County resource guide
Lamar County, Mississippi
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lamar County. Mississippi statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
10 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
Forrest General Hospital — Pediatric Services
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).
Purvis
Hattiesburg Metro Providers — Accessible from Lamar County
Lamar County sits immediately south of Hattiesburg (Forrest County), giving residents easy access to the full range of Hattiesburg-area autism services. Families in Purvis, Sumrall, and Lumberton are typically within 15–30 minutes of Hattiesburg providers.
Lamar County residents should look to Hattiesburg (Forrest County) for the nearest autism evaluation, ABA, and therapy services.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Purvis · multi-county
First Steps — Lamar County
First Steps early intervention for Lamar County children under 3. Free services including speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C. Coordinated through the south Mississippi regional office.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No income limit. Call to start the referral process.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
First Steps — South Mississippi Regional Office
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.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Hattiesburg
Center-based ABA therapy in Hattiesburg serving Forrest and Lamar counties. BCBA-supervised programming in a dedicated autism center environment. Mississippi Medicaid and most commercial insurance accepted.
Mississippi Medicaid covers ABA therapy. Center-based model.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Serving Lamar County
Lighthouse Autism Center's Hattiesburg location serves Lamar County families. Center-based ABA therapy with BCBA supervision. Mississippi Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted.
Hattiesburg center is the nearest ABA option for most Lamar County families. Mississippi Medicaid covers ABA.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
Hattiesburg Clinic — Speech-Language Pathology
Hattiesburg Clinic's speech-language pathology department provides evaluation and therapy for children with communication delays, autism spectrum disorder, and language disorders. One of the larger outpatient therapy groups in south Mississippi.
Accepts most commercial insurance and Mississippi Medicaid.
Purvis · multi-county
South Mississippi Therapy Group — Lamar County
Speech-language pathology services for Lamar County children, including autism-specific communication support. Outpatient services available in the Hattiesburg/Lamar corridor.
Contact Autism Society of MS for current local therapy referrals in Lamar County.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Hattiesburg · multi-county
Autism Society of Mississippi — Hattiesburg Chapter
Local chapter of the Autism Society of Mississippi providing peer support, family connections, and resource navigation for families in Forrest and surrounding counties.
Free. Contact the state chapter to connect with the local Hattiesburg group.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Jackson · multi-county
MPACT — IEP & School Advocacy for Lamar County
MPACT provides free IEP advocacy and special education support statewide, including Lamar County families. Essential for navigating the Lamar County School District and Pine Belt area schools.
FREE. Federally funded. Call to request an advocate or attend a parent training.
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See all Mississippi resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Mississippi.
Mississippi state guide →