County resource guide
Autism Resources in DeKalb County, Georgia
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in DeKalb County. Georgia statewide resources also apply.
DeKalb County is part of the Atlanta metro and closely connected to Fulton County's resources — Marcus Autism Center, Emory, and CHOA all serve DeKalb families. The DeKalb Community Service Board provides publicly funded developmental disabilities services and waiver coordination. Georgia's NOW and COMP Medicaid waivers have long waitlists; apply as early as possible through the DBHDD.
School evaluation
Request a School Evaluation
Under IDEA, your school district must evaluate your child for free if you request it in writing. Here’s who to contact in DeKalb County:
DeKalb County School District Special Ed
Serves all of DeKalb County.
Contacts verified May 2026 — call to confirm current numbers
Learn how to write your evaluation request →Provider directory
Local Providers28 providers in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Decatur
Georgia Babies Can't Wait — DeKalb County
Georgia's IDEA Part C early intervention program serving DeKalb County children under 3. Free multidisciplinary evaluations and in-home therapy services. Referrals accepted from pediatricians and parents.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Atlanta · multi-county
ABA Journey — Atlanta
ABA therapy at 303 Perimeter Center North, Atlanta. Serves Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties.
Source: https://abajourney.com/location/aba-therapy-in-atlanta-georgia/
Decatur · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — DeKalb County
In-home and center-based ABA therapy for DeKalb County children. Board-certified behavior analysts provide individualized programs. Georgia insurance mandate requires most commercial plans to cover ABA.
Decatur · multi-county
BlueSprig Pediatrics — Decatur
BlueSprig center-based ABA therapy for children with autism in Decatur and eastern DeKalb County. BCBA-supervised programs with naturalistic teaching and parent training components. Accepts most major insurance including Medicaid.
Atlanta · multi-county
Flywheel Centers
In-home ABA therapy throughout Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties in Metro Atlanta.
Source: https://flywheelcenters.com/aba-therapy-atlanta-ga/
Atlanta · multi-county
Heartlinks ABA
In-home ABA therapy across Atlanta metro including Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee, and DeKalb counties.
Source: https://heartlinksaba.com/locations/georgia/
Conyers · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Conyers/Rockdale County
Hopebridge center-based ABA therapy serving Rockdale County in Conyers. BCBA-supervised with integrated speech and OT. Georgia Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted under Georgia's ABA insurance mandate. Conyers' I-20 access means Atlanta metro resources are easily accessible.
Medicaid accepted. Georgia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Occupational therapy & sensory
Occupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Tucker · multi-county
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta — Rehabilitation — Tucker
CHOA outpatient occupational therapy in Tucker serving eastern DeKalb County. Sensory processing evaluations and treatment, feeding therapy, and fine motor skills. Autism-specialized therapists.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Respite through the NOW and COMP waivers
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.
~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.
Atlanta · multi-county
Autism Society of Georgia
Statewide advocacy with an active Atlanta metro presence. Support groups, community events, provider referrals, and advocacy with the Georgia General Assembly.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Decatur
DeKalb Community Service Board — Developmental Disabilities
DeKalb County's public developmental disabilities services, funded through Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Service coordination and waiver support.
Georgia's NOW and COMP waivers have long waitlists — apply at diagnosis.
Atlanta · multi-county
Parents Educating Parents (PEP) — East Atlanta Suburbs (Rockdale County)
Georgia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serving Rockdale County families. Free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and support for families navigating Rockdale County Schools and Georgia's Medicaid waiver programs.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP dispute.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Atlanta · multi-county
ARTS - Autistic Recreational Therapy Services
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.
Atlanta · multi-county
Camp Best Friends - autism program
A program for autistic young people aged 6 to 18 with lower support needs, covering outdoor activities, swimming, art, music and horse riding.
Atlanta · multi-county
Social Skills Today
Respite for families of people with developmental disabilities including autism, through summer camps, mini-break camps during the school year, social skills groups and overnight camps. The term-time mini-breaks are the useful part, since most respite provision assumes summer.
Atlanta · multi-county
YMCA of Metro Atlanta - adaptive sports
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.
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 DeKalb County.
School & special education
Services & benefits
Helpful guides
Guides for DeKalb 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 DeKalb County
Serving families across DeKalb County including Decatur, Tucker, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Clarkston, Avondale Estates, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville and Pine Lake 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 DeKalb County, Georgia?
We list 16 providers serving DeKalb County, covering ABA therapy, activities, clubs & recreation, parent & family support, occupational therapy & sensory 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 DeKalb County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for DeKalb County state that they accept Medicaid, including BlueSprig Pediatrics — Decatur and Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Conyers/Rockdale County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in DeKalb County?
ABA providers serving DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?
4 providers serving DeKalb County deliver 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 DeKalb County?
Contact DeKalb County School District Special Ed, the Early Intervention program serving DeKalb County. Under Part C of IDEA you can request an evaluation yourself — you do not need a doctor's referral, and the evaluation is free. Contact details are listed in the key contacts section of this page.
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 DeKalb County?
If none of the DeKalb County providers is the right fit, these Georgia counties currently have the most listed providers: Bibb County (25), Carroll County (20), Cherokee County (19), Brantley County (18). 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 DeKalb County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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
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Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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