Autism Resources in Clayton County, Georgia
9 providers in Jonesboro and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Clayton County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Clayton County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Southern Crescent Pediatrics — Developmental Evaluations
Jonesboro, GA
Pediatric practice in Jonesboro offering developmental screenings and autism evaluations for Clayton County families. Accepts Medicaid and most commercial insurance. Multilingual staff serve the county's diverse working-class communities.
Medicaid accepted. Refer to Marcus Autism Center for complex evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Babies Can't Wait — Clayton County
Jonesboro, GA
Georgia's Part C Early Intervention program for children under age 3. Clayton County's BCW office coordinates in-home evaluations and therapy services at no cost to families. Developmental delays including autism can qualify.
FREE for eligible children under 3. Call as soon as you have concerns — don't wait for a diagnosis.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Clayton County Autism Family Support Group
Jonesboro, GA
Peer-led support group for parents and caregivers of autistic children in Clayton County. Meets monthly in Jonesboro; coordinates with Clayton County Public Schools special education staff for resource navigation.
Also serving Clayton County
These 18 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Clayton County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Henry County
Stockbridge, GA · serves several counties
Hopebridge provides center-based ABA therapy in Henry County with integrated speech and OT services. BCBA-supervised programming for children in the south Atlanta suburbs. Henry County's explosive population growth has expanded demand for ABA services significantly. Accepts Georgia Medicaid and commercial insurance.
Medicaid accepted. Georgia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Respite through the NOW and COMP waivers
Statewide, GA · serves several counties
Georgia funds respite through both of its main developmental disability waivers — New Options (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports (COMP). Roughly 4,500 people hold NOW and 9,800 hold COMP, and respite is a core service in each. If you already hold a waiver, respite should be available to you now; if you are on the planning list, respite is one of the concrete things to ask about when you are contacted.
Parent to Parent of Georgia is the best free help for navigating either waiver, including getting respite written into a plan.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, GA
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, GA
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Parent to Parent of Georgia
Atlanta, GA · serves several counties
Georgia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center: a statewide nonprofit supporting families and individuals from birth to 26 affected by disabilities or special health care needs, including help with special education.
Activities, clubs & recreation
13 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ARTS - Autistic Recreational Therapy Services
Atlanta, GA · serves several counties
An Atlanta organization giving autistic young people and those with other intellectual disabilities, aged 5 to 22, the chance to build life skills and socialise with peers. The age range running to 22 matters, because a lot of provision stops at 18 exactly when a family needs it most.
Camp Best Friends - autism program
Atlanta, GA · serves several counties
A program for autistic young people aged 6 to 18 with lower support needs, covering outdoor activities, swimming, art, music and horse riding.
YMCA of Metro Atlanta - adaptive sports
Atlanta, GA · serves several counties
Inclusive sport across the Atlanta YMCA network, with coaches and volunteers adapting instruction to the participant. Provision varies by branch, so ask what yours actually runs.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, GA
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, GA
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, GA
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
See all 13 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, GA
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, GA
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, GA
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, GA
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, GA
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, GA
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, GA
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. The request goes to your own district — the one you live in. If that is listed below, this is who to call in Clayton County. If not, ask your district’s special education office; your rights are the same.
Clayton County Public Schools — Special Education (Preschool Diagnostic Center)
Checked against each organization’s own website, September 2026. Numbers change, so confirm when you call.
Learn how to write your evaluation request →About autism services in Clayton County
Clayton County — home to Jonesboro, Morrow, and Riverdale — is a suburban county south of Atlanta. Families have access to the Atlanta metro provider network, including CHOA and the Marcus Autism Center for specialized evaluation. The Clayton County Community Service Board coordinates publicly funded DD services and waiver enrollment. Georgia's Babies Can't Wait provides EI for children under 3, and Parent to Parent of Georgia offers free statewide IEP support.
Helpful guides
Guides for Clayton 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 Clayton County
Serving families across Clayton County including Jonesboro, Morrow, Forest Park, Riverdale, Lake City, Lovejoy, Ellenwood, Hampton, Rex and Sunny Side and more.
See all Georgia resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Georgia.
Georgia state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Clayton County, Georgia?
We list 9 providers serving Clayton County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, early intervention (0–3), parent & family support, ABA therapy and advocacy & legal, 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.
Which autism providers in Clayton County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Clayton County state that they accept Medicaid, including Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Henry County and Southern Crescent Pediatrics — Developmental Evaluations. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Clayton County?
ABA providers serving Clayton 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 Clayton County?
1 provider serving Clayton 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.
How do I get a free evaluation for a child under 3 in Clayton County?
Early intervention for children under 3 in Georgia is run by Division of Health Promotion, Georgia Department of Public Health, not by the school district. You can start a referral at https://sendss.state.ga.us/ords/sendss/!mch.coord_search. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. From age 3, evaluations move to your local school district.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Georgia?
Georgia families can apply to the New Options (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports (COMP) Waivers, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Needs-based, not date-based — position depends on assessed need, 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 Clayton County?
If none of the Clayton County providers is the right fit, these Georgia counties currently have the most listed providers: Bibb County (23), Carroll County (19), Cobb County (17), Dawson County (17). 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 Georgia
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Clayton County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Clayton 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 Clayton County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Clayton 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 Clayton 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 Clayton County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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