County resource guide
Lee County, South Carolina
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lee County. South Carolina statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
20 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Camden · multi-county
KershawHealth — Pediatric Services (Camden)
Pediatric health services through KershawHealth (now part of the Prisma Health network) in Camden, serving this historic county just 30 miles northeast of Columbia. For comprehensive autism evaluations, most families access Prisma Health Children's or USC School of Medicine in Columbia.
Columbia (30 min west) is the natural specialist hub — Prisma network connects to Columbia Children's.
Darlington · multi-county
McLeod Health — Darlington County Pediatric Services
Pediatric health services through McLeod Health's Darlington County facilities, part of the McLeod regional system centered in Florence. Families in Darlington and Hartsville access McLeod's developmental pediatrics network — McLeod Florence (30 min south) is the regional hub for comprehensive autism evaluations.
McLeod Florence (30 min south) is the regional specialist hub for the Pee Dee region.
Sumter · multi-county
Prisma Health Tuomey — Developmental Pediatrics
Developmental and autism evaluation services through Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, serving a community that includes a substantial military population from Shaw Air Force Base. Complex evaluations may be referred to Prisma Health Children's in Columbia or MUSC Charleston.
Shaw AFB families: check TRICARE coverage and EFMP program. Prisma network connects to Columbia specialists.
Bishopville · multi-county
Prisma Health Tuomey — Lee County Referral
Lee County (Bishopville) is one of South Carolina's smallest and most rural counties. Families access autism evaluations through Prisma Health Tuomey in Sumter (~20 min east) or Columbia (~1 hr west). Limited local healthcare capacity makes travel for specialist care essential.
Sumter (~20 min) is the nearest hub. Lee County is one of SC's most economically distressed counties — telehealth is particularly important.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Bishopville
BabyNet — Lee County Early Intervention
South Carolina's Part C early intervention program for children under 3 in Lee County. BabyNet coordinators connect Bishopville families with in-home developmental therapy, speech, and OT. Free under IDEA — critical in this underserved community.
FREE under IDEA. Self-referral accepted. Lee County is among SC's most economically challenged — BabyNet is a vital resource.
Sumter · multi-county
BabyNet — Sumter County Early Intervention
South Carolina's Part C early intervention program for children under 3 in Sumter County. BabyNet coordinators link families with in-home developmental therapy, speech, and OT. Serves Sumter's mixed civilian and military community. Free under IDEA — no income limits or doctor's order required.
FREE. Military families at Shaw AFB qualify and can self-refer — EFMP enrollment is separate.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Camden · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Camden
ABA therapy services in Camden serving Kershaw County. BCBA-supervised individualized programs for children and teens. Accepts SC Medicaid and commercial insurance. Columbia-area ABA providers are also accessible for Kershaw families given the short drive.
Darlington · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Pee Dee Region
ABA therapy services for Darlington County children and families. BCBA-supervised programs in Darlington and Hartsville. Accepts SC Medicaid and commercial insurance as required under South Carolina law. Florence-area providers are also accessible for Darlington families.
Sumter · multi-county
Centria Autism — Sumter
Center-based and in-home ABA therapy in Sumter serving families in Sumter County including the Shaw Air Force Base military community. BCBA-supervised programs. Centria accepts TRICARE as well as SC Medicaid and commercial insurance — critical for the military family population.
TRICARE accepted — important for Shaw Air Force Base military families.
Manning · multi-county
Centria Autism — Sumter (Clarendon County Families)
Clarendon County families access ABA therapy from Sumter-based Centria Autism (~30 min from Manning). BCBA-supervised programs accepting TRICARE, SC Medicaid, and commercial insurance.
Sumter (~30 min) is the nearest ABA hub for Clarendon County. TRICARE accepted for military families.
Bishopville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Sumter (Lee County Families)
Lee County families access ABA therapy from Sumter-based Centria Autism (~20 min from Bishopville). BCBA-supervised programs accepting TRICARE, SC Medicaid, and commercial insurance.
Sumter (~20 min) is the nearest ABA center for Bishopville families.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Camden · multi-county
Autism Society of SC — Midlands East Network
Support groups and family resources for Kershaw County families through the Autism Society of South Carolina. Connects Camden and Lugoff families with the Columbia-area autism support community and statewide SC autism resources.
Bishopville · multi-county
Autism Society of SC — Midlands East Network
Support groups and family resources for Lee County families through the Autism Society of South Carolina. Sumter events (~20 min) are the most accessible for Bishopville and Lee County families.
Darlington · multi-county
Autism Society of SC — Pee Dee Chapter
Support groups and family resources for Darlington County through the Autism Society of South Carolina's Pee Dee network. Connects Darlington and Hartsville families with the Florence-area autism support community and statewide SC resources.
Sumter · multi-county
Autism Society of SC — Sumter Chapter
Support groups and family resources in Sumter County through the Autism Society of South Carolina. Monthly peer meetups connect civilian and military families in the Sumter and Shaw AFB community. Links to statewide SC autism resources and events.
Military community orientation — helpful for families transitioning in/out of Shaw AFB.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Manning · multi-county
PRO-Parents of South Carolina — Clarendon County
Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights support for Clarendon County families through SC's federally funded PTI. Helps navigate Clarendon County School District IEP processes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone and telehealth primary for Manning and Lake Marion area families.
Darlington · multi-county
PRO-Parents of South Carolina — Darlington County
Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights support for Darlington County families through SC's federally funded PTI. Helps navigate Darlington County School District IEP evaluations and meetings for families in Darlington and Hartsville.
FREE. Federally funded PTI serving all SC counties including the Pee Dee region.
Camden · multi-county
PRO-Parents of South Carolina — Kershaw County
Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights support for Kershaw County families through SC's federally funded PTI. Helps navigate Kershaw County School District IEP evaluations and meetings. The county's proximity to Columbia makes in-person PRO-Parents events accessible.
FREE. Columbia proximity means Kershaw families can access full range of Midlands autism services.
Bishopville · multi-county
PRO-Parents of South Carolina — Lee County
Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights support for Lee County families through SC's federally funded PTI. Helps navigate Lee County School District IEP processes in this historically underserved community.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Lee County is among SC's most underserved — PRO-Parents is especially important here.
Sumter · multi-county
PRO-Parents of South Carolina — Sumter County
Free IEP advocacy and IDEA rights support for Sumter County families through SC's federally funded PTI. Helps navigate Sumter School District IEP evaluations and meetings. Particularly helpful for military families at Shaw AFB navigating IDEA rights alongside EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program).
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Familiar with Shaw AFB EFMP and how it intersects with school IEP rights.
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Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in South Carolina.
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