The Autism Program of Illinois

Website

https://tap-illinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Autism Program of Illinois coordinates a statewide network of universities and service organizations that provides autism screening, diagnostics, therapy, family support, training, and resource navigation to Illinois families and professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Social Skills & Peer-Mediated Programs (EDAKAKAF), Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Autism services network
• Autism diagnostic services
• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism training programs
• Developmental disability support

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: TAP is funded by The Autism Program of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). The network operates as a collaboration of universities and organizations that provide autism services throughout the state of Illinois.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) operates a coordinated statewide network of 5 universities and 11+ partner organizations running 20 centers that deliver autism-related services including screening, diagnostics, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, social skills groups, support groups, and professional/caregiver training. The program is anchored by an online referral portal that connects Illinois families with their nearest TAP service provider, supplemented by annual conferences and resource materials distributed across the state.

Product overview

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is a statewide service network operating as a platform-plus-partners model. It functions as a central coordination hub connecting families to 14 partner organizations across 19 locations, including universities (Eastern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University) and service organizations (Easterseals, The Autism Clinic at Hope, Trinity Services, and others). The core offering is the referral portal and network coordination, supplemented by diagnostic services (ADOS-2 evaluations), ABA therapy, social skills groups, support groups, training programs (ADOS-2 Training, Autism New Diagnosis Training), and resource materials (Emergency Response Kits, Tip Sheets, Family and Community Resource Rooms). Annual TAP N2 Hope Conferences provide professional and caregiver education. Services are funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services and operate through Hope as the lead agency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TAP Service Network

Quantifiable outcome

• First online referral portal in Illinois connecting families to service providers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Eastern Illinois University (EIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Autism Center at EIU opened in 2015 and officially became a TAP partner in July 2022. Provides STEP Program (Student Transitional Education Program), diagnostic evaluations, therapy services, and professional education. Located in Charleston, IL.
• Easterseals Central IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Autism Early Diagnostic Clinic for early identification, screening and comprehensive medical diagnostic evaluation, ABA Parent Training, and Autism New Diagnosis Family Orientation Training. Located in Peoria and Bloomington, IL.
• Easterseals RockfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides autism screening and diagnostic evaluation, consultation and parent coaching, social skills/theater groups, and community training and outreach. Located in Rockford, IL.
• Grupo SaltocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides family and sibling support, community trainings, IEP and transition trainings for Spanish speaking families, peer mentoring, and Tu y Yo young adult group. Bilingual services in Spanish.
• Have DreamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Social, Communication and Independent Living Skills (SCILS) Program for children with ASD. Located in Evanston, IL.
• Illinois State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ABA therapy, social skills groups, consultation, caregiver support groups, student training, and community training. Located in Bloomington, IL.
• Kreider Services (DBA Florissa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides individual therapy, group therapy, and trainings for professionals, parents, and community members. Located in Dixon, IL.
• Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays (RCADD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at UIC, provides bilingual community trainings, consultations, family and community resource room, and YouTube channel with bilingual resources in English and Spanish.
• Southern Illinois University CarbondalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides ABA therapy, speech therapy, community training for teachers and paraprofessionals, multi-disciplinary consultations, and pre-service professional training.
• The Answer, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides parent support groups, Music-n-Me nutrition and dance program, and Spectrum University tutoring services. Located in Hillside, IL.
• The Autism Clinic at HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides autism screening, diagnostic evaluations, ABA therapy, speech therapy, parent and community training, and care coordination. Multiple locations: Glen Carbon, O'Fallon, Herrin, and Springfield.
• Trinity ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides social skills group therapy, training for professionals, parents, and community members. Also offers ABA therapy through Abilities Behavior Services. Locations in New Lenox and Mascoutah.
• University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides social skills activities/groups, play groups, consultation and referrals, and training to professionals, parents, community members, and pre-service professionals.
• University of Illinois ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides autism screening, diagnostic evaluation, community training, group therapy, individual therapy (speech, OT, PT, counseling, ABA), family and community resource room, assistive technology program, and research and evaluation.
• Hope (Lead Agency)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope serves as the lead agency for TAP, operating the Central Office and providing administrative leadership. Hope Pavilion houses TAP Central Office in Springfield, IL. Contact: Clint Paul, President and CEO of Hope.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: National organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism) through advocacy, family support, and direct services. Comparable as a disability-services network spanning education, family navigation, and community-based programs.
• Autism Speaks: Largest national autism advocacy and services organization, funding research, advocacy, and family resources. Comparable as a nationwide autism coordination and resource entity, though operating via advocacy and grantmaking rather than direct service networks.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national behavioral health provider operating autism, intellectual disability, and emotional/behavioral programs across multiple states. Comparable in scale and service breadth, though operating a multi-state rather than single-state model.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Johns Hopkins-affiliated institute providing autism diagnostics, therapy, education, and research programs. Comparable as an integrated clinical-research-training hub serving children with ASD and their families, with broader neurodevelopmental scope than TAP.

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National disability services network delivering autism diagnostics, ABA, and caregiver training across many states. Multiple Easterseals affiliates (Central Illinois, Rockford) are TAP partners, making it both a peer and collaborator in autism service delivery.
• Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC): Arizona-based nonprofit operating a comprehensive statewide autism model combining clinical services, research, training, and community resources. Highly comparable to TAP as a regional hub integrating university research, screening/therapy, and family navigation.
• Marcus Autism Center: One of the largest autism centers in the US, affiliated with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, offering screening, diagnostics, ABA, and research. Comparable to TAP on the integration of clinical services, university research, and statewide referral.
• Autism Society of America: National grassroots autism organization providing information/referral, support groups, and local chapter services. Comparable to TAP in mission and audience (families, individuals with ASD), though organized as a federation of local chapters rather than a state-coordinated service network.
• Have Dreams: Illinois-based nonprofit providing social, communication, and independent living skills programs for children and adults with autism. Comparable as a TAP network partner and direct autism services provider operating in the same Illinois geography.
• May Institute: National nonprofit providing ABA, educational, and adult services for children and adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities. Comparable as a multi-state autism service network with school, clinical, and home/community-based programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2-Lro9L_eWg8Pol4BMP0HA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAutismProgramIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tap-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Autism Program of Illinois