Autism Resources in Bedford County, Virginia
16 providers in Bedford and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Bedford County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Bedford County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Bedford, VA · serves several counties
Bedford Memorial Hospital (Centra Health) provides community hospital care for Bedford County. Developmental pediatric referrals from Centra Bedford typically route to Centra Lynchburg or UVA Health in Charlottesville for comprehensive autism evaluations.
Ask for referrals to Centra Lynchburg or UVA Health for full autism evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Infant & Toddler Connection — Central Virginia (Bedford County)
Bedford, VA
Virginia's Part C early intervention for Bedford County children birth to age 3. Free evaluations and in-home therapy services administered through Central Virginia Community Services Board. Self-referral accepted.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No physician referral required.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Lighthouse Autism Center — Bedford/Lynchburg Area
Bedford, VA · serves several counties
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.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEATC — Bedford County Families
Bedford, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded PTI serves Bedford County families navigating Bedford County Public Schools. Free IEP advocacy, parent training, and one-on-one support available by phone and virtually.
FREE. Federally funded PTI for Virginia families.
Also serving Bedford County
These 24 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Bedford County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
4 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Carilion Clinic — Developmental Pediatrics (Botetourt)
Fincastle, VA · serves several counties
Carilion Clinic's developmental pediatrics program in Roanoke serves Botetourt County families with comprehensive autism evaluations. As Roanoke is the regional medical hub immediately adjacent to Botetourt, families have strong academic medical access without long travel.
Carilion Roanoke is minutes from most of Botetourt County.
Carilion Clinic — Developmental Pediatrics (Franklin County)
Rocky Mount, VA · serves several counties
Carilion Clinic's Roanoke hub is the primary autism evaluation resource for Franklin County families. Rocky Mount sits in the foothills south of Roanoke, giving families reasonable access to Carilion's developmental pediatrics and the broader Roanoke Valley specialist network.
Roanoke is approximately 35 miles from Rocky Mount.
Centra Health — Developmental Pediatrics (Lynchburg)
Lynchburg, VA · serves several counties
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.
Centra Health — Lynchburg General Developmental Pediatrics
Lynchburg, VA · serves several counties
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.
ABA therapy
3 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Autism Learning Partners — Amherst County/Lynchburg Area
Amherst, VA · serves several counties
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.
Autism Learning Partners — Lynchburg City
Lynchburg, VA · serves several counties
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.
Autism Learning Partners — Lynchburg/Campbell County
Lynchburg, VA · serves several counties
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.
Occupational therapy & sensory
1 providerOccupational therapy, sensory integration, and sensory diets.
Pediatric Therapy Associates — Smith Mountain Lake Area
Rocky Mount, VA · serves several counties
Pediatric therapy practices serving the Smith Mountain Lake corridor provide OT, speech, and sensory integration services for Franklin County children. The Roanoke and Moneta area has growing pediatric therapy capacity serving this recreational corridor.
Verify current accepting status; the Smith Mountain Lake area has expanding pediatric services.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, VA
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, VA
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Advocacy & legal
4 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEATC — Lynchburg/Campbell County Outreach
Lynchburg, VA · serves several counties
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.
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
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.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center (Botetourt)
Fincastle, VA · serves several counties
PTI Virginia (formerly PEATC) provides free IEP advocacy, training, and special education rights support to Botetourt County families. Staff understand the Roanoke Valley school systems and Virginia's special education regulations.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center (Franklin County)
Rocky Mount, VA · serves several counties
PTI Virginia provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Franklin County families. Staff understand the Roanoke Valley and Southside Virginia school systems that border Franklin County.
FREE. Virginia's federally funded PTI.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, VA
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, VA
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, VA
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program 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 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, VA
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program 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 locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, VA
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, VA
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, VA
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program 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. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, VA
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, VA
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, VA
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Bedford County
Bedford County — home to Bedford City (annexed areas) and Forest — is in south-central Virginia near Lynchburg. Families benefit from access to Centra Health and the Lynchburg provider network. Provider availability is growing in the Forest/Bedford area as the region develops. PEATC provides free statewide IEP advocacy, and Virginia's Infant and Toddler Connection serves young children.
Helpful guides
Guides for Bedford 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 Bedford County, Virginia?
We list 16 providers serving Bedford County, covering ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3), advocacy & legal and occupational therapy & sensory. 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 Bedford County?
ABA providers serving Bedford 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 Bedford County?
4 providers serving Bedford 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 Bedford County?
If none of the Bedford County providers is the right fit, these Virginia counties currently have the most listed providers: Fairfax County (35), Prince William County (27), Arlington County (26), York 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 Virginia
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Bedford County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Bedford 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?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
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 Bedford County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Bedford 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 Bedford 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 Bedford County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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