County resource guide
Autism Resources in Lincoln, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Lincoln. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
18 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD program in Nashville provides comprehensive autism evaluations for Giles County families. The drive from Pulaski to Nashville is approximately 1 hour via US-31, making this one of the more accessible rural Middle Tennessee counties for specialty care.
About 1 hour from Pulaski. TRIAD is one of the nation's most respected autism evaluation programs.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD program in Nashville is the primary referral for Bedford County autism evaluations, approximately 50 miles north of Shelbyville via US-231. TRIAD is a nationally recognized program providing comprehensive multi-disciplinary autism assessments. Murfreesboro (Rutherford County, ~25 miles) also has accessible developmental services.
About 50 miles from Shelbyville. Murfreesboro (~25 miles) has community developmental providers with shorter waits.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Lincoln County (Fayetteville, TN) families travel approximately 75 miles north to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville for comprehensive autism evaluations. Huntsville, Alabama (approximately 40 miles south) is also a practical alternative given Lincoln County's position on the Tennessee-Alabama border. Many Lincoln County families access Huntsville Hospital or HudsonAlpha health resources.
Huntsville AL (~40 miles south) is often closer than Nashville. Vanderbilt is the gold standard for TN Medicaid-funded evaluations.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Marshall County (Lewisburg) is approximately 50 miles south of Nashville via I-65. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is the primary academic medical referral for comprehensive autism evaluations. Murfreesboro (Rutherford County, ~35 miles northeast) also has accessible developmental services for Marshall County families.
About 50 miles from Lewisburg. Tennessee Walking Horse country — Shelbyville (Bedford County) and Columbia (Maury County) also have some local services.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD — Moore County Referral
Moore County families in Lynchburg (home of Jack Daniel's distillery) access autism evaluations through Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD program in Nashville (~80 miles north) or through Maury Regional in Columbia. Moore is Tennessee's smallest county by population.
Nashville (~80 miles) is the primary hub for comprehensive autism evaluations. Moore County has extremely limited local services.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Fayetteville
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Lincoln County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Lincoln County (Fayetteville TN) children birth to age 3. Free in-home developmental evaluations and therapy in Fayetteville and surrounding communities near the Alabama border.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone. Families crossing into Alabama for services must use TEIS for TN-based EI benefits.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Moore County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Moore County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Lynchburg. Home-based model is standard for this very small, rural county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Centria Autism — Moore County (In-Home)
In-home ABA therapy serving Moore County families in Lynchburg. The in-home model is essential for this very small rural county with no local ABA centers. Accepts TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Franklin · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Nashville/Franklin Area
Hopebridge provides clinic-based ABA therapy in the Franklin/Brentwood area (Williamson County) approximately 35 miles north of Lewisburg, serving Marshall County families. Integrated ABA, speech, and OT services. TennCare and commercial insurance accepted.
Franklin/Brentwood ABA locations are about 35 miles from Lewisburg via I-65.
Fayetteville · multi-county
South-Central TN ABA — Lincoln County
ABA therapy for Lincoln County families through Nashville-area and Huntsville AL-area providers. In-home ABA delivery in Fayetteville TN is an option. Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA — TennCare also covers ABA for eligible children.
Families near the Alabama border may also access Huntsville AL providers — verify Tennessee insurance coverage for cross-state services.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Lewisburg · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Middle Tennessee Network
Autism Tennessee connects Marshall County families to the Middle Tennessee peer support network. Nashville-area programming and support groups are accessible from Lewisburg via I-65. Virtual events serve families across south-central Tennessee.
Fayetteville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Middle Tennessee/South Network
Autism Tennessee connects Lincoln County families to the Middle Tennessee peer network. Nashville-area programming and virtual statewide events serve families in Fayetteville and surrounding south-central Tennessee communities.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — South-Central TN / Moore County
Autism Tennessee connects Moore County families to Middle Tennessee support networks. Fayetteville (Lincoln County) and Tullahoma (Coffee County) are the nearest peer support hubs for Lynchburg-area families.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Shelbyville · multi-county
STEP — Support & Training for Exceptional Parents
Tennessee's federally funded PTI at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for Bedford County families statewide. Staff help navigate Bedford County Schools.
FREE. Statewide PTI. Call before any IEP dispute.
Fayetteville · multi-county
STEP — Support & Training for Exceptional Parents
Tennessee's federally funded PTI. Free IEP advocacy for Lincoln County families. Phone and virtual support are particularly important for families near the Alabama border who need to understand which state's special education rules apply to their child's TN school.
FREE. Tennessee-specific IEP advocacy applies to all Lincoln County Schools regardless of where you access medical care.
Lewisburg · multi-county
STEP — Support & Training for Exceptional Parents
Tennessee's federally funded PTI. Free IEP advocacy for Marshall County families. Staff help navigate Marshall County Schools and understand special education rights. I-65 proximity gives Marshall County families relatively good access to Nashville-based STEP consultations.
FREE. Statewide PTI.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Moore County
STEP provides free IEP advocacy for Moore County families navigating the tiny Moore County school system. Virtual and phone support is essential for families in this small rural county.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — STEP (Special Education Advocacy)
Tennessee's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy and direct support for Giles County families navigating Tennessee special education.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting or due process question.
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Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
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