Autism Resources in Fulton County, Georgia

Atlanta

Emory Autism Center

Clinical and research autism center at Emory University. Evaluations, behavioral interventions, and one of the Southeast's leading autism research programs.

Atlanta

Marcus Autism Center

One of the nation's largest and most respected autism centers, affiliated with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University. Comprehensive evaluations, behavioral treatment, and research. An Autism Treatment Network site and a national leader in autism care.

Nationally recognized. Expect waitlists — worth it. Ask about their diagnostic evaluation process.

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.

Peachtree Corners · multi-county

Blossom ABA Therapy — Gwinnett

ABA therapy serving Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Berkeley Lake, Johns Creek, Duluth, and all of Gwinnett and North Fulton counties.

Source: https://blossomabatherapy.com/georgia-aba-therapy

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/

Atlanta

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta — Speech-Language Pathology

Pediatric speech-language pathology at CHOA, Georgia's leading children's hospital system. Autism-specific communication therapy and AAC evaluations across multiple Atlanta locations.

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.

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.

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.

Acworth · multi-county

Camp All for One

An inclusive day camp in Acworth for children and teenagers aged 5 to 15 with and without disabilities together - horse riding, nature walks, fishing, cooking, gardening, music, arts and crafts and dance.

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.