County resource guide
Autism Resources in Amherst County, Virginia
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Amherst County. Virginia statewide resources also apply.
Amherst County — home to Amherst and Madison Heights — is in the Lynchburg metro area. Families benefit from proximity to Centra Health and the Lynchburg provider network for ABA and therapy. PEATC provides free statewide IEP advocacy. Virginia's Infant and Toddler Connection provides EI for children under 3, and DD waivers are available through DBHDS.
Provider directory
Local Providers30 providers in Amherst 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 Amherst 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.
Amherst · multi-county
Centra Health — Amherst County Developmental Referrals
Amherst County lies adjacent to Lynchburg City and is served by Centra Health's Lynchburg hospital system. For comprehensive autism evaluations, Centra routes families to UVA Health in Charlottesville (~50 miles east) or internally to developmental pediatric specialists within their network.
Centra Lynchburg and UVA Health are the two primary evaluation systems for Amherst County families.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Centra Health — Developmental Pediatrics (Lynchburg)
Centra Health's Lynchburg hospital system serves Campbell County and the greater Lynchburg region. Centra provides developmental pediatric evaluations and referrals; complex autism cases often travel to UVA Health in Charlottesville (~60 miles east) or Carilion in Roanoke (~50 miles west).
Centra serves the Lynchburg region. For comprehensive autism evaluations, ask for referrals to UVA Health or Carilion.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Centra Health — Lynchburg General Developmental Pediatrics
Centra Health's Lynchburg General Hospital is the primary hospital for Lynchburg City and the surrounding region. For comprehensive autism evaluations, Centra refers families to UVA Health in Charlottesville (~65 miles east) or internally to developmental pediatric specialists within their network.
Centra and UVA Children's (Charlottesville, ~65 mi) are the two main evaluation systems for Lynchburg families.
Charlottesville · multi-county
UVA Children's — Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville is Nelson County's closest major center for autism evaluations, approximately 30–40 minutes from Lovingston. The neurodevelopmental team provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary autism assessments.
About 35 minutes from Lovingston. Submit the referral early — waitlists are long across Virginia.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Amherst
Infant & Toddler Connection — Central Virginia (Amherst County)
Virginia's Part C early intervention for Amherst County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP development, and in-home therapy services administered through Central Virginia Community Services Board.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-referral accepted — no physician order required.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Infant & Toddler Connection — Lynchburg City (Part C)
Virginia's Part C early intervention for Lynchburg City children birth to age 3. Free evaluations, IFSP development, and in-home therapy services administered through Central Virginia Community Services Board.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Self-referral accepted.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Amherst · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Amherst County/Lynchburg Area
ABA therapy serving Amherst County through the Lynchburg metro network. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA insurance mandate.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Lynchburg City
ABA therapy serving Lynchburg City through the Centra Health service area. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA insurance mandate.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Autism Learning Partners — Lynchburg/Campbell County
ABA therapy services in the Lynchburg area serving Campbell County. BCBA-supervised in-home and center-based programming. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA insurance mandate.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
Charlottesville · multi-county
Charlottesville Area ABA Services
ABA therapy for Nelson County children through Charlottesville-area providers. Clinic-based and in-home options are available, with Nelson families well-positioned to access the UVA/Charlottesville provider network.
Ask your UVA diagnostic team for current ABA referrals serving Nelson County.
Bedford · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Bedford/Lynchburg Area
Center-based ABA therapy serving the Lynchburg metro area including Bedford County. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic developmental approaches. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA mandate.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
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.
Lovingston · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Blue Ridge Area Network
The Autism Society of Virginia serves Nelson County families through the Blue Ridge regional network and statewide autism programming, peer support groups, and family events.
Lynchburg · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Lynchburg Area Network
The Autism Society of Virginia connects Lynchburg City families to regional peer support, family events, and statewide autism advocacy. Liberty University's community adds an additional peer network dimension.
Amherst · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Lynchburg/Amherst Network
The Autism Society of Virginia connects Amherst County families to the Lynchburg-area support network and statewide autism programming. Peer support groups, resource navigation, and advocacy for families in the Lynchburg-Amherst corridor.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Amherst · multi-county
PEATC — Lynchburg/Amherst Outreach
Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support to Amherst County families navigating Amherst County Public Schools. PEATC is available statewide by phone and in-person.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or evaluation dispute.
Lynchburg · multi-county
PEATC — Lynchburg/Campbell County Outreach
PEATC provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support to Campbell County families navigating Campbell County Public Schools and Lynchburg City Schools. Virginia's federally funded PTI is available statewide by phone and virtually.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP dispute or placement decision.
Alexandria · multi-county
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Free IEP advocacy and special education training for Nelson County families across Virginia.
FREE. Statewide service by phone and video.
Alexandria · multi-county
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Virginia's federally funded PTI serves Lynchburg City families navigating Lynchburg City Schools. Free IEP advocacy, training, and direct support available statewide.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
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 Amherst 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 Virginia resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Virginia.
Virginia state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Amherst County, Virginia?
We list 18 providers serving Amherst County, covering ABA therapy, parent & family support, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3) and advocacy & legal. 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 Amherst County?
ABA providers serving Amherst 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.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Amherst County?
6 providers serving Amherst 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 Virginia?
Virginia families can apply to the DD Waivers — Community Living, Family & Individual Supports, Building Independence, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is By urgency, not by date — Priority 1 is served within about a year, 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 Amherst County?
If none of the Amherst County providers is the right fit, these Virginia counties currently have the most listed providers: Fairfax County (35), Prince William County (27), York County (27), Arlington County (26). 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 Virginia
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Amherst County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Amherst 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 Amherst County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Amherst 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 Amherst 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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