Autism Resources in Shelby County, Kentucky
16 providers in Shelbyville and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Shelby County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Shelby County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Norton Children's Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics (Shelby County Referral)
Shelbyville, KY · serves several counties
Shelby County families in Shelbyville are 30 miles east of Louisville, giving direct access to Norton Children's Hospital — the premier autism evaluation center in western Kentucky. Ask your pediatrician for a referral.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Kentucky First Steps — Shelby County Early Intervention
Shelbyville, KY · serves several counties
Free early intervention for Shelby County children under 3. Shelbyville's proximity to Louisville means families have access to an above-average density of contracted First Steps providers.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hopebridge — ABA Therapy (Shelby County / Louisville Metro)
Shelbyville, KY · serves several counties
Hopebridge provides center-based and in-home ABA therapy for Shelby County families, with clinics accessible via Louisville metro. BCBA-supervised programs accepted by Kentucky Medicaid and most commercial insurers.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
KY-SPIN — Shelby County IEP Advocacy
Shelbyville, KY · serves several counties
Free IEP advocacy and parent training for Shelby County families. KY-SPIN serves all 120 Kentucky counties; Shelbyville families can also access Louisville-area advocacy resources.
Also serving Shelby County
These 24 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Shelby 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.
Diagnostic clinics
4 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Norton Children's Hospital — Autism Evaluation Program
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
Comprehensive autism evaluations at Norton Children's Hospital, Louisville's premier pediatric hospital. Multi-disciplinary team serving Jefferson County and the greater Louisville metro.
Louisville's dominant pediatric program. Ask about their community-based evaluation referrals.
Norton Children's Hospital — Developmental Pediatrics (Spencer County Referral)
Taylorsville, KY · serves several counties
Spencer County families in Taylorsville are within 30 miles of both Louisville and Lexington, giving them access to two major autism evaluation centers. Norton Children's in Louisville is the primary referral destination.
Norton Children's Hospital — Henry County Referral Pathway
New Castle, KY · serves several counties
Henry County (New Castle) is ~35 miles northeast of Louisville, providing strong access to Norton Children's Hospital for comprehensive autism evaluations. The Louisville metro's full pediatric specialty network is readily accessible for Henry County families.
Louisville metro (~35 mi west) provides strong access to full pediatric specialty network.
UK HealthCare — Kentucky Children's Hospital (Franklin KY)
Frankfort, KY · serves several counties
As Kentucky's state capital, Frankfort (Franklin County) has excellent access to UK HealthCare in Lexington (approximately 25 miles). UK's developmental pediatrics program provides comprehensive autism evaluations and is the primary specialist hub for Franklin County families.
Frankfort is 25 miles from Lexington. Norton Children's Louisville also accessible.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hopebridge — Frankfort ABA Therapy
Frankfort, KY · serves several counties
Frankfort's capital-city location and I-64 access support ABA therapy options including Hopebridge and other Lexington-affiliated providers. Center-based ABA with BCBA supervision is accessible for Franklin County families between the two major metro areas.
Kentucky requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Hart-Supported Living — respite WITHOUT a Medicaid waiver
Statewide, KY · serves several counties
This matters more in Kentucky than almost anywhere, because the Michelle P. waiting list runs past 13,000 people and a decade. Hart-Supported Living is a NON-Medicaid state program that funds personal care, respite, home modifications, equipment and skills training so a disabled Kentuckian can stay living at home — no waiver required. Kentucky also publishes a free statewide Respite Provider Directory of independent providers, searchable by location, service and population served.
If you are on the Michelle P. or SCL waiting list, Hart-Supported Living is the thing to ask about now rather than in eight years.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, KY
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, KY
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.
KY-SPIN — Spencer County IEP Advocacy
Taylorsville, KY · serves several counties
Free IEP advocacy and parent training for Spencer County families. KY-SPIN serves all of Kentucky; Spencer County's proximity to Louisville also provides access to additional advocacy organizations.
Autism-friendly dentists
2 providersDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Lee Specialty Clinic
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
4501 Louise Underwood Way, Louisville, KY 40216
Not only a dental clinic - a whole healthcare system built for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and one of very few of its kind anywhere. Under one roof: dental, medical, psychiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nutrition and applied behavior analysis. For an autistic adult whose care is usually scattered across providers who each know a little about disability, a single team that knows a lot is a different proposition entirely.
Best known for serving adults with IDD. Ask what they can take on together rather than booking a single service.
UofL Special Care Dentistry
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
The University of Louisville runs Special Care Dentistry for people of ALL ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral issues and physical limitations - the all-ages part matters, because most special-care dentistry stops at 18 or 21. A sensory-friendly environment, techniques aimed at lowering anxiety, and sedation where it is genuinely needed. Delivered across several Louisville sites plus a community clinic in Owensboro.
Ask which of the Louisville locations suits your child - they include the Graduate Pediatric Dentistry Practice and the Kosair for Kids Center. Owensboro is a separate community clinic.
Activities, clubs & recreation
13 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Autism Society of Kentuckiana (ASK)
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
Serves greater Louisville and southern Indiana with family support and social events. Local chapters usually know about activities that appear in no directory, so worth a call even when their own calendar is not the fit.
Dreams With Wings
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
A Louisville nonprofit running a seven-week summer camp for around 50 campers aged 13 to 21 with intellectual disabilities - five days a week, eight hours a day. Full-day, full-summer provision for teenagers is scarce almost everywhere.
FEAT of Louisville - summer camp
Louisville, KY · serves several counties
An eight-week educational, therapeutic and recreational summer camp for autistic children and teenagers across the Louisville metro, surrounding counties and southern Indiana. Eight weeks is close to the whole summer, which for a working family is the difference between a camp and a solution.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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, KY
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.
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About autism services in Shelby County
Shelby County — home to Shelbyville — is a growing suburban county between Louisville and Lexington on I-64. Families have access to both Louisville's and Lexington's healthcare networks for specialized autism evaluations. Kentucky's First Steps serves children under 3, and KY-SPIN provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Shelby 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.
See all Kentucky resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Kentucky.
Kentucky state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Shelby County, Kentucky?
We list 16 providers serving Shelby County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, respite care, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3) 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 Shelby County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Shelby County state that they accept Medicaid, including Hopebridge — ABA Therapy (Shelby County / Louisville Metro). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Shelby County?
ABA providers serving Shelby 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 Shelby County?
1 provider serving Shelby 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Kentucky?
Kentucky families can apply to the Michelle P. Waiver (MPW) and Supports for Community Living (SCL), a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Commonly reported at 8–10 years, with more than 13,000 waiting, 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 Shelby County?
If none of the Shelby County providers is the right fit, these Kentucky counties currently have the most listed providers: Oldham County (23), Pulaski County (21), Caldwell County (20), Jefferson County (20). 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 Kentucky
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Shelby County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Shelby 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.
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- 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 Shelby County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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