County resource guide
Washington County, Florida
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Washington County. Florida statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
14 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Chipley
Northwest Florida Community Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Washington County's hospital in Chipley offering basic pediatric care and developmental referral coordination. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families travel to Panama City (45 min south) or Tallahassee (1.5 hrs east). Telehealth with CARD at UWF is the recommended starting point.
Chipley has no local specialty pediatric services. Panama City (45 min) is the nearest full-service option for autism evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Blountstown · multi-county
Early Steps — Northwest Florida (Calhoun County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Calhoun County. Home-based model is the primary delivery method in this very rural county — home visits from Panama City-area therapists serve Blountstown families.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Home-based delivery from Panama City area therapists.
Bonifay · multi-county
Early Steps — Northwest Florida (Holmes County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Holmes County. Home-based delivery is the primary model in this very rural Panhandle county.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Home-based delivery from Panama City-area therapists.
Marianna · multi-county
Early Steps — Northwest Florida (Jackson County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Jackson County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Home-based delivery is the primary model for this rural Panhandle county.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Home-based delivery from Tallahassee-area therapists.
Chipley · multi-county
Early Steps — Northwest Florida (Washington County)
Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Washington County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Home-based delivery is the primary model for this rural Panhandle county.
FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted. Home-based delivery from Panama City-area therapists.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Bonifay · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — Holmes County (Telehealth)
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Holmes County families. No local ABA providers exist in Bonifay — telehealth coaching and travel to Panama City for center-based services are the only realistic pathways. Florida Medicaid accepted.
No local ABA in Holmes County. Telehealth plus travel to Panama City for center-based ABA. FL Medicaid accepted.
Chipley · multi-county
Centria Autism — Washington County (Telehealth)
Telehealth ABA parent coaching for Washington County families. No local ABA providers exist in Chipley — telehealth coaching and travel to Panama City for center-based services are the only realistic pathways. Florida Medicaid accepted.
No local ABA in Washington County. Telehealth plus travel to Panama City for center-based ABA. FL Medicaid accepted.
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.
Blountstown · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Calhoun County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Calhoun County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation at no cost. Calhoun is a very small rural Panhandle county — telehealth consultation with CARD at UWF is the most accessible free resource.
FREE. State-funded. Telehealth consultation critical for rural Calhoun County. Panama City (1 hr) and Tallahassee (1.5 hrs) are the nearest major provider hubs.
Bonifay · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Holmes County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Holmes County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation at no cost. Holmes County is a very small, rural Panhandle county — telehealth with CARD at UWF is the primary access mode.
FREE. State-funded. Telehealth consultation critical for rural Holmes County. Panama City (1 hr south) is nearest major provider hub.
Marianna · multi-county
CARD at University of West Florida — Jackson County Services
Free state-funded autism resource center serving Jackson County through the UWF CARD Panhandle region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation at no cost. Jackson County is Marianna's county — a rural Panhandle hub with limited specialty services. CARD at UWF telehealth is the most accessible first resource.
FREE. State-funded. Tallahassee (1 hr east) and Panama City (1 hr south) are the nearest major provider hubs. CARD telehealth is the recommended first step.
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.
Chipley
Family Network on Disabilities — Washington County
Free special education advocacy for Washington County families through Florida's federally funded PTI. FND helps Chipley families navigate IEP meetings and IDEA rights — phone and remote support available for this rural Panhandle county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone/remote support primary for rural Washington County.
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