County resource guide
Autism Resources in Washington County, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Washington County. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Washington County — home to Johnson City and Jonesborough — is in the Tri-Cities region of northeast Tennessee. Johnson City Medical Center (Ballad Health) and East Tennessee State University's Quillen College of Medicine provide important medical and training resources. Washington County Schools provides special education. TEIS serves children under 3. STEP provides free IEP advocacy statewide, and ETSU's pediatric programs support local provider capacity.
Provider directory
Local Providers27 providers in Washington 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 Washington 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.
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.
Mountain City · multi-county
Sycamore Shoals Hospital — Johnson County Referral
Johnson County families in Mountain City access developmental and autism evaluation services primarily through Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton (~25 miles south) or Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City (~35 miles south) within the Ballad Health network.
Johnson City (~35 miles south) is the nearest comprehensive autism evaluation center for Johnson 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.
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.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Tennessee Family Support Program — up to $6,000 a year
Running since 1992 and funded with state money, this is one of the most generous state programs of its kind anywhere: up to $6,000 per person per year for a family supporting someone with a severe disability at home. It is deliberately broad — respite, before and after school care, day care, home and vehicle modifications, specialist equipment, personal assistance, transport, homemaker services, nursing, counseling and summer camp all qualify. Awards depend on local council priorities and available funds, so you may receive less, but the ceiling is real.
Separately, the Family Directed Respite Voucher gives up to $600 a year per household and lets you choose your own respite provider. The two are different programs — ask about both.
~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.
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.
Kingsport · multi-county
Tri-Cities Autism Support Network
Community-based support group serving autism families across the Tri-Cities region — Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol (TN and VA). Monthly meetings, parent peer support, and resource sharing for Sullivan County families.
Regional chapter connected to Autism Tennessee statewide network.
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.
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.
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 Washington 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 Washington County, Tennessee?
We list 15 providers serving Washington County, covering parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal, early intervention (0–3) and respite care. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Washington County?
2 providers serving Washington 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 Washington County?
If none of the Washington 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 Washington County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Washington 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 Washington County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Washington 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 Washington 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
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Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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