County resource guide
Autism Resources in Unicoi, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Unicoi. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
19 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Johnson City · multi-county
Ballad Health — Johnson City Medical Center Developmental Pediatrics
Johnson City Medical Center (Ballad Health) is the major academic medical center in the Tri-Cities region. Ballad's developmental pediatrics and Niswonger Children's Hospital team provides autism evaluations for Washington County and Northeast Tennessee, serving as the regional hub for families from a broad mountain corridor.
Niswonger Children's Hospital is the Tri-Cities region's premier pediatric autism referral center. Ask for a direct developmental pediatrics appointment.
Greeneville · multi-county
Laughlin Memorial Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Laughlin Memorial Hospital in Greeneville is the primary hospital for Greene County. Autism evaluations typically route to Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City (~30 miles northeast) for comprehensive assessment.
Johnson City (~30 miles) is the regional hub for comprehensive autism evaluations.
Elizabethton · multi-county
Sycamore Shoals Hospital — Developmental Referrals (Carter County)
Sycamore Shoals Hospital (Ballad Health) in Elizabethton is Carter County's community hospital. For autism evaluations, Ballad's Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City (~15 miles west) is the regional hub and the primary referral destination for Carter County families.
Niswonger Children's in Johnson City (~15 miles) is the primary autism diagnostic center for Carter County families.
Erwin · multi-county
Unicoi County Memorial Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Unicoi County Memorial Hospital in Erwin provides basic care and developmental referrals for Unicoi County. Autism evaluations typically route to Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City (~15 miles north) within the Ballad Health system.
Johnson City (~15 miles north) is the primary autism evaluation hub for Unicoi County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Greeneville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Greene County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Greene County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy in Greeneville and throughout Greene County.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
Erwin · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Unicoi County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Unicoi County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Erwin and throughout this narrow Nolichucky River valley county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
Johnson City · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Washington County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Washington County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy services in Johnson City and throughout Washington County.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Johnson City · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Johnson City
Center-based ABA therapy in Johnson City serving Washington County. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic teaching methods. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA insurance mandate. One of the Tri-Cities' primary ABA providers.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Erwin · multi-county
Behavioral Innovations — Tri-Cities (Serves Unicoi County)
ABA therapy serving Unicoi County from Johnson City and Kingsport centers. Erwin is just 15 miles from Johnson City; Unicoi County families can access center-based ABA in the Tri-Cities corridor. Accepts commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Elizabethton · multi-county
Centria Autism — Carter County
In-home ABA therapy serving Carter County families in Elizabethton and surrounding mountain communities. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. In-home model serves mountain communities well.
Greeneville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Greene County
In-home ABA therapy serving Greene County families in Greeneville and surrounding Northeast Tennessee communities. BCBA-supervised programming accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Greeneville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Northeast Tennessee / Greeneville Area
Autism Tennessee connects Greene County families to the Northeast Tennessee support network. Support groups in the Tri-Cities area are the nearest hubs; virtual programming extends reach to this rural Appalachian foothill community.
Erwin · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Tri-Cities / Unicoi County
Autism Tennessee connects Unicoi County families to the Tri-Cities autism support network. Johnson City is just 15 miles north; Erwin families can access Tri-Cities area parent support groups and statewide resources.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Elizabethton · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Carter County
STEP's Northeast Tennessee team serves Carter County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights support. Essential resource for families in rural Carter County navigating the school system.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Greeneville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Greene County
STEP serves Greene County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Greene County Schools special education.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Mountain City · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Johnson County
STEP's Northeast Tennessee team serves Johnson County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights support. Essential for families in this remote Appalachian county near the Virginia border.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Kingsport · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Northeast TN
STEP's Northeast Tennessee team serves Sullivan County and the Tri-Cities area. Free IEP coaching, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating Kingsport City Schools or Sullivan County Schools special education.
FREE. Also useful for families in the Virginia or North Carolina portions of the Tri-Cities area — STEP can advise on Tennessee-side resources.
Johnson City · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Tri-Cities/Washington County
STEP's Northeast Tennessee team serves Washington County families with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support navigating Washington County and Johnson City school systems.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI. Also helpful for families from nearby Southwest Virginia.
Erwin · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Unicoi County
STEP's Northeast Tennessee team serves Unicoi County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights training. Essential for families navigating the small Unicoi County school district in Erwin.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
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See all Tennessee resources
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