County resource guide
Autism Resources in Norfolk County, Virginia
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Norfolk County. Virginia statewide resources also apply.
Norfolk is an independent city and home to CHKD — Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters — the dominant pediatric institution in Hampton Roads and the primary resource for autism evaluation in the region. Eastern Virginia Medical School and Norfolk State University also contribute to the healthcare training ecosystem. PEATC provides free statewide IEP advocacy. Virginia's Infant and Toddler Connection provides EI for children under 3.
Provider directory
Local Providers29 providers in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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.
Norfolk · multi-county
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) — Autism Diagnostic Clinic
The primary children's hospital for Hampton Roads. CHKD's autism diagnostic clinic provides comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluations for children and adolescents across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the broader Hampton Roads region.
Expect significant waitlists. Request placement on the cancellation list.
Norfolk · multi-county
CHKD — Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
CHKD in Norfolk is the primary pediatric hospital for Chesapeake City and the Hampton Roads metro area. Comprehensive autism evaluations through the CHKD developmental pediatrics team. Chesapeake's large military population means CHKD is also experienced with military family needs.
Large military population in Chesapeake — Tricare authorization is often required. CHKD is well-experienced with military family navigation.
Norfolk · multi-county
CHKD — Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
CHKD's developmental and behavioral pediatrics program in Norfolk serves as the backbone of autism evaluation for Hampton Roads. Multidisciplinary evaluations, ADOS-2 assessments, and coordination with CHKD's neurology and therapy teams.
Same CHKD system as Virginia Beach clinic. Ask about the most available location.
Portsmouth · multi-county
CHKD — Portsmouth Outpatient Center, Developmental Pediatrics
CHKD serves Portsmouth City families through outpatient developmental pediatrics, with the main Norfolk campus a short drive away. Portsmouth's large naval station community means CHKD is well-acquainted with military family needs and Tricare authorization pathways.
Naval Station Norfolk families: Tricare authorization required. CHKD routinely serves military families in Portsmouth.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Portsmouth · multi-county
Behavior Analysis & Therapy Partners — Portsmouth Area
ABA therapy serving Portsmouth City. In-home and center-based options available. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA mandate and Tricare for military families stationed at Naval Station Norfolk.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Tricare accepted.
Chesapeake · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Chesapeake
Center-based ABA therapy serving Chesapeake City. BCBA-supervised with naturalistic developmental approaches. Accepts most commercial insurance under Virginia's ABA mandate and Tricare for military families.
Virginia requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy. Tricare accepted.
Norfolk · multi-county
Lighthouse Autism Center — Hampton Roads
Center-based ABA therapy in the Hampton Roads area. Evidence-based programming with BCBA oversight, social skills groups, and caregiver training. Accepts Tricare — valuable for the large military community around Naval Station Norfolk.
Tricare in-network. Important for military families who move frequently.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Norfolk · multi-county
Sentara Health — Behavioral Health Services
Sentara's behavioral health network offers psychiatry and therapy services for autistic children and adults in Norfolk, including co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorder treatment. Accepts most commercial insurance and Medicaid.
Respite care
Respite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
Statewide · multi-county
Virginia respite — waiver services plus a separate voucher
Two routes, and the second is the one families miss. Respite is a covered service under the Community Living, Family and Individual Supports and CCC Plus waivers, coordinated through your Community Services Board or managed care organization. Separately, the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program run by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services reimburses eligible caregivers for respite — and does not require you to hold a waiver at all.
If you are on a waiver waiting list, the DARS Lifespan Respite Voucher is the thing to ask about — it exists precisely for families who are waiting.
~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.
Virginia Beach · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Hampton Roads Chapter
Regional chapter supporting families across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. Regular support group meetings, family social events, and resource referrals. Especially active outreach to military families navigating autism services across PCS moves.
Chesapeake · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Hampton Roads Network (Chesapeake)
The Autism Society of Virginia connects Chesapeake families to the Hampton Roads regional autism community, peer support groups, and statewide advocacy. Strong connections to CHKD parent community.
Portsmouth · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Hampton Roads Network (Portsmouth)
The Autism Society of Virginia connects Portsmouth City families to the Hampton Roads regional autism community, peer support, and statewide advocacy. Strong connections to CHKD and naval station family networks.
Norfolk · multi-county
Autism Society of Virginia — Norfolk Chapter
Support groups and community events for Norfolk families. Connects parents of newly diagnosed children with experienced families. Has specific programming for military families navigating autism services across duty-station moves.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Virginia Beach · multi-county
PEATC — Hampton Roads Outreach
Virginia's statewide PTI center provides remote and in-person IEP advocacy support for Virginia Beach families. Free consultations, training on IDEA rights, and dispute resolution guidance.
FREE federally funded PTI. Essential first call before any IEP dispute.
Norfolk
PEATC — Norfolk Family Support
Virginia's federally funded PTI supports Norfolk and Hampton Roads families with free IEP advocacy, parent trainings, and one-on-one consultations. Bilingual support available for Spanish-speaking families.
FREE. Call before any IEP meeting, evaluation dispute, or placement decision.
Alexandria · multi-county
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Virginia's federally funded PTI serves Chesapeake City families navigating Chesapeake City Public Schools special education. Free IEP advocacy, training, and direct support available by phone and in-person.
FREE. Military families should also contact their installation's School Liaison Officer for parallel support.
Alexandria · multi-county
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Virginia's federally funded PTI serves Portsmouth City families navigating Portsmouth City Public Schools. Free IEP advocacy, training, and support available statewide. Military families should also contact the Naval Station School Liaison Officer.
FREE. Military families should also use the base School Liaison Officer for parallel IEP support.
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.
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Helpful guides
Guides for Norfolk 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 Norfolk County, Virginia?
We list 17 providers serving Norfolk County, covering parent & family support, ABA therapy, diagnostic clinics, advocacy & legal and mental health, plus 1 more. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Norfolk County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Norfolk County state that they accept Medicaid, including Sentara Health — Behavioral Health Services. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Norfolk County?
ABA providers serving Norfolk 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 Norfolk County?
1 provider serving Norfolk County delivers 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 Norfolk County?
If none of the Norfolk 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 Norfolk County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Norfolk 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 Norfolk County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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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