County resource guide
Autism Resources in Union County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Union County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Union County — home to Maynardville — is in northeastern Tennessee north of Knoxville. Union County Schools provides special education. Families benefit from proximity to Knoxville's provider network and East Tennessee Children's Hospital for specialized evaluation. TEIS is available, and STEP provides free statewide IEP advocacy.
Provider directory
Local Providers29 providers in Union 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 Union 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.
Maynardville · multi-county
East Tennessee Children's Hospital — Union County Referral
Union County families in Maynardville are approximately 20 miles north of Knoxville, providing excellent access to East Tennessee Children's Hospital for comprehensive autism evaluations. ETCH is the regional pediatric hub for all of East Tennessee.
Knoxville (~20 miles south) is the primary diagnostic hub. Union County families have relatively good urban access.
La Follette · multi-county
La Follette Medical Center — Developmental Referrals (Campbell County)
La Follette Medical Center (Covenant Health) is Campbell County's primary hospital in this rugged Appalachian county north of Knoxville. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families are referred to East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville (~40 miles south). Campbell County's coal and timber heritage community has strong family networks but limited local clinical infrastructure.
East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville (~40 miles south) is the primary autism evaluation referral. Telehealth options are expanding for rural Appalachian counties.
Knoxville · multi-county
University of Tennessee Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics
Grainger County families most often travel to Knoxville (Knox County, approximately 35 miles southwest) for autism evaluations at the University of Tennessee Medical Center or East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Knoxville is the major medical hub for the entire East Tennessee region.
Knoxville · multi-county
UT Medical Center — Child Development Center
The University of Tennessee Medical Center's Child Development Center in Knoxville is the primary academic medical center for Claiborne County autism evaluations, approximately 1 hour south of Tazewell. UT's team provides comprehensive developmental and autism assessments.
About 1 hour from Tazewell via US-25E. Also consider Kingsport/Bristol (Holston Valley) for diagnostics if closer.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Knoxville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Knox County
Maynardville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Union County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Union County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Maynardville and throughout Union County.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Rutledge · multi-county
Acorn Health — East Tennessee In-Home ABA
Acorn Health brings BCBA-supervised ABA therapy to Grainger County families through in-home delivery. Serving rural Appalachian communities in the Holston River valley and surrounding areas near Rutledge.
Tennessee ABA insurance mandate. In-home model for rural Appalachian counties.
La Follette · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Campbell County (Telehealth-First)
ABA therapy serving Campbell County through telehealth-supported and in-home delivery. Campbell County is rural Appalachian East Tennessee — telehealth ABA has become the primary model for families in La Follette and Jacksboro. BCBA-supervised programs accepting most commercial insurance and TennCare.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Telehealth is the primary modality for this remote Appalachian county.
Maynardville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Union County
In-home ABA therapy serving Union County families in Maynardville and surrounding communities. BCBA-supervised individualized programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Tazewell · multi-county
Northeast Tennessee ABA Services
ABA therapy for Claiborne County children through Northeast Tennessee and Knoxville-area providers. In-home ABA delivery is often the most practical model for families in this rural Northeast Tennessee county.
Contact the Tennessee Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for current ABA provider listings in Northeast 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.
La Follette · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Cumberland Gap/Campbell County Network
Autism Tennessee connects Campbell County families in La Follette and Jacksboro to the East Tennessee autism support network and statewide resources. Rural Appalachian isolation makes statewide peer connections especially valuable for families in this region.
Tazewell · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — East Tennessee Network
Autism Tennessee connects Claiborne County families to the East Tennessee regional support network, peer groups, and statewide autism programming and advocacy.
Maynardville · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — East TN / Union County
Autism Tennessee connects Union County families to the Knoxville area autism support network. Maynardville's proximity to Knoxville gives families access to the full range of East Tennessee autism resources and parent support.
Rutledge · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Northeast Tennessee Network
Autism Tennessee connects Grainger County families to the Northeast Tennessee peer support network. Knoxville-area events are accessible for many Rutledge families, with virtual programming expanding access for those in the most rural Appalachian communities.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
La Follette · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Campbell County
STEP serves Campbell County and the Cumberland Gap region with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support for families navigating Campbell County Schools. Critical resource in a rural county where local advocacy options are limited.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI. Virtual consultations are especially important for this rural Appalachian county.
Maynardville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Union County
STEP serves Union County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for families navigating Union County Schools.
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 training for Claiborne 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 Union 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 Union County, Tennessee?
We list 17 providers serving Union County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, 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 Union County?
ABA providers serving Union 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 Union County families?
Yes — 3 providers serving Union 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 Union County?
5 providers serving Union 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 Union County?
If none of the Union 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 Union County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Union 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 Union County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Union 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 Union 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 Union County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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