County resource guide
Autism Resources in Bay County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Bay County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Provider directory
Local Providers10 providers in Bay 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.
Panama City
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital — Pediatric Services
Pediatric services through HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City. Developmental screenings and autism referrals for Bay County families. For comprehensive evaluations, families often travel to Tallahassee or Pensacola.
For full autism evaluations, consider FSU CARD telehealth or traveling to Tallahassee Memorial or Sacred Heart Pensacola.
Port St. Joe · multi-county
HCA Gulf Coast — Gulf County Referrals
Gulf County families access developmental referrals and pediatric care through providers in Panama City (Bay County, 40 min). HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City is the nearest full-service hospital. For autism evaluations, the FSU CARD telehealth or Studer Family Children's in Pensacola are recommended.
Gulf County has no hospital. Panama City (40 min) is the nearest full-service area. For autism evaluations, consider FSU CARD telehealth or Studer Family Children's in Pensacola.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Port St. Joe · multi-county
Early Steps — Panhandle Region (Gulf County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Gulf County. Speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy in the home under IDEA Part C. Post-Hurricane Michael, home-based EI is especially important given reduced local infrastructure.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Post-Hurricane Michael recovery continues — contact county health department for current service status.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Panama City · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Bay County (Telehealth)
In-home and telehealth ABA therapy for Bay County families. Given the post-Hurricane Michael provider shortage, telehealth ABA parent coaching is a lifeline for many Panama City families. BCBA-supervised with strong emphasis on parent-implemented strategies.
Telehealth available statewide. Bay County families should ask specifically about in-home and telehealth options. Accepts FL Medicaid.
Port St. Joe · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Gulf County (Telehealth)
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Gulf County families. Local ABA providers do not exist in Gulf County — telehealth parent coaching and travel to Panama City (40 min) for center-based services are the options. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted.
Telehealth coaching plus travel to Panama City for ABA. Accepts FL Medicaid.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Pensacola · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida
Free state-funded autism resource center serving the Florida Panhandle — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Franklin, Liberty, and Gadsden counties. Family consultation, school advocacy, and professional training at no cost.
FREE. State-funded. The primary autism resource hub for the entire Panhandle. Critical first call for Pensacola families.
Panama City · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Bay County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Bay County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, school advocacy, and community resources for Panama City and surrounding areas. Bay County is still rebuilding from Hurricane Michael — CARD helps families navigate a resource-sparse environment.
FREE. State-funded. Bay County resources remain thin post-Hurricane Michael. CARD is the essential first call.
Port St. Joe · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Gulf County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Gulf County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, school advocacy, and community resources for Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka families at no cost. Gulf County is a small coastal county still rebuilding from Hurricane Michael — CARD is the critical first resource.
FREE. State-funded. Gulf County was severely affected by Hurricane Michael. Resources remain limited — CARD at UWF is the essential first call. Telehealth consultation is standard.
Chipley · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Washington County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Washington County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation at no cost. Washington County is a small rural Panhandle county — CARD at UWF telehealth is the most accessible first resource for Chipley families.
FREE. State-funded. Panama City (45 min south) is the nearest major provider hub. CARD telehealth is the recommended first step for Chipley families.
Panama City
Family Network on Disabilities — Bay County
Free special education advocacy for Bay County families through Florida's federally funded PTI center. FND helps families navigate post-disaster school disruptions, IEP rights, and disability services in a county still recovering from Hurricane Michael.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Post-Hurricane Michael school disruptions make FND especially valuable here.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Bay County
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Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it’s free →
Helpful guides
Guides for Bay 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 Bay County
Serving families across Bay County including Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Springfield, Callaway, Parker, Cedar Grove, Inlet Beach, Laguna Beach and Mexico Beach and more.
See all Florida resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Florida.
Florida state guide →Nearby counties in Florida
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.
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Know a great provider in Bay 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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