County resource guide
Autism Resources in Perry County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Perry County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Perry County — home to Linden — is a small rural county in middle Tennessee along the Buffalo River. Families must travel to Columbia or Nashville for all specialized autism services. Perry County Schools provides special education. TEIS is available, and STEP provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers28 providers in Perry County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed by a person before publication, and no provider has paid to appear here. Read how we verify listings, or use the “Suggest a correction” link below to flag anything inaccurate.
0 providers in Perry County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Linden · multi-county
Maury Regional Medical Center — Perry County Referral
Perry County families in Linden access developmental and autism evaluation referrals through Maury Regional in Columbia (~45 miles) or Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville (~75 miles). Perry is one of Tennessee's most rural and sparsely populated counties.
Very rural county. Columbia (~45 miles) and Nashville (~75 miles) are the nearest evaluation hubs.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD program in Nashville serves Hickman County families, approximately 1 hour from Centerville. TRIAD provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary autism evaluations and is a nationally recognized center.
About 1 hour from Centerville. Submit referral early — TRIAD waitlists are significant.
Waynesboro · multi-county
Wayne Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro is the primary hospital for Wayne County, coordinating developmental and autism evaluation referrals to Maury Regional in Columbia (~60 miles northeast) or Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville (~90 miles). Wayne County is one of Tennessee's most remote and rural counties.
Very remote county. Columbia and Nashville are the nearest evaluation hubs.
Jackson · multi-county
West Tennessee Healthcare — Developmental Pediatric Referrals
Decatur County families travel to Jackson (Madison County, approximately 45 miles northeast) for autism evaluations at West Tennessee Healthcare's Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Jackson is the definitive medical hub for West Tennessee.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Linden · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Perry County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Perry County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Linden and throughout one of Tennessee's most rural counties.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Linden · multi-county
Centria Autism — Perry County (In-Home)
In-home ABA therapy serving Perry County families in Linden and surrounding rural communities. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
In-home model essential for this extremely rural county.
Waynesboro · multi-county
Centria Autism — Wayne County (In-Home)
In-home ABA therapy serving Wayne County families in Waynesboro and surrounding rural communities. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
In-home model is essential for this isolated rural county.
Nashville · multi-county
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center — Nashville Area
Hopebridge provides clinic-based ABA therapy accessible to Hickman County families through Nashville-area locations. In-home ABA through regional providers may also be available closer to Centerville.
Ask about in-home ABA options that can serve rural Hickman County communities.
Decaturville · multi-county
PSA Healthcare — West Tennessee In-Home ABA
PSA Healthcare delivers in-home BCBA-supervised ABA therapy to Decatur County families in Decaturville and surrounding communities. In-home ABA removes the barrier of long drives to Jackson for every therapy session.
Tennessee ABA insurance mandate. In-home model for rural West Tennessee.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
~3,000 providers nationwide
ARCH National Respite Locator
A free national database of respite providers searchable by state and locality — home care agencies, community-based organizations and state programs. The single best starting point for finding respite anywhere in the country, and it is the tool state agencies themselves point families toward.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Before you pay out of pocket, check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds — respite is covered by nearly every state waiver, and many families never think to ask.
Most states run one
Your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program
Lifespan Respite Care Programs are federally seeded, state-run programs that help families of any age and any disability find and pay for respite — often including vouchers or subsidies that do not depend on having a Medicaid waiver. Most states have one, they are chronically under-used, and they are rarely mentioned by anyone else in the system.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Search for "[your state] Lifespan Respite" or use the ARCH directory. Ask specifically about voucher or subsidy programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Centerville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Middle Tennessee Network
Autism Tennessee connects Hickman County families to the Middle Tennessee regional support network and statewide autism programming. Virtual participation is available for families in this rural county.
Waynesboro · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Rural South-Central TN (Wayne County)
Autism Tennessee connects Wayne County families to Middle Tennessee support networks. Given extreme geographic isolation, virtual programming and the statewide resource line are the primary access points for Waynesboro-area families.
Linden · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Rural West-Central TN (Perry County)
Autism Tennessee connects Perry County families to Middle Tennessee support networks. Given extreme geographic isolation, virtual programming and the statewide resource line are the primary access points for Linden-area families.
Decaturville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — West Tennessee Family Network
Autism Tennessee connects Decatur County families to the West Tennessee peer support network. The Tennessee River corridor between Jackson and Nashville is served through a combination of in-person Jackson-area events and virtual statewide programming.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Linden · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Perry County
STEP provides free IEP advocacy for Perry County families via phone and virtual sessions. Essential for isolated rural families navigating a very small school district with limited local advocacy options.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Waynesboro · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Wayne County
STEP provides free IEP advocacy for Wayne County families via phone and virtual sessions. Critical resource for families in one of Tennessee's most geographically isolated counties.
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 special education support for Hickman County families statewide.
FREE. Statewide PTI.
Activities, clubs & recreation
Clubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
200+ locations nationwide
ACEing Autism
Weekly Saturday tennis clinics built specifically for autistic children aged 5 to 18, run by volunteers at more than 200 locations across the country, serving over 7,000 players. Sessions run in six-week blocks of an hour. This is the clearest example of the interest-based model working: the sport supplies the structure, the turn-taking and the reason to be there, so the social side happens sideways rather than being the task.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location — around $120 for a six-week session at some sites, with scholarships available. Use the map on their site to find your nearest program, schedule and local contact.
~4,000 camps nationwide
American Camp Association — camp finder
A free searchable directory of close to 4,000 summer camps that can be filtered for camps serving autistic campers, by distance, session length, activities and cost. The best single starting point for finding a day or overnight camp anywhere in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Registration for specialized camps typically opens December–February and popular overnight camps fill within days. Start the funding conversation in autumn.
Nationwide — find your local chapter
Best Buddies
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, plus employment, leadership and inclusive living programs. Over 4,000 chapters across all 50 states, serving school-age through adult. If what your family wants is a friend rather than an activity, this is the most direct answer in the country.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89BUDDY, to locate your nearest chapter.
Local affiliates across most of the country
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Day and overnight camps run through local Easterseals affiliates, several of them autism-specific, with weekend respite and family camp sessions as well. Many affiliates operate sliding-scale fees, and several camps serve adults alongside children.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between affiliates — check what your nearest one actually runs rather than assuming the national description applies.
Week-long camps hosted nationwide
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle, using adapted roller bikes over a week-long camp that gradually transfers balance to the rider. Learning to ride a bike is a milestone a lot of autistic children are quietly written off for, and this is the program that most reliably delivers it. Camps are hosted by local organizations across the country, so availability is by host town rather than by chapter.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their site for host locations and dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
Local chapters in a number of US cities
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Volunteer-led one-to-one recreation for children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities, at no cost to families or carers. The one-to-one model is the point: a volunteer is paired with your child for the session, which makes it workable for people who cannot manage a group setting unsupported.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. Runs through local chapters in a number of US cities rather than everywhere — check whether yours has one.
900+ divisions nationwide
Little League Challenger Division
Baseball for children and adults with a physical or intellectual disability, across more than 900 divisions. The main division serves ages 4–18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school; the Senior League Challenger Division serves 15 and above with no upper age limit.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the league finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one.
200+ communities
Miracle League
Baseball on purpose-built accessible fields in more than 200 communities. Every player bats and every player scores, so ability differences do not decide the game.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their location list for the nearest field — coverage is good but not universal.
Every state — county-level programs
Special Olympics
Year-round sports training and competition at no cost to the athlete or their family, for children and adults alike. Programs run at county level in every state.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility centers on intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability. If your child is autistic without an intellectual disability, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after.
Through local clubs and state associations
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, usually with buddy support on the pitch. Run through ordinary local soccer clubs rather than as a separate organization.
A national programme with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Ask your state youth soccer association which local clubs run TOPSoccer — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Perry County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
See all Tennessee resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
Tennessee state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Perry County, Tennessee?
We list 16 providers serving Perry County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal and early intervention (0–3). Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Perry County?
ABA providers serving Perry County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Are there telehealth autism services for Perry County families?
Yes — 2 providers serving Perry County offer telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Perry County?
5 providers serving Perry County deliver services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Tennessee?
Tennessee families can apply to the Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Around 1,750 waiting — small by national standards, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Perry County?
If none of the Perry County providers is the right fit, these Tennessee counties currently have the most listed providers: Putnam County (25), Overton County (24), Maury County (23), Wilson County (23). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Tennessee
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Perry County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Perry Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
- Which pediatrician here actually listens, and doesn't rush the appointment?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Perry County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Perry County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Perry County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
Are you a provider serving Perry County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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