County resource guide
Autism Resources in Colbert County, Alabama
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Colbert County. Alabama statewide resources also apply.
Colbert County (Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield) is the Shoals region of northwest Alabama. North Alabama Medical Center serves the area. Colbert County and Muscle Shoals City school districts provide special education. SEAC (AL PTI) provides free statewide IEP advocacy. Families access Huntsville or Birmingham for specialized evaluations.
Provider directory
Local Providers18 providers in Colbert County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Sheffield · multi-county
Helen Keller Hospital — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield provides pediatric care and developmental evaluation referrals for Colbert County and the Muscle Shoals–Sheffield area. Works closely with North Alabama Medical Center in Florence for the broader Shoals region.
North Alabama Medical Center in Florence and Huntsville Hospital are primary specialist referral destinations.
Florence · multi-county
North Alabama Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
North Alabama Medical Center in Florence is the primary hospital for the Shoals region, serving Lauderdale and Colbert counties. Provides developmental pediatric services and evaluation referrals for this northwest Alabama community. Huntsville (~90 min) and Nashville, TN (~2 hrs) are the nearest major academic medical centers.
Huntsville Hospital (~90 min east) is the nearest major pediatric specialist hub for the Shoals.
Russellville · multi-county
Russellville Hospital — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Russellville Hospital is the primary hospital for Franklin County in northwest Alabama. For autism evaluations, families typically access North Alabama Medical Center in Florence (Lauderdale County, ~30 min west) or Huntsville (~90 min east). Florence is the most accessible specialist hub for this rural northwest Alabama county.
North Alabama Medical Center in Florence (~30 min west) and Huntsville Hospital (~90 min east) are the primary specialist destinations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Tuscumbia
Alabama Early Intervention System — Colbert County
Alabama's IDEA Part C early intervention program for Colbert County. Free developmental services for children under age 3 in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Contact Alabama Early Intervention to request evaluation.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Russellville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Franklin County (Alabama)
In-home ABA therapy serving Franklin County. BCBA-supervised programming accepting commercial insurance per Alabama's ABA mandate. Home-based delivery is the primary model for families in this rural northwest Alabama county.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Florence (Lauderdale County) ABA providers may also be accessible.
Muscle Shoals · multi-county
Centria Healthcare — Muscle Shoals
Center-based ABA therapy in Muscle Shoals serving Colbert County and the Shoals region. BCBA-supervised programming accepts commercial insurance per Alabama's ABA coverage requirements.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Florence
For the One Pediatric Therapy
ABA therapy provider at 2577 Mall Road, Suite D, Florence, AL (adjacent Lauderdale County). Also operates within The Extraordinary Foundation in Muscle Shoals. Staffed by BCBAs and RBTs. The Shoals metro area serves families across both Colbert and Lauderdale counties.
Source: https://www.ftoaba.com
Muscle Shoals
The Extraordinary Foundation
Neurodiversity-affirming learning and therapy center at 2306 South Wilson Dam Road, Muscle Shoals. Houses ABA therapy (For the One Pediatric Therapy), speech therapy (Speech Spot of the Shoals), and occupational therapy (Rooted OT) under one roof. Co-founded by a BCBA and SLP. Serves autistic and neurodivergent children. Contact: info@theextraordinaryfoundation.com.
Source: https://theextraordinaryfoundation.com/
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Muscle Shoals
Easterseals Northwest Alabama
Nonprofit therapy center in Muscle Shoals explicitly listing Colbert County as one of nine counties served. Offers licensed speech therapy for children and adults with communication challenges, plus vocational services. CARF-accredited and licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Source: https://www.eastersealsnwal.org/
Muscle Shoals
Pathways Speech Therapy – Muscle Shoals
Speech therapy practice at 2836 E 2nd Street, Muscle Shoals. Offers evidence-based adult and pediatric services for communication and swallowing disorders, including speech sound delays, language delays, and comprehension challenges in children.
Source: https://pathwaysspeech.com/
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Muscle Shoals
REACH Pediatrics Therapy Services – Muscle Shoals
Pediatric therapy clinic at 2415 Rosedale Ave, Suite F, Muscle Shoals. Offers physical therapy, occupational therapy (sensory processing, reflex integration, fine motor skills), and milestone development for children ages 0–21. No phone was listed online for autism specifically; call to confirm availability.
Source: https://www.reachpediatrics.com/
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Muscle Shoals · multi-county
Autism Society of Alabama — Colbert County / Shoals
Parent support and resource network for autism families in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and across Colbert County. Part of the broader Shoals autism family community alongside Lauderdale County families.
Florence · multi-county
Autism Society of Alabama — Lauderdale County / Shoals Chapter
Parent support group and resource network for autism families in Florence and the Shoals region. Serves families across Lauderdale and Colbert counties and connects them with Huntsville-area specialists and statewide autism resources.
Florence
Shoals/Quad Cities Autism Connect Group
Monthly in-person autism parent support group, meeting Saturdays at 12:00 PM at Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ, 1207 Sherrod Avenue, Florence, AL. Open to families across the Shoals region including Colbert County. Contact: connectgroupshoals@gmail.com. Also has a Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/802847811483287.
Source: https://ran.uah.edu/resources/support-groups
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Colbert County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Colbert County. Free IEP advocacy and training for families in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia navigating Colbert County and Muscle Shoals City Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Franklin County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Franklin County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Russellville-area families navigating Franklin County Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Lauderdale County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Lauderdale County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Florence-area families navigating Lauderdale County Schools and Florence City Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Lawrence County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Lawrence County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Moulton-area families navigating Lawrence County Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Colbert County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
See all Alabama resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Alabama.
Alabama state guide →Nearby counties in Alabama
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