County resource guide
Autism Resources in Etowah County, Alabama
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Etowah County. Alabama statewide resources also apply.
Etowah County (Gadsden) is in northeast Alabama. Gadsden Regional Medical Center provides services. Etowah County Schools and Gadsden City Schools provide special education. SEAC provides free statewide IEP advocacy. Families access Birmingham or Huntsville for specialized evaluations.
Provider directory
Local Providers21 providers in Etowah 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.
Oneonta · multi-county
Blount Memorial Hospital — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Blount County families in Oneonta access autism evaluations primarily through Children's of Alabama or UAB in Birmingham (~40 min south). Blount Memorial Hospital provides local pediatric care and coordinates referrals for families in this rural county between Birmingham and Huntsville.
Birmingham (Children's of Alabama) is ~40 min south and is the primary specialist destination.
Centre · multi-county
Cherokee Medical Center — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Cherokee Medical Center in Centre provides primary care and developmental referrals for Cherokee County. For autism evaluations, families typically access Gadsden (Etowah County, ~30 min west) or Huntsville (~70 min northwest). Cherokee County's position between Gadsden and Chattanooga means both Alabama and Tennessee specialists may be practical options.
Gadsden (Etowah County, ~30 min) and Huntsville (~70 min) are the nearest specialist hubs. Chattanooga TN is also accessible.
Gadsden · multi-county
Gadsden Regional Medical Center — Pediatric Services
Gadsden Regional Medical Center provides pediatric services for Etowah County and the Coosa River valley. Families can access developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations here before pursuing specialist evaluations in Birmingham.
Guntersville · multi-county
Marshall Medical Centers — Developmental Pediatrics
Marshall Medical Centers in Guntersville provides pediatric developmental services and evaluation referrals for Marshall County families. Located between Huntsville and Birmingham, Marshall County families have reasonable access to major academic medical centers in both cities.
Huntsville (~40 min) and Birmingham (~70 min) both accessible for specialist evaluations.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Gadsden · multi-county
Achieve Beyond — Gadsden
ABA therapy services in the Gadsden area for children on the autism spectrum. Provides in-home and center-based ABA with BCBA supervision, serving Etowah County families.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Anniston · multi-county
BlueSprig — Anniston
Center-based ABA therapy in Anniston serving Calhoun County and the Piedmont region. BCBA-supervised programming accepts commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid per Alabama's ABA coverage requirements.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Centre · multi-county
Centria Autism — Cherokee County (Alabama)
In-home ABA therapy serving Cherokee County. BCBA-supervised programming accepting commercial insurance per Alabama's ABA mandate. Home-based delivery is the primary model for this rural northeast Alabama county between Gadsden and the Tennessee state line.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Gadsden
Coosa Behavioral Services
The first ABA clinic in Etowah County, offering in-clinic ABA therapy, in-home services, and school consulting for children and adolescents with autism and developmental disabilities. Ages 16 months to 19 years. Accepts Medicaid, ALLKids, Cigna, BCBS, and VIVA.
Source: https://coosabehavioralservices.com/
Albertville · multi-county
Hopebridge — Albertville
Center-based ABA therapy in Albertville serving Marshall County families. BCBA-supervised with multidisciplinary approach. Accepts most commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid per Alabama's ABA coverage requirements.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Oneonta · multi-county
Hopebridge — Oneonta
ABA therapy services for Blount County families. Center-based services in Oneonta or Birmingham; in-home ABA available locally. BCBA-supervised programming accepts commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Pell City · multi-county
Hopebridge — Pell City
Center-based ABA therapy in Pell City serving St. Clair County and Birmingham's eastern suburbs. BCBA-supervised programming accepts commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid. Key resource for families who want services closer to home than Birmingham.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Gadsden
Carr Mental Wellness, LLC – Dr. Benjamin Carr
Board-certified psychiatrist (MD) at 740 Forrest Ave, Gadsden, with 22+ years of experience. Treats autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and impulse control disorders. Affiliated with Gadsden Regional Medical Center. NPI: 1316999287.
Source: https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-benjamin-carr-1316999287
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Gadsden
Autism Foundation of Gadsden Alabama
Local nonprofit spreading autism awareness and acceptance in Northeast Alabama. Hosts annual autism conferences, facilitates parent and caregiver support groups, and offers community resource programs. Active through at least 2027.
Source: https://www.asdofgadsden.org/
Gadsden
Autism Society of Alabama — Etowah County Chapter
Parent support group and resource network for families in Gadsden and the Coosa River valley region. Hosts local meetups and connects Etowah County families with statewide autism society resources.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Birmingham · multi-county
Alabama Parent Education Center (APEC)
Alabama's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Provides free one-on-one IEP advocacy, training workshops, and dispute support for families in Tuscaloosa and across Alabama. APEC knows Alabama special education law and can accompany families to IEP meetings.
FREE. Federally funded PTI center serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Blount County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Blount County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Oneonta-area families navigating special education in Blount County Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Calhoun County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Calhoun County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Anniston-area families navigating special education in Calhoun County Schools and Oxford City Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Cherokee County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Cherokee County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Centre-area families navigating Cherokee County Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Marshall County)
Alabama's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Marshall County. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for families in Guntersville and Albertville navigating Alabama special education.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (St. Clair County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving St. Clair County. Free IEP advocacy and training for families in Pell City and Ashville navigating special education in St. Clair County Schools.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Gadsden · multi-county
Coosa Valley Arc
The Coosa Valley Arc serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Etowah County. Provides advocacy, community inclusion programs, and family support for Gadsden-area families raising autistic children and adults.
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Helpful guides
Guides for Etowah 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.
Communities served
Cities in Etowah County
Serving families across Etowah County including Gadsden, Attalla, Rainbow City, Glencoe, Southside, Hokes Bluff, Sardis City, Altoona, Reece City and Walnut Grove and more.
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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