Autism Resources in Jones County, Mississippi
11 providers in Laurel and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Jones County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Jones County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
South Central Regional Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
Laurel, MS
South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel is the primary hospital for Jones County in south-central Mississippi. Pediatric developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluation. Hattiesburg (~55 miles west) provides comprehensive pediatric services. Laurel is also known for the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, reflecting the community's cultural resources.
South-central MS. Hattiesburg (~55 miles west) is the primary comprehensive specialist destination for Jones County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Mississippi First Steps — Jones County
Laurel, MS
Mississippi First Steps IDEA Part C early intervention for Jones County children under 3. Free speech, OT, and developmental services delivered in the home in the Laurel area.
FREE. Call as soon as developmental concerns arise — early intervention is the most critical first step.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — ABA Therapy (Jones County)
Laurel, MS
Centria Autism provides in-home and telehealth ABA therapy for Jones County families. BCBA-supervised programming. Hattiesburg-area ABA centers are accessible at ~55 miles. Accepts Mississippi Medicaid.
Mississippi Medicaid covers ABA. Hattiesburg ABA providers are the nearest in-person option for Laurel-area families.
Also serving Jones County
These 20 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Jones 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
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Forrest General Hospital — Pediatric Services
Hattiesburg, MS · serves several counties
Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg serves as the regional medical hub for south-central Mississippi. Pediatric specialists here can initiate developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations. Families needing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations are typically referred to UMMC Blair E. Batson in Jackson.
Regional hospital. Comprehensive autism evaluations typically require referral to UMMC in Jackson (~90 miles north).
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
First Steps — South Mississippi Regional Office
Hattiesburg, MS · serves several counties
Mississippi's First Steps early intervention program provides free developmental services for children under 3 with disabilities, including autism. The south Mississippi regional office coordinates services for Forrest, Lamar, and surrounding counties.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No income requirement. Refer any child under 3 with developmental concerns.
Respite care
3 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Mississippi Respite Voucher Program
Statewide, MS · serves several counties
Mississippi's Department of Human Services runs a respite voucher program for family members giving unpaid care to someone of any age with a significant disability or chronic illness. It sits alongside the Family Caregiver Support Program delivered through Area Agencies on Aging, which also funds respite. In a state with limited organized provision, the voucher route is often the only practical one.
Any age — do not be put off by the aging division running it. Families as Allies also helps Mississippi families find respite.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, MS
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, MS
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.
Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (MSPTI Project)
Jackson, MS · serves several counties
Mississippi's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, run as the MSPTI Project by the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. Free help for families with special education, IEPs and early intervention.
Activities, clubs & recreation
14 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
Camp Kamassa
Crystal Springs, MS · serves several counties
Mississippi's first and only year-round fully accessible camp, for children and adults with serious illness, physical and intellectual challenges and other additional needs. Year-round and all-ages together is rare anywhere and unique in this state.
Camp Walapei
Mississippi, MS · serves several counties
An overnight camp for ADULTS aged 18 and over - swimming, horse riding, sport, fishing and evening activities. Adult camping barely exists in most states, and this is Mississippi's answer to the years after school services end.
Kamp Kaleidoscope
Smith County, MS · serves several counties
An overnight camp designed specifically for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders aged 7 to 17, held at Center Ridge Outpost in Smith County. Autism-specific and residential, which is scarce in Mississippi.
Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities - autism resources
Jackson, MS · serves several counties
The state DD council maintains an autism resource listing including recreation and camps - the most reliable statewide index in a state where organized provision is sparse.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, MS
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, MS
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.
See all 14 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, MS
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.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, MS
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, MS
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, MS
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, MS
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, MS
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, MS
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, MS
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 Jones County
Jones County (Laurel, Ellisville) is a regional hub in southeast Mississippi. South Central Regional Medical Center provides services. Jones County School District and Laurel School District provide special education. Parent Partners (MS PTI) provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Helpful guides
Guides for Jones 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 Jones County
Serving families across Jones County including Laurel, Ellisville, Moselle, Ovett, Heidelberg, Bay Springs, Soso, Sandersville, Leaf and Taylorsville and more.
See all Mississippi resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Mississippi.
Mississippi state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Jones County, Mississippi?
We list 11 providers serving Jones County, covering activities, clubs & recreation, ABA therapy, early intervention (0–3), diagnostic clinics and advocacy & legal, plus 1 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 Jones County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Jones County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — ABA Therapy (Jones County). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Jones County?
ABA providers serving Jones 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.
Are there telehealth autism services for Jones County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving Jones County offers telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Jones County?
2 providers serving Jones 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.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Mississippi?
Mississippi families can apply to the Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Years, with roughly 2,500 waiting — crisis cases are prioritized, 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 Jones County?
If none of the Jones County providers is the right fit, these Mississippi counties currently have the most listed providers: Hinds County (15), Rankin County (13), Forrest County (12), Madison County (11). 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 Mississippi
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Jones County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Jones 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?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
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 Jones County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Jones 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 Jones 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 Jones County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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