County resource guide
Lawrence County, Ohio
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lawrence County. Ohio statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
7 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Ironton
SOMC / St. Mary's Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics Referral
Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) in Portsmouth and St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV serve Lawrence County. Due to the Ohio River border, many Lawrence County families use specialists in Huntington, WV and the Cabell Huntington Children's Hospital.
Lawrence County's border location means WV Medicaid and specialist referrals may differ. Verify your Ohio Medicaid will cover out-of-state specialists before your appointment.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Ironton
Lawrence County Help Me Grow — Early Intervention
Ohio's Help Me Grow early intervention for Lawrence County children birth to age 3. Free developmental evaluations and in-home therapy services. Home-based delivery is essential in this rural Ohio River county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Ohio services regardless of proximity to WV border — call to start the process.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Ironton
BlueSprig Autism — Tri-State Region (OH/WV/KY)
BlueSprig Autism provides ABA therapy for children with autism. Lawrence County families often access providers in the Huntington, WV and Ashland, KY area given the tri-state geography.
Confirm Ohio Medicaid coverage for out-of-state ABA providers. Some Lawrence County families qualify for WV services as well.
Portsmouth · multi-county
Centria Autism — Scioto County / Portsmouth
In-home ABA therapy for Scioto County families through Centria's southern Ohio network. BCBA-supervised. Accepts most commercial insurance and Ohio Medicaid. In-home delivery is the primary model in rural Appalachian Ohio — telehealth augmentation is strongly encouraged given the limited local provider ecosystem. Honest note: ABA access in Scioto County is significantly limited compared to urban Ohio counties.
In-home services are the primary ABA delivery model in rural Scioto County. Telehealth augmentation is strongly encouraged. Provider options are very limited.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Ironton
Autism Society of Ohio — Tri-State Region
The Autism Society of Ohio supports Lawrence County families with the OhioASD directory and peer networks. The tri-state area (OH/WV/KY) also has autism society chapters in Huntington and Ashland that may be geographically closer.
Statewide organization. Huntington WV and Ashland KY autism society chapters may also be accessible from Ironton.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Marion · multi-county
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)
Ohio's federally funded PTI serving Scioto County families at no cost. Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights training. In economically distressed Scioto County, OCECD's free advocacy services are especially critical — private legal representation is not accessible to most families.
FREE. Ohio's federally funded PTI. Telehealth consultations available — essential for Appalachian Ohio families.
Marion
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)
Ohio's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy and special education support for Lawrence County families. Important for families navigating Ohio schools near the WV and KY borders.
FREE statewide PTI. Ohio special education law applies regardless of which state your child's doctor is in.
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See all Ohio resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Ohio.
Ohio state guide →