County resource guide
Autism Resources in Wayne County, North Carolina
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Wayne County. North Carolina statewide resources also apply.
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.
Provider directory
Local Providers25 providers in Wayne 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 Wayne 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.
Goldsboro · multi-county
UNC Health Wayne — Developmental Pediatrics (Duplin Referrals)
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.
Goldsboro
Wayne UNC Health — Pediatric Developmental Services
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)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Goldsboro
Wayne County Early Intervention Program (NC Infant-Toddler)
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
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.
Goldsboro · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Goldsboro
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.
Clinton · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Sampson County
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.
Clayton · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Johnston County
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
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
~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.
Kenansville · multi-county
Autism Society of North Carolina — Duplin County Families
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
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
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.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
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.
Davidson · multi-county
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
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.
Goldsboro
Seymour Johnson AFB — Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
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.
Autism-friendly dentists
Dentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Greenville · multi-county
ECU School of Dental Medicine — special accommodations
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
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.
For providers
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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 (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 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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