County resource guide
Grainger County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Grainger County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
12 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Dandridge · multi-county
Jefferson Memorial Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Jefferson Memorial Hospital (Covenant Health) in Jefferson City provides primary hospital care for Jefferson County. Families in Dandridge and New Market are approximately 30 miles east of Knoxville, giving them reasonable access to East Tennessee Children's Hospital for comprehensive autism evaluations.
For comprehensive autism evaluations, ask for referrals to East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville.
Morristown · multi-county
Lakeway Regional Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics (Morristown)
Lakeway Regional Medical Center in Morristown is Hamblen County's primary hospital. Morristown is the economic hub for the Lakeway region of Northeast Tennessee. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families are referred to Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City (~35 miles east) or East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville (~50 miles west).
Niswonger Children's (Johnson City, ~35 miles) and East TN Children's (Knoxville, ~50 miles) are the regional autism diagnostic hubs for Hamblen County.
Knoxville · multi-county
University of Tennessee Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
Grainger County families most often travel to Knoxville (Knox County, approximately 35 miles southwest) for autism evaluations at the University of Tennessee Medical Center or East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Knoxville is the major medical hub for the entire East Tennessee region.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Rutledge
Tennessee Early Intervention System — Grainger County
Tennessee's Part C early intervention program serving Grainger County children birth to age 3. TEIS coordinators in Rutledge deliver in-home speech, OT, and developmental services to eligible families in Appalachian rural communities.
FREE. Grainger is served through the Knox/Grainger TEIS region.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Rutledge · multi-county
Acorn Health — East Tennessee In-Home ABA
Acorn Health brings BCBA-supervised ABA therapy to Grainger County families through in-home delivery. Serving rural Appalachian communities in the Holston River valley and surrounding areas near Rutledge.
Tennessee ABA insurance mandate. In-home model for rural Appalachian counties.
Dandridge · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Jefferson County
Center-based ABA therapy serving Jefferson County through the East Tennessee network. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic developmental approaches. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA insurance mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Morristown · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Morristown/Hamblen County
Center-based ABA therapy serving Hamblen County in Morristown. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic developmental approaches. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA insurance mandate. Morristown is one of the larger cities in the northeast Tennessee corridor.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Morristown · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Lakeway Region/Morristown Area
Autism Tennessee connects Hamblen County families in Morristown to the Northeast Tennessee autism support network. Support groups, resource navigation, and statewide advocacy for the Lakeway region's autism community.
Rutledge · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Northeast Tennessee Network
Autism Tennessee connects Grainger County families to the Northeast Tennessee peer support network. Knoxville-area events are accessible for many Rutledge families, with virtual programming expanding access for those in the most rural Appalachian communities.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Rutledge
STEP — Support & Training for Exceptional Parents
Tennessee's federally funded PTI at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Free IEP advocacy and training for Grainger County families. Phone and virtual consultations serve Appalachian rural families who cannot easily travel to Knoxville for advocacy support.
FREE. Call before any IEP dispute in Grainger County Schools.
Morristown · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Hamblen County
STEP serves Hamblen County and the Lakeway region with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating Hamblen County Schools and Morristown City Schools.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Dandridge · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Jefferson County
STEP serves Jefferson County with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating Jefferson County Schools special education.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
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See all Tennessee resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
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