Walker County, Georgia

Lafayette

Erlanger Health System — Walker County Pediatric Services

Walker County's geographic position — bordered by Chattanooga to the north — makes Erlanger Children's Hospital in Tennessee the primary pediatric specialty resource. Developmental evaluations and autism workups for Walker County children are typically coordinated through the Erlanger system. Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton also serves some Walker County families.

Erlanger in Chattanooga and Hamilton Medical in Dalton are the primary referral options for Walker County families.

Lafayette

Babies Can't Wait — Walker County

Georgia's Part C Early Intervention program for Walker County. Free in-home developmental evaluations and services for children under 3. Speech, OT, developmental therapy, and family coaching for eligible children in the Lafayette and Rock Spring areas.

FREE for eligible children under 3. No diagnosis required to start the referral process.

Ringgold · multi-county

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Ringgold/Catoosa

Hopebridge provides center-based ABA therapy serving Catoosa County families in the Ringgold area. BCBA-supervised with integrated speech and OT services. Georgia Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Families close to Chattanooga may also access Tennessee-based Hopebridge locations.

Georgia Medicaid accepted. Proximity to Chattanooga means Tennessee providers are also accessible.

Lafayette · multi-county

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Walker County

Hopebridge ABA therapy serving Walker County families with BCBA-supervised center-based programs. Georgia Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Families in the Rock Spring and Lafayette area may also access Hopebridge locations in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Georgia Medicaid accepted. Tennessee providers in Chattanooga are also geographically accessible.

Ringgold · multi-county

Autism Society of Georgia — Northwest Georgia (Catoosa County)

Northwest Georgia chapter of the Autism Society of Georgia serving Catoosa County families. Parent support groups, community events, and connection to both Georgia and Tennessee autism resources given the community's unique border-region geography.

Atlanta

Disability Rights Georgia — Northwest Georgia (Walker County)

Disability Rights Georgia provides free legal advocacy for Walker County families navigating IDEA violations, Medicaid waiver denials, and disability rights issues. Particularly valuable in rural northwest Georgia where private legal resources are limited.

FREE legal advocacy statewide. Call before filing any formal complaint or due process request.

Atlanta · multi-county

Parents Educating Parents (PEP) — Northwest Georgia

Georgia's federally funded PTI serving Whitfield County with free IEP advocacy and special education training. Helps Dalton-area families — including the county's large Spanish-speaking population — understand their rights under IDEA and navigate Georgia's waiver system.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Spanish-language support available.

Atlanta · multi-county

Parents Educating Parents (PEP) — Northwest Georgia (Catoosa County)

Georgia's federally funded PTI serving Catoosa County families with free IEP advocacy and special education training. Helps families navigate Catoosa County Schools and understand their rights under IDEA. Catoosa families near the Tennessee border should confirm which state's rules apply to their school district.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Serves all Georgia counties.

Atlanta · multi-county

Parents Educating Parents (PEP) — Northwest Georgia (Walker County)

Georgia's federally funded PTI serving Walker County with free IEP advocacy and special education training. Helps families navigate Walker County Schools and understand their rights under IDEA. Walker County families near the Tennessee border should note that Georgia's rules apply for public school services.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Serves all Georgia counties.