A New Model of Care for Children with Autism and Complex Needs

The Children’s Specialty Hospital at The Center for Discovery is a transformative, short-term inpatient facility serving children and adolescents ages 5–21 with autism and complex neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Located in Rock Hill, New York, the specialty hospital provides coordinated medical, behavioral, nutritional, and educational care designed to identify and address the underlying challenges that affect behavior, health, and learning. Our goal is to help children stabilize, improve their health and routines, and return home better prepared to thrive in their home, at school, and within their community.

Who We Serve

Regulated by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Children’s Specialty Hospital serves New York State residents who are OPWDD-eligible and experiencing medical and behavioral challenges such as:

Severe sleep disturbances
Highly selective or restrictive eating
Seizure disorders
Gastrointestinal pain or chronic constipation
Failure to thrive

Admissions are carefully coordinated to ensure each child receives the right support at the right time.

Integrated Care Through the SynergE6 Healthspan Model

Care at the hospital is guided by The Center for Discovery’s SynergE6 Healthspan Model, which integrates medical care, nutrition, environment, education, and therapeutic supports to address the underlying drivers of health, behavior, and learning.

By looking at the whole child, this approach helps uncover medical or physiological factors that may impact development and behavior, leading to more targeted care and better outcomes.

Comprehensive Services

Children admitted to the hospital receive a coordinated program of care that may include:

Short-term inpatient assessment and treatment
NYSED-approved 853 Day School Program
Primary and specialty medical care, including dental services
Nutrition and metabolic health programs
Music and creative arts therapy
Animal-assisted intervention and education
Therapeutic recreation and adapted sports
Research and assistive technology supports

Families, caregivers, and school districts are actively involved throughout the process to support a successful transition home.

One Family’s Experience

For many families, the Children’s Specialty Hospital represents a turning point.

One parent shared that before arriving, daily life felt overwhelming – tantrums were frequent, safety was a constant concern, and medical appointments were nearly impossible. After receiving care at the hospital, the changes were remarkable. “He’s a whole different child.”

Her son can now calmly complete doctor visits, sit with the family at restaurants, remain safely buckled in the car, and regulate emotions far more effectively.

Daily life feels manageable again,” the parent shared. “We can go out as a family, and he’s able to express his needs. It’s amazing to see the difference.

Before coming to the Children’s Specialty Hospital: Daily life felt overwhelming. Severe behavioral episodes were frequent and could last for hours. Safety was a constant concern, and even routine doctor visits were nearly impossible.

After receiving care: Her son can now calmly complete medical appointments, sit with his family at restaurants, remain safely buckled in the car, and regulate his emotions far more effectively.

He’s a whole different child,” his mother shared. “Daily life feels manageable again. We can go out as a family, and he’s able to express his needs. It’s amazing to see the difference.

Before coming to the Children’s Specialty Hospital: Daily life felt overwhelming. Severe behavioral episodes were frequent and could last for hours. Safety was a constant concern, and even routine doctor visits were nearly impossible.

After receiving care: Her son can now calmly complete medical appointments, sit with his family at restaurants, remain safely buckled in the car, and regulate his emotions far more effectively.

He’s a whole different child,” his mother shared. “Daily life feels manageable again. We can go out as a family, and he’s able to express his needs. It’s amazing to see the difference.

Admissions Information

For more information about admissions to the Children’s Specialty Hospital, including eligibility and referral guidelines, please visit Admissions at TCFD.