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 Providers30 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 by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Colbert County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
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/
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
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.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
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 →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Colbert County, Alabama?
We list 18 providers serving Colbert County, covering early intervention (0–3), advocacy & legal, parent & family support, ABA therapy and speech therapy, plus 2 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Colbert County?
ABA providers serving Colbert County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Colbert County?
1 provider serving Colbert County delivers services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Alabama?
Alabama families can apply to the Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Waiver, Living at Home Waiver and Community Waiver Program, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Multi-year on both established waivers, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Colbert County?
If none of the Colbert County providers is the right fit, these Alabama counties currently have the most listed providers: Hale County (23), Shelby County (23), Etowah County (22), DeKalb County (21). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Alabama
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Colbert County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Colbert Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Colbert County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Colbert County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Colbert County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
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