County resource guide
Putnam County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Putnam County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
5 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Cookeville · multi-county
Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital for the Upper Cumberland region, providing pediatric care and developmental referrals for Putnam County. For comprehensive autism evaluations, Cookeville Regional typically routes families to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD in Nashville (~80 miles west).
Ask your pediatrician for a TRIAD referral at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for comprehensive autism evaluation.
Cookeville
Tennessee Tech University — Counseling & Psychological Services
Tennessee Tech University's psychology training programs in Cookeville may offer developmental screenings and referrals through university training clinics. The presence of a major university creates a pipeline of autism-aware professionals in the Upper Cumberland region.
University training clinic — may offer lower-cost screenings and referrals. Contact alongside Cookeville Regional's pediatric team.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Cookeville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Upper Cumberland (Putnam)
TEIS Part C early intervention for Putnam County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy services in Cookeville and across the Upper Cumberland region. Covers speech, OT, and developmental therapy.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Cookeville · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Upper Cumberland (Cookeville)
ABA therapy services in Cookeville serving Putnam County and the broader Upper Cumberland region. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Cookeville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Upper Cumberland
STEP serves Putnam County and the broader Upper Cumberland region with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support. Essential resource for Cookeville City and Putnam County Schools families navigating special education.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI — serves families across the Upper Cumberland plateau region.
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See all Tennessee resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
Tennessee state guide →