Autism Resources in Wayne County, North Carolina
13 providers in Goldsboro, Davidson and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Wayne County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Wayne County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Wayne UNC Health — Pediatric Developmental Services
Goldsboro, NC
Wayne UNC Health (formerly Wayne Memorial Hospital) in Goldsboro is the primary hospital serving Wayne County and surrounding eastern NC communities. Their pediatric services include developmental screenings and autism evaluation referrals. Complex autism evaluations are coordinated through the UNC Health network, with access to UNC Children's in Chapel Hill.
Part of UNC Health network. Complex evaluations referred to UNC Children's in Chapel Hill or ECU Health in Greenville.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Wayne County Early Intervention Program (NC Infant-Toddler)
Goldsboro, NC
North Carolina's Part C Early Intervention program for Wayne County. Free in-home developmental evaluations and therapy for children under 3. Military families on Tricare are also eligible — BCW and Tricare EI services can run simultaneously.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Military families: EI eligibility is not affected by Tricare coverage.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Autism Learning Partners — Goldsboro
Goldsboro, NC · serves several counties
Autism Learning Partners provides center-based ABA therapy in Goldsboro serving Wayne County and surrounding eastern NC communities. BCBA-supervised programming accepts NC Medicaid and commercial insurance. Wayne County has a significant military population from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base — Tricare coverage is available.
Tricare accepted. Wayne County has active military families from Seymour Johnson AFB.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
Davidson, NC · serves several counties
NC's federally funded PTI serving Wayne County families with free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights training. Staff understand both civilian and military family needs in Wayne County and can help families navigate Wayne County Schools' EC department.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Military families: IDEA rights are the same at Seymour Johnson-area schools.
Seymour Johnson AFB — Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Goldsboro, NC
The EFMP at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base coordinates healthcare and school services for Air Force families with children who have special needs including autism. Enrollment ensures the family's needs are considered during assignments and connects families to on-base and civilian community resources in Wayne County.
FREE. Required enrollment for Air Force families with special-needs children. Start here before any other service navigation.
Also serving Wayne County
These 20 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Wayne 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.
UNC Health Wayne — Developmental Pediatrics (Duplin Referrals)
Goldsboro, NC · serves several counties
Duplin County (Kenansville) families access developmental and autism evaluation referrals through UNC Health Wayne in Goldsboro (~35 miles west via US-117). Wayne Memorial is the primary regional hospital for this agricultural southeastern NC county.
About 35 miles from Kenansville. Wilmington (New Hanover County, ~50 miles) also accessible via US-117/US-117 Alt.
ABA therapy
3 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Autism Learning Partners — Duplin County
Kenansville, NC · serves several counties
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.
Autism Learning Partners — Sampson County
Clinton, NC · serves several counties
Autism Learning Partners provides ABA therapy services for Sampson County families. BCBA-supervised programming serving this rural eastern NC community. NC Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Medicaid is especially important given Sampson County's predominantly agricultural economy.
NC Medicaid covers ABA for eligible children — critical for Sampson County's Medicaid-reliant families.
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Johnston County
Clayton, NC · serves several counties
Hopebridge center-based ABA therapy serving Johnston County's rapidly growing population in Smithfield and Clayton. BCBA-supervised with integrated speech and OT services. NC Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted. Johnston County's explosive growth as a Raleigh suburb has created significant ABA waitlists — contact early and maintain your place on multiple waitlists.
Johnston County's rapid growth creates long ABA waitlists. Contact multiple providers and get on waitlists early.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, NC
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, NC
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.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Society of North Carolina — Duplin County Families
Kenansville, NC · serves several counties
ASNC statewide support for Duplin County families in Kenansville and surrounding farm communities. Crisis support line and resource navigation connecting families to the southeastern NC autism community in Wilmington and Goldsboro.
Advocacy & legal
2 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
Davidson, NC · serves several counties
NC's federally funded PTI center. Free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for Lenoir County families in Kinston and surrounding areas.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
Davidson, NC · serves several counties
NC's federally funded PTI providing free IEP advocacy for Duplin County families. Staff help families navigate Duplin County Schools. Duplin County's large agricultural and Latino community means ECAC's bilingual resources are especially valuable here.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. ECAC has bilingual staff — call if Spanish support is needed.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
ECU School of Dental Medicine — special accommodations
Greenville, NC · serves several counties
East Carolina University's faculty practice welcomes patients needing accommodations for physical, medical, developmental or cognitive conditions — the main academic option in eastern North Carolina. Dental school clinics trade time for expertise: appointments run longer because students do the work under supervision, and there can be a wait for a first visit. In exchange you get a team that treats disabled patients every day, usually at a lower cost, and they generally accept Medicaid.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, NC
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, NC
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.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, NC
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, NC
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, NC
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, NC
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.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, NC
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, NC
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, NC
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, NC
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.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Wayne County
Wayne County — home to Goldsboro, Mount Olive, and Pikeville — is in eastern North Carolina. Wayne County Public Schools provides Exceptional Children programs. UNC Health Wayne provides some developmental services. Families often travel to the Raleigh-Durham area or Greenville for more specialized autism evaluation and therapy. NC Early Intervention is available through the county CDSA, and ECAC provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Wayne 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 →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Wayne County, North Carolina?
We list 13 providers serving Wayne County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, autism-friendly dentists, advocacy & legal and diagnostic clinics, 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 Wayne County accept Medicaid?
4 of the providers we list for Wayne County state that they accept Medicaid, including Autism Learning Partners — Duplin County, Autism Learning Partners — Goldsboro, Autism Learning Partners — Sampson County and Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Johnston County. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Wayne County?
ABA providers serving Wayne 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.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Wayne County?
2 providers serving Wayne 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 Wayne County?
If none of the Wayne 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 (17). 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 Wayne County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Wayne 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.
- 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?
- Who has managed an eye exam here?
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 Wayne County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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