Autism Resources in Smith County, Tennessee
15 providers in Carthage and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Smith County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Smith County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD — Smith County Referral
Carthage, TN · serves several counties
Smith County families in Carthage are approximately 50 miles east of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD Autism Program in Nashville — one of the nation's top autism diagnostic programs. Carthage sits on the Cumberland River in rural Middle Tennessee.
Carthage is ~50 miles from Vanderbilt's TRIAD — well worth the drive for comprehensive evaluation.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Smith County
Carthage, TN · serves several counties
TEIS Part C early intervention for Smith County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Carthage and throughout Smith County.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Smith County
Carthage, TN · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Smith County families in Carthage and surrounding Upper Cumberland Rim communities. BCBA-supervised programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
1 providerParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Tennessee — Middle TN / Smith County
Carthage, TN · serves several counties
Autism Tennessee connects Smith County families to the Middle Tennessee autism support network. Nashville and Lebanon (Wilson County) are the nearest in-person support hubs for Carthage families.
Also serving Smith County
These 23 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Smith County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
4 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Autism Evaluation Referrals
Cookeville, TN · serves several counties
DeKalb County (Smithville) families are closely linked to Cookeville (Putnam County, approximately 25 miles northwest) for developmental and autism evaluations at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. The Upper Cumberland corridor makes Cookeville the natural medical hub for DeKalb County.
University Medical Center — Lebanon Developmental Referrals
Lebanon, TN · serves several counties
University Medical Center (Tennova) in Lebanon serves Wilson County with pediatric care and developmental referrals. For comprehensive autism evaluations, UMC coordinates with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD program in Nashville.
Ask for a referral to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD for comprehensive autism evaluation.
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
Nashville, TN · serves several counties
Macon County (Lafayette, TN) is a north-central Tennessee county approximately 60 miles north of Nashville near the Kentucky border. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is the primary referral for comprehensive autism evaluations. Louisville, KY (~110 miles north) may be more accessible for some families near the state line.
About 60 miles from Lafayette. Vanderbilt TRIAD is the gold-standard TN-funded evaluation referral.
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD — Trousdale County Referral
Hartsville, TN · serves several counties
Trousdale County families in Hartsville are approximately 40 miles northeast of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD Autism Program in Nashville. As Tennessee's smallest county by area, Trousdale has no local specialist services; Nashville is the primary hub.
Tennessee's smallest county by area. Nashville (~40 miles) is the primary specialist hub.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Trousdale County
Hartsville, TN · serves several counties
TEIS Part C early intervention for Trousdale County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Hartsville and throughout this small county northeast of Nashville.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Trousdale County
Hartsville, TN · serves several counties
In-home ABA therapy serving Trousdale County families in Hartsville. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance. In-home delivery is the primary model for this very small county.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
North-Central TN ABA — Macon County
Lafayette, TN · serves several counties
ABA therapy for Macon County families through Nashville-area providers and in-home delivery in Lafayette. In-home BCBA-supervised ABA is the most practical model for this rural north-central Tennessee county. TennCare and commercial insurance accepted.
Contact Tennessee DIDD Upper Cumberland regional office for approved ABA providers in Macon County.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, TN
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, TN
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Parent & family support
2 providersParent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Autism Tennessee — Middle TN / Trousdale County
Hartsville, TN · serves several counties
Autism Tennessee connects Trousdale County families to the Middle Tennessee autism support network. Lebanon (Wilson County) and Nashville are the nearest in-person peer support hubs.
Autism Tennessee — Upper Cumberland/North Tennessee Network
Lafayette, TN · serves several counties
Autism Tennessee connects Macon County families to the Upper Cumberland and north-central Tennessee peer network. Virtual events and Nashville-area programming serve families in Lafayette and surrounding rural communities.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Support and Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP)
Greeneville, TN · serves several counties
Tennessee's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free help for families of children and youth with disabilities, birth to 26: understanding special education, IEP and 504 plans, and one-on-one support. Offices in Greeneville, Nashville and Memphis.
Autism-friendly dentists
1 providerDentists experienced with autistic patients — desensitisation visits, sensory accommodations, and staff who take the time it takes.
Meharry ABLE Clinic for Persons with Special Medical Needs
Nashville, TN · serves several counties
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Third Floor, Nashville, TN 37208
Meharry Medical College's School of Dentistry runs the ABLE Clinic specifically for people with special medical needs, at fees roughly 50 percent below the Nashville private-practice average. It accepts TennCare and most private insurance. For a family who has been quoted a private sedation-dentistry price, the difference here is substantial.
Appointment only. Open Monday to Thursday 8am to 4pm and Friday morning.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, TN
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, TN
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, TN
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, TN
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, TN
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, TN
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, TN
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, TN
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, TN
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, TN
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Smith County
Smith County — home to Carthage — is in north-central Tennessee along the Cumberland River. Smith County Memorial Hospital provides healthcare services. Smith County Schools provides special education. Families travel to Nashville or Lebanon for specialized autism evaluation. TEIS is available, and STEP provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Helpful guides
Guides for Smith 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 Smith County, Tennessee?
We list 15 providers serving Smith County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, autism-friendly dentists and advocacy & legal, plus 1 more. 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 Smith County?
ABA providers serving Smith 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.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Smith County?
5 providers serving Smith 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 Smith County?
If none of the Smith County providers is the right fit, these Tennessee counties currently have the most listed providers: Davidson County (21), Maury County (20), Putnam County (20), Wilson County (20). 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 Smith County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Smith 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.
- 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?
- Who has managed an eye exam here?
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 Smith County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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