Autism Resources in Scott County, Virginia
17 providers in Gate City, Alexandria and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Scott County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Scott County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Norton Community Hospital — Scott County Developmental Referral
Gate City, VA · serves several counties
Norton Community Hospital (Ballad Health) in Norton, VA serves as the primary regional hospital for Scott County. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families are typically referred to Johnson City Medical Center or East Tennessee Children's Hospital in the Tri-Cities TN area (~35–50 miles west), which are often closer and more accessible than Roanoke or Richmond.
Tri-Cities TN (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, ~35–50 mi west) often have shorter waitlists and are more accessible than Virginia's academic centers for far SW Virginia families.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Highlands ABA Services — Scott County (In-Home/Telehealth)
Gate City, VA · serves several counties
In-home and telehealth ABA therapy for Scott County. This far SW Virginia county is more accessible from the Tennessee Tri-Cities than from Virginia's interior, so families may also use TN-licensed providers. Virginia Medicaid and commercial insurance are accepted.
Contact Highlands Community Services Board about current ABA providers. TN-licensed providers may also serve this border region.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
PEATC — Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded PTI serves Scott County families navigating Scott County Public Schools. Free IEP advocacy, training, and direct support available statewide — essential for this isolated far SW Virginia county.
FREE. Remote phone and video support critical for Scott County's remote location.
Also serving Scott County
These 26 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Scott 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.
Ballad Health — Children's Services (Washington County)
Abingdon, VA · serves several counties
Ballad Health serves the Bristol/Abingdon area, providing regional pediatric and developmental services for Washington County. Connects families to autism specialty care across the Tri-Cities region.
Ballad Health — Lee Regional Medical Center (Lee County)
Pennington Gap, VA · serves several counties
Ballad Health's Lee Regional Medical Center in Pennington Gap serves Lee County, Virginia's westernmost county bordering Tennessee and Kentucky. Autism evaluations typically require travel to Johnson City, TN (~1.5 hours) or the Tri-Cities region. Telehealth is strongly recommended as the first step.
Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, TN is the closest comprehensive pediatric evaluation center for Lee County families.
Ballad Health — Telehealth Developmental Pediatrics (Buchanan)
Grundy, VA · serves several counties
Ballad Health (formerly Wellmont/Mountain States) serves the Tri-Cities TN/VA region and extends telehealth developmental pediatrics to Buchanan County families. Bristol Regional Medical Center is the nearest hub for autism evaluation referrals.
Telehealth essential — Grundy is over 2 hours from major academic medical centers.
Ballad Health — Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital (Wise County)
Big Stone Gap, VA · serves several counties
Ballad Health's Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap is the primary hospital for Wise County. For autism evaluations, Wise County families typically access Carilion Children's via telehealth or travel to Bristol/Johnson City, TN (~1 hour). The LENOWISCO Health District coordinates regional referrals.
Johnson City, TN (about 1 hour) has Niswonger Children's Hospital — a strong evaluation alternative for Far SW Virginia.
Mental health
3 providersTherapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
LENOWISCO Community Services Board — Buchanan County
Jonesville, VA · serves several counties
LENOWISCO CSB covers Lee, Scott, Wise, and adjacent counties including Buchanan in some service areas. Provides developmental disability supports, DD waiver coordination, and mental health services for autism-related behavioral needs in far SW Virginia.
LENOWISCO Community Services Board — Dickenson County
Jonesville, VA · serves several counties
LENOWISCO CSB provides mental health, developmental disability, and autism-related behavioral health services for Dickenson County. DD waiver coordination and crisis services are available, though travel to Wise or Norton may be required for some programs.
Lenowisco Planning District Community Services (Washington County)
Duffield, VA · serves several counties
The regional CSB for Washington County provides DD waiver coordination, autism behavioral health, and crisis services for far Southwest Virginia.
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
7 providersLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
LENOWISCO Planning District — Lee County Disability Services
Wise, VA · serves several counties
LENOWISCO serves Lee County families with disability services coordination and resource navigation. Tri-state border location (VA/TN/KY) creates unique opportunities and challenges — LENOWISCO can help navigate multi-state resource access.
LENOWISCO Planning District Commission — Disability Services (Wise County)
Wise, VA · serves several counties
The LENOWISCO Planning District serves Lee, Norton, Wise, and Scott County families with disability services coordination, resource navigation, and advocacy support. A regional hub for Far Southwest Virginia autism resources.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center (Lee County)
Jonesville, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Lee County families in Virginia's westernmost county. PEATC understands Far Southwest Virginia school systems and the unique challenges of border-county families.
FREE. Virginia's federally funded PTI.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center (Washington County)
Alexandria, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy for Washington County families navigating Washington County Public Schools, by phone and virtually.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center. Statewide contact verified August 2026.
PEATC — Virginia Parent Training & Information Center (Wise County)
Wise, VA · serves several counties
Virginia's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy and special education rights support for Wise County families navigating Wise County Public Schools and Norton City Schools in Far Southwest Virginia.
FREE. Virginia's federally funded PTI.
The Arc of Virginia — Southwest Region (Bristol)
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
Statewide Arc affiliate supporting Bristol City families with DD waiver navigation and disability advocacy across Virginia's far Southwest region.
See all 7 advocacy & legal providersShow fewer
The Arc of Virginia — Southwest Region (Washington County)
Richmond, VA · serves several counties
Statewide Arc affiliate supporting Washington County families with DD waiver navigation and disability rights advocacy in far Southwest Virginia.
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 Scott County
Scott County — home to Gate City and Duffield — is in the far southwestern tip of Virginia near Tennessee and Kentucky. Provider availability is extremely limited; families often travel to Kingsport or Johnson City, TN for most specialized autism evaluation and therapy. PEATC provides free statewide IEP advocacy, and Virginia's Infant and Toddler Connection provides EI for children under 3.
Helpful guides
Guides for Scott 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 Scott County, Virginia?
We list 17 providers serving Scott County, covering diagnostic clinics, ABA therapy, mental health 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.
Which autism providers in Scott County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Scott County state that they accept Medicaid, including Highlands ABA Services — Scott County (In-Home/Telehealth). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Scott County?
ABA providers serving Scott 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.
Are there telehealth autism services for Scott County families?
Yes — 4 providers serving Scott County offer telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Scott County?
1 provider serving Scott 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 Scott County?
If none of the Scott 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 Scott County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Scott 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 Scott County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Scott 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 Scott 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 Scott County?
Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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