County resource guide
Autism Resources in White, Tennessee
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in White. Tennessee statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
14 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Cookeville · multi-county
Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Developmental Referrals
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital for the Upper Cumberland region, providing pediatric care and developmental referrals for Putnam County. For comprehensive autism evaluations, Cookeville Regional typically routes families to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD in Nashville (~80 miles west).
Ask your pediatrician for a TRIAD referral at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for comprehensive autism evaluation.
Spencer · multi-county
Cookeville Regional Medical Center — Van Buren County Referral
Van Buren County families in Spencer access developmental and autism evaluation referrals through Cookeville Regional Medical Center (~35 miles north) on the Upper Cumberland Plateau. Van Buren is home to Fall Creek Falls State Park and is one of Tennessee's most rural counties.
Very rural county. Cookeville (~35 miles north) is the nearest medical hub.
Sparta · multi-county
Highlands Medical Center — White County Developmental Referrals
Highlands Medical Center in Sparta is the primary hospital for White County on the Cumberland Plateau. Developmental and autism evaluation referrals typically route to Cookeville Regional Medical Center (~25 miles north) or Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville (~80 miles west).
Cookeville (~25 miles north) is the nearest major evaluation hub. Vanderbilt TRIAD accessible from Sparta as well.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Cookeville · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Upper Cumberland (Putnam)
TEIS Part C early intervention for Putnam County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP planning, and in-home therapy services in Cookeville and across the Upper Cumberland region. Covers speech, OT, and developmental therapy.
Free under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone — no doctor referral required.
Spencer · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — Van Buren County
TEIS Part C early intervention for Van Buren County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Spencer. Home-based delivery is standard for this remote Cumberland Plateau county.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
Sparta · multi-county
Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) — White County
TEIS Part C early intervention for White County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services in Sparta and throughout White County on the Cumberland Plateau.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-refer by phone.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Cookeville · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Upper Cumberland (Cookeville)
ABA therapy services in Cookeville serving Putnam County and the broader Upper Cumberland region. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Sparta · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — White County
ABA therapy serving White County families in Sparta through the Upper Cumberland region network. BCBA-supervised center-based and in-home programming. Accepts commercial insurance under Tennessee's ABA mandate.
Tennessee requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Spencer · multi-county
Centria Autism — Van Buren County (In-Home)
In-home ABA therapy serving Van Buren County families in Spencer and surrounding Cumberland Plateau communities. BCBA-supervised programs accepting TennCare and commercial insurance.
In-home model is essential for this isolated plateau county.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Spencer · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Upper Cumberland (Van Buren County)
Autism Tennessee connects Van Buren County families to the Upper Cumberland support network in Cookeville. Given geographic isolation, virtual programming and the statewide resource line are the primary access points.
Sparta · multi-county
Autism Tennessee — Upper Cumberland (White County)
Autism Tennessee connects White County families to the Upper Cumberland autism support network centered in Cookeville. Sparta is approximately 25 miles from Cookeville's peer support resources.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Cookeville · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Upper Cumberland
STEP serves Putnam County and the broader Upper Cumberland region with free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and one-on-one support. Essential resource for Cookeville City and Putnam County Schools families navigating special education.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI — serves families across the Upper Cumberland plateau region.
Spencer · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — Van Buren County
STEP provides free IEP advocacy for Van Buren County families via phone and virtual sessions. Essential for families in this remote plateau county with a small school district.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
Sparta · multi-county
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP) — White County
STEP serves White County families with free IEP advocacy and special education rights training for families navigating White County Schools in Sparta.
FREE. Tennessee's federally funded PTI.
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See all Tennessee resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Tennessee.
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