County resource guide
McMinn County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in McMinn County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
14 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Athens · multi-county
Athens Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Athens Regional Medical Center is McMinn County's community hospital, providing pediatric care and developmental referrals. McMinn County sits between Chattanooga and Knoxville — families access T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital (~45 miles south) or East Tennessee Children's Hospital (~50 miles north) for comprehensive autism evaluations.
T.C. Thompson Children's in Chattanooga and East TN Children's in Knoxville are both accessible from Athens. Ask your pediatrician for specialist referrals.
Cleveland · multi-county
CHI Memorial — Pediatric Developmental Services, Cleveland
CHI Memorial Hospital in Cleveland is Bradley County's primary hospital, providing pediatric care and developmental referrals for families in this southeastern Tennessee community. Bradley County sits adjacent to Hamilton County (Chattanooga), giving families access to T.C. Thompson Children's for comprehensive autism evaluations.
For comprehensive autism evaluations, ask for referrals to T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital in Chattanooga (~30 miles west).
Madisonville · multi-county
Sweetwater Hospital Association — Developmental Referrals
Monroe County is served by Sweetwater Hospital Association and Fort Loudoun Medical Center (Covenant Health). For comprehensive autism evaluations, Monroe County families typically access East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville (~45 miles north) or T.C. Thompson Children's in Chattanooga via Bradley County.
East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville is the primary autism evaluation referral. Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City is also accessible.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Cleveland · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Bradley County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Bradley County children birth to age 3. Free developmental evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy services in Cleveland and surrounding Bradley County. Covers speech, OT, and developmental therapy.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
Athens
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — McMinn County
TEIS Part C early intervention for McMinn County children birth to age 3. Free developmental evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy services in Athens and throughout McMinn County.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Athens · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Southeast TN (McMinn County)
ABA therapy serving McMinn County from the Chattanooga and Cleveland area network. BCBA-supervised center-based and in-home programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA insurance mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Cleveland · multi-county
BlueSprig Autism — Cleveland/Bradley County
Center-based ABA therapy serving Bradley County in Cleveland. BCBA-supervised programs with comprehensive skill-building and naturalistic teaching. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA insurance mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Madisonville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Monroe County
In-home ABA therapy serving Monroe County families in Madisonville and surrounding communities in the Cherokee National Forest foothills. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. In-home model serves Monroe County's rural mountain communities.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Madisonville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Monroe County Network
Autism Tennessee connects Monroe County families in Madisonville and Vonore to the East Tennessee autism support network and statewide resources. Peer support and resource navigation for families in Tennessee's scenic Cherokee Reservoir region.
Athens · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Southeast TN/Athens Area
Autism Tennessee connects McMinn County families in Athens and Etowah to the East Tennessee and Chattanooga autism support networks. Support groups and resource navigation for a county situated between two major medical systems.
Cleveland · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Southeast TN/Cleveland Area
Autism Tennessee connects Bradley County families in Cleveland and the Ocoee region to statewide support networks and local programming. Support groups, family resource connections, and advocacy for southeast Tennessee's autism community.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Athens · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — McMinn County
STEP serves McMinn County and the Hiwassee River region with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating McMinn County Schools special education.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Madisonville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Monroe County
STEP serves Monroe County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Monroe County Schools. Tennessee's federally funded PTI is essential in smaller rural counties with limited local advocacy resources.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Cleveland · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Southeast TN
STEP serves Bradley County and southeast Tennessee with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Bradley County Schools special education. Tennessee's federally funded PTI is the first call for any IEP dispute.
FREE. Federally funded Tennessee PTI.
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See all Tennessee resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
Tennessee state guide →