County resource guide
Autism Resources in Shelby County, Alabama
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Shelby County. Alabama statewide resources also apply.
Shelby County (Hoover, Alabaster, Helena) is part of the Birmingham metro and has one of the state's strongest public school systems. Shelby County Schools provides special education with autism-specific supports. Families have direct access to Birmingham's Children's of Alabama for evaluations. SEAC provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers35 providers in Shelby 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 Shelby 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.
Birmingham · multi-county
Children's of Alabama — Autism Spectrum Disorders Program
One of the Southeast's strongest pediatric autism programs. Children's of Alabama is an Autism Treatment Network site offering comprehensive evaluations, behavioral treatment, and family support. Consistently ranked among the nation's best children's hospitals and the clear evaluation destination for Alabama families.
Autism Treatment Network site. One of the best programs in the Southeast — worth any waitlist.
Talladega · multi-county
Citizens Baptist Medical Center — Developmental Pediatric Referral
Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega provides pediatric services and developmental referrals for Talladega County families. Full autism evaluations typically require travel to Birmingham (~60 min via I-20) or Anniston (~25 min east).
Birmingham (~60 min) and Anniston (~25 min) accessible for specialist evaluations.
Rockford · multi-county
UAB Medicine — Coosa County Developmental Referral
Coosa County in Rockford is one of Alabama's smallest-population counties. For autism evaluations, families typically travel to Talladega (~30 miles east), Sylacauga (~25 miles south), or Birmingham (~60 miles west via US-280). UAB Medicine and Children's of Alabama in Birmingham are the primary evaluation destinations for Coosa County families.
Birmingham (Children's of Alabama, UAB) is ~60 miles west via US-280. Talladega and Sylacauga are closer for initial screening.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Rockford · multi-county
Centria Autism — Coosa County
In-home ABA therapy serving Coosa County. BCBA-supervised programming accepting commercial insurance per Alabama's ABA mandate and Alabama Medicaid. Home-based delivery is essential for this rural county where no local ABA center exists.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. In-home ABA is the primary model for Coosa County.
Birmingham · multi-county
Hopebridge — Birmingham
Center-based ABA therapy in the Birmingham metro. BCBA-supervised with multidisciplinary approach. Accepts most commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Centerville · multi-county
Hopebridge — Birmingham Area
Center-based ABA therapy accessible to Bibb County families from Birmingham-area Hopebridge locations. BCBA-supervised multidisciplinary program accepting commercial insurance and Alabama Medicaid.
Alabama requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Birmingham · multi-county
Hopebridge — Birmingham South (Chilton County access)
ABA therapy from Hopebridge's Birmingham locations accessible to Chilton County families. Center-based programs with BCBA supervision. The I-65 corridor makes Birmingham-area providers practical for Clanton families.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Alabama Lifespan Respite — family-directed, with counseling included
Worth noting given how restrictive Alabama's waiver is: its respite program is one of the more generous and flexible in the country, and it does not turn on an IQ test. Alabama Lifespan Respite gives unpaid family caregivers statewide a family-directed, personal-choice respite reimbursement — you pick the carer — plus free caregiver mental health counseling, training, and one-to-one resource referrals. The separate H.E.A.R.T.S. program provides voucher-based respite for families of children with additional needs up to age 19.
Free caregiver counseling is included and almost nobody uses it. If the waiver route has excluded you, this one is separate and worth trying.
~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.
Birmingham · multi-county
Autism Society of Alabama
Alabama's statewide autism organization. Support groups, family events, resource navigation, and advocacy across Jefferson County and the state.
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
Alabama Parent Information Network (APIN)
Alabama's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Alabama families. Knows Alabama's special education regulations and due process procedures.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute in Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Coosa County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Coosa County. Free IEP advocacy and training for Rockford-area families navigating special education in this small rural central Alabama county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all of Alabama.
Birmingham · multi-county
APOWER — Alabama Parent Education Center (Talladega County)
Alabama's federally funded PTI serving Talladega County. Free IEP advocacy and training for families in Talladega and Sylacauga navigating special education in Talladega City, Talladega County, and Sylacauga City 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.
Jackson's Gap · multi-county
Camp ASCCA
A 236-acre year-round camp on Lake Martin for children AND adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, and a nationally recognized leader in therapeutic recreation. Year-round and all-ages is a rare combination, and it means a family is not restricted to a single week in July.
Indian Springs · multi-county
Special Equestrians
Therapeutic horse riding in the Birmingham area for people with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges, founded to fill exactly that gap locally.
Homewood · multi-county
The Exceptional Foundation
Social and recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities across greater Birmingham, running since 1999 from premises including a gym and a youth center. Purpose-built social provision for adults is scarce anywhere; having it in one place alongside children's programs is scarcer still.
Birmingham · multi-county
United Ability
Serves close to 6,000 people across the Birmingham area through early intervention, day programs, employment services and community activities - a broad organization worth asking about recreation specifically, since it is not what they lead with.
Tuscaloosa · multi-county
University of Alabama Adapted Athletics
A university program widening sport, fitness, leisure and recreation for people with disabilities, including junior programs - unusual in being run to a genuinely competitive standard rather than as participation only.
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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School districts & government services
Public programs and school district contacts for Shelby County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
- Alabama ADMH — Shelby County DD Services
Contact Alabama ADMH for Shelby County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Adult services
- Alabama ADMH — Shelby County DD Services
Contact Alabama ADMH for Shelby County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Respite & support
- Alabama ADMH — Shelby County DD Services
Contact Alabama ADMH for Shelby County waiver enrollment and DD services.
Helpful guides
Guides for Shelby 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 Shelby County
Serving families across Shelby County including Alabaster, Pelham, Calera, Montevallo, Helena, Columbiana, Harpersville, Vincent, Wilsonville and Chelsea and more.
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 Shelby County, Alabama?
We list 23 providers serving Shelby County, covering early intervention (0–3), respite care, advocacy & legal, parent & family support and activities, clubs & recreation, plus 3 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.
Which autism providers in Shelby County accept Medicaid?
3 of the providers we list for Shelby County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Coosa County, Hopebridge — Birmingham and Hopebridge — Birmingham Area. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Shelby County?
ABA providers serving Shelby 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 Shelby County?
1 provider serving Shelby 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 Shelby County?
If none of the Shelby County providers is the right fit, these Alabama counties currently have the most listed providers: Hale County (23), Etowah County (22), DeKalb County (21), Marshall County (20). 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 Shelby County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Shelby 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 Shelby County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Shelby 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 Shelby 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.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
Are you a provider serving Shelby County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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