County resource guide
Perry County, Mississippi
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Perry County. Mississippi statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
8 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).
New Augusta
Hattiesburg-Area Specialists — Accessible from Perry County
Perry County is one of Mississippi's most rural and sparsely populated counties. New Augusta residents access most healthcare services through Hattiesburg (~45 miles west). Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg's developmental pediatric network are the primary resources for autism evaluation. UMMC in Jackson (~90 miles north) provides comprehensive autism diagnostic services.
Very rural south MS. Perry County has no hospital of its own — Hattiesburg (~45 miles) is the healthcare hub. Telehealth is critical for families who cannot travel.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
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.
New Augusta
Mississippi First Steps — Perry County
Mississippi First Steps IDEA Part C early intervention for Perry County children under 3. Free speech, OT, and developmental services delivered in the home — the home visit model is critical for this very rural county with no local hospital.
FREE. Home visit model is essential for Perry County families. Call immediately upon developmental concerns — do not wait for a diagnosis.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
New Augusta
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Perry County)
Telehealth ABA therapy for Perry County families. BCBA-supervised remote programming. Accepts Mississippi Medicaid. Given Perry County's extreme rurality and lack of local providers, telehealth is the most accessible ABA option.
Mississippi Medicaid covers ABA. No local ABA centers in Perry County — telehealth or travel to Hattiesburg required.
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
New Augusta
Autism Society Mississippi — Perry County
Autism Society Mississippi provides statewide peer support and resource navigation for Perry County families. Virtual and remote connections are especially vital in this very rural south Mississippi county.
Contact Autism Society MS for virtual resources. Perry County's isolation makes statewide virtual connections the most practical support option.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
New Augusta
MPACT — IEP Advocacy for Perry County
MPACT, Mississippi's federally funded PTI, provides free IEP advocacy for Perry County families. In this very rural and resource-poor county, MPACT's phone and video advocacy is essential for ensuring children receive FAPE.
FREE. Statewide by phone and video. Essential for extremely rural families who face significant access barriers.
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See all Mississippi resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Mississippi.
Mississippi state guide →