County resource guide
Autism Resources in Smith, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Smith. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
17 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Cookeville · multi-county
Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Autism Evaluation Referrals
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.
Lebanon · multi-county
University Medical Center — Lebanon Developmental Referrals
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.
Nashville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center — TRIAD Autism Program
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.
Carthage · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD — Smith County Referral
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.
Hartsville · multi-county
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD — Trousdale County Referral
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)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Carthage · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Smith County
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.
Hartsville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Trousdale County
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
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Carthage · multi-county
Centria Autism — Smith County
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.
Hartsville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Trousdale County
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.
Lafayette · multi-county
North-Central TN ABA — Macon County
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.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Carthage · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Middle TN / Smith County
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.
Hartsville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Middle TN / Trousdale County
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.
Lafayette · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Upper Cumberland/North Tennessee Network
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
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Lafayette · multi-county
STEP — Support & Training for Exceptional Parents
Tennessee's federally funded PTI. Free IEP advocacy for Macon County families. Phone and virtual support serve this rural north-central Tennessee county near the Kentucky border.
FREE. Statewide PTI.
Carthage · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Smith County
STEP serves Smith County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for families navigating Smith County Schools in Carthage.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Hartsville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Trousdale County
STEP serves Trousdale County families with free IEP advocacy for families navigating Trousdale County Schools, a very small district in Hartsville.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Lebanon · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Wilson County
Tennessee's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center serves Wilson County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Wilson County Schools special education.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
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