Every child develops in their own unique way and early understanding can make a powerful difference.

Quick Peek Program: Virtual early developmental screenings for ages 1 to 5 years old to help identify where your child may need some extra help and if needed, make recommendations regarding diagnostic evaluations.

Early Intervention Program: Provided primarily in the home for children from birth to three-years old who have developmental delays involving two or more of the following areas: cognition, language, fine motor, gross motor, social/emotional and self-care. No formal diagnosis is needed to receive these services

Access to developmental care is critical for autistic children, but there’s a growing shortage of providers. That’s why together with Rutgers Health Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, we created the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship. The three-year fellowship program helps to fill the gap by training fellows to serve as expert consultants to pediatricians in the clinical diagnosis and management of all developmental behavioral conditions. Every child deserves to be supported and understood.

At Children’s Specialized Hospital, our Autism Center of Excellence is built to meet children where they are and help them thrive!

From early developmental screenings to evidence-based therapies, our interdisciplinary team provides comprehensive, individualized care for autistic individuals and their families.

In addition to our wide variety of medical and therapeutic diagnostic and treatment services, early intervention, and early developmental screenings, the Autism Center of Excellence also encompasses CSH RUCARES and Children’s Specialized ABA. 

Our pediatric medical specialists help to coordinate medical management and they include developmental behavioral pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, psychiatrists, physiatrists and pediatric primary care physicians. Learn more about Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Neurology, Psychiatry, Physiatry and Special Needs Primary Care.

Children’s Specialized Hospital’s comprehensive multidisciplinary approach includes consistent therapies that improve each child’s outcome.

Feeding and Nutrition Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Physical and Occupational Therapy

Children’s Specialized ABA provides a holistic, collaborative Applied Behavior Analysis model that addresses physical, developmental, behavioral, social and emotional needs of children, teens, and young adults with ASD in family, school, and community contexts.

This partnership is rooted in increasing access, reaching more children and families across New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Arizona, reducing barriers to care and ensuring families can access support sooner. The goal of ABA Services is to support each child’s development, celebrate their individuality, and help create meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Activity Connection at Children’s Specialized Hospital provides year-round inclusive programming for individuals ages 1-21. All activities are conducted by CSH Recreational Therapists who provide age-appropriate and safe activities that are catered to the individualized needs of participants.

In programs, we focus on safety awareness, socialization, gross & fine motor skills, cognitive & emotional skills, and more, all within a safe and fun environment! Our Recreational Therapists support participants in enhancing their skills, making new friends, and trying different recreational activities!

Programs include Adaptive Aquatics, Play Group, Social Club, Teen Nights, Friday Night Fever, RWJBH Toms River Field of Dreams Programming, Summer Camps, and more.

The Severe Behavior Program at CSH – Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education and Services (CSH-RUCARES) provides intensive and highly specialized services to children and adolescents with ASD who frequently engage in destructive behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, and property destruction that post a risk to self, others, or the environment and cannot be safely and effectively treated in a less intensive program and/or with medication.

Inclusion is a top priority at Children’s Specialized Hospital. Our Center for Discovery, Innovation and Development collaborates with IncludED, a team comprised of experts in disability education and inclusion to help businesses ensure they’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively support individuals with access and functional needs.