County resource guide
Autism Resources in Pender County, North Carolina
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Pender County. North Carolina statewide resources also apply.
Pender County — home to Burgaw, Hampstead, and Surf City — is a growing coastal plain county north of Wilmington. Pender County Schools provides Exceptional Children programs. Families benefit from good access to Wilmington's provider network, including Novant Health for evaluations. NC Early Intervention is available, and ECAC provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers10 providers in Pender County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Burgaw
Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center — Developmental Referral (Pender County)
Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center coordinates autism evaluation referrals for Pender County families through its regional pediatric network.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Burgaw
NC Infant-Toddler Program — Pender County CDSA
Free IDEA Part C early intervention for children 0–3 in Pender County. Services provided in the home and community settings.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No diagnosis required.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Kenansville · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Duplin County
ABA therapy for Duplin County families through providers serving the Goldsboro and Wilmington metro areas. In-home ABA delivery in Kenansville is an important option for families in this large agricultural county. NC Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted.
NC Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children. NC requires commercial insurance to cover ABA.
Burgaw
Autism Learning Partners — Wilmington/Telehealth ABA (Pender County)
Autism Learning Partners serves Pender County from its Wilmington location with in-home and telehealth ABA services supervised by BCBAs.
Leland · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Brunswick County
Center-based ABA therapy serving Brunswick County families in the Leland and Bolivia area. BCBA-supervised programming accepts NC Medicaid and commercial insurance under NC's ABA insurance mandate. Brunswick County's rapid coastal growth has increased local demand for autism services.
NC requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Medicaid accepted.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Burgaw
Autism Society of NC — Cape Fear Regional Support (Pender County)
ASNC connects Pender County families to peer support, caregiver events, and statewide autism advocacy through its Cape Fear regional network.
Wilmington · multi-county
Autism Society of North Carolina — Wilmington
ASNC coastal region support connecting Wilmington-area families to support groups, adult services, crisis help, and statewide programming. A trusted hub for New Hanover and Brunswick County families.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Burgaw
ECAC — Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (Pender County)
ECAC helps Pender County families understand IEP rights, navigate special education, and access dispute resolution through NC's PTI center.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
NC's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy for Brunswick County families. Staff help navigate Brunswick County Schools' EC department and understand IDEA rights. Brunswick County's growth has made its EC department busier — ECAC advocacy is especially valuable.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP dispute.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC) — Coastal Families
North Carolina's PTI center provides free IEP and special education advocacy to New Hanover families. Staff can attend IEP meetings virtually, review evaluations, and explain family rights under IDEA.
FREE. Federally funded. Serves all NC counties including coastal communities.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Pender 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 North Carolina resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in North Carolina.
North Carolina state guide →Nearby counties in North Carolina
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