County resource guide
Autism Resources in Catawba County, North Carolina
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Catawba County. North Carolina statewide resources also apply.
Catawba County — home to Hickory, Conover, and Newton — is a Piedmont manufacturing hub with a growing healthcare presence. Catawba Valley Medical Center provides some developmental services. Catawba County Schools serves students with disabilities across the district. Families often travel to Charlotte or the Triad for specialized autism evaluations. NC Early Intervention is available through the county CDSA, and ECAC provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers24 providers in Catawba County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Catawba County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Hickory
Catawba Valley Health — Pediatric Developmental Services
Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory provides pediatric care and developmental screening for Catawba County and the greater Hickory metro. Autism evaluation referrals are coordinated through the pediatric department, with pathways to Levine Children's or Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for full evaluations.
Regional hospital for Catawba County. Complex evaluations may be referred to Charlotte or Winston-Salem specialists.
Hickory · multi-county
Catawba Valley Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics (Alexander Referrals)
Alexander County (Taylorsville) families travel to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory for comprehensive autism evaluations, approximately 25 miles west. CVMC is the primary regional hospital serving the western Piedmont foothills and is the standard referral destination for Alexander County's pediatric specialty needs.
About 25 miles from Taylorsville via US-64. Statesville (Iredell County, ~30 miles east) is an alternative for some families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Hickory
Catawba County Early Intervention Program (NC Infant-Toddler)
North Carolina's Part C Early Intervention program through the CDSA for Catawba County. Free in-home developmental evaluations and therapy for children under 3 in the Hickory area. No diagnosis required to request an evaluation.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Call as soon as you have developmental concerns.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Hickory · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Hickory
Autism Learning Partners provides center-based ABA therapy in Hickory for Catawba County families. BCBA-supervised programming with naturalistic approaches. NC Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted under NC's ABA insurance mandate.
NC Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children. NC requires commercial insurance coverage.
Taylorsville · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Alexander County
ABA therapy for Alexander County children through BCBA-supervised programs accessible from the Statesville and Hickory metro areas. NC Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted under North Carolina's ABA insurance mandate. In-home ABA delivery helps bridge the gap for rural Taylorsville families.
NC requires commercial insurance to cover ABA. NC Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Respite through CAP waivers and the Family Caregiver Support Program
Two separate routes in North Carolina. The Community Alternatives Program waivers cover respite as a funded service — CAP/C for children from birth to 20 who need a hospital or nursing facility level of care, and CAP/DA for disabled adults. Separately, the NC Family Caregiver Support Program, run through the Division of Aging, offers respite to unpaid family caregivers and does not require a waiver.
If your child does not meet the CAP/C medical-fragility bar, the Family Caregiver Support Program is the route to ask about instead — different eligibility, different door.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Taylorsville · multi-county
Autism Society of North Carolina — Alexander County
ASNC statewide support for Alexander County families in Taylorsville. Crisis support line, peer connections, and links to the western Piedmont and mountain autism community. ASNC's statewide crisis line is available around the clock.
Hickory · multi-county
Autism Society of North Carolina — Catawba Valley Chapter
ASNC's Catawba Valley chapter provides parent support groups, social programming, crisis support, and advocacy for Hickory-area families. Connects to the statewide ASNC network including adult services and employment resources.
Statesville · multi-county
Autism Society of North Carolina — Iredell Chapter
Local chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina offering parent support groups, social events, and connection to statewide advocacy resources for families in Iredell County.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
NC's federally funded PTI center serving Catawba County with free IEP advocacy, IDEA rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating Catawba County Schools. Staff can review evaluations and attend IEP meetings virtually.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Serves all NC counties.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
NC's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free special education advocacy and IEP support for families in Caldwell County.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
NC's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center providing free IEP advocacy for Alexander County families. Staff help families navigate Alexander County Schools and understand their rights under IDEA. Virtual consultations are especially valuable for this rural foothills county.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme 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 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme 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 affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme 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.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
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Helpful guides
Guides for Catawba 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 Catawba County
Serving families across Catawba County including Hickory, Conover, Newton, Claremont, Maiden, Brookford, Long View, Catawba, Sherrills Ford and Terrell and more.
See all North Carolina resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in North Carolina.
North Carolina state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Catawba County, North Carolina?
We list 12 providers serving Catawba County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, 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 Catawba County accept Medicaid?
2 of the providers we list for Catawba County state that they accept Medicaid, including Autism Learning Partners — Hickory and Behavioral Innovations — Alexander County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Catawba County?
ABA providers serving Catawba 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 Catawba County families?
Yes — 1 provider serving Catawba 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 Catawba County?
2 providers serving Catawba 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina families can apply to the NC Innovations Waiver, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Ten years or longer — and slots are first come, first served, 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 Catawba County?
If none of the Catawba County providers is the right fit, these North Carolina counties currently have the most listed providers: Wake County (23), Durham County (19), Orange County (19), Alamance County (18). 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 North Carolina
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Catawba County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Catawba 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?
- 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 Catawba County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Catawba 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 Catawba 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
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