This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Shelby County, Tennessee. You'll find 15 local resources listed here, alongside Tennessee statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, Tennessee's starting point is the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS); for school-age children, special education and IEPs run through your local school district. Confirm details directly with each provider.
Diagnosis & Early Intervention
Getting an evaluation and accessing early services.
Free CDC milestone checklists and a Milestone Tracker app help you follow your child's development from 2 months to 5 years, so you know what to watch for and when to act. A gentle first step when you're unsure whether to seek an evaluation.
This state council, attached to the Department of Disability and Aging, helps shape Tennessee's system of care for people on the autism spectrum and their families, from early intervention and healthcare to adulthood. It's a good starting point for understanding state autism programs and connecting to help.
TEIS is Tennessee's free, statewide program that provides developmental evaluations and early intervention services (like speech, occupational, and physical therapy) for babies and young children with delays or disabilities. Anyone can make a referral, and a TEIS evaluator will reach out to set up your child's evaluation at no cost.
Based in Memphis, this university center offers interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations for children suspected of having autism or other developmental disabilities. Their team assesses each child's needs and helps families understand next steps.
TRIAD at Vanderbilt provides comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations for children up to age 18, along with parent training and support. As one of the nation's leading autism centers, they also offer telehealth evaluations to reach families across Tennessee.
Le Bonheur's Memphis team performs developmental evaluations for children who have, or may be at risk for, autism, developmental delays, and related concerns. Their board-certified developmental pediatricians work alongside psychologists, therapists, and other specialists to guide your child's care.
SRVS is a Memphis nonprofit and TEIS resource agency whose early interventionists come to your home to support your infant or toddler's development through everyday routines. Their family-centered services are provided at no cost to eligible families in Shelby County.
School & IEP Rights
IEPs, 504 plans, special education, and school advocacy.
Every state has a federally funded Parent Training & Information Center offering free help with IEPs, special-education rights, and early intervention. This hub's directory locates the center that serves your state.
A national nonprofit protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Use their member directory to find a special-education attorney or trained advocate near you when you need help with an IEP or a dispute with a school.
Every state has a federally mandated Protection & Advocacy agency that offers free legal help when a school isn't following your child's IEP or evaluating them as required. This directory connects you to the office serving your area.
Disability Rights Tennessee is the state's official protection and advocacy agency, offering free legal help when a child's rights are violated, including special education, IEP and 504 plan implementation, and behavior interventions at school. They serve families in all 95 counties.
Family Voices of Tennessee, a program of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, connects parents of children with disabilities to peer mentors who have walked the same path and can help you navigate school systems and advocate for your child. They offer guidance, resources, and a caring community.
The state's Department of Education special education page gathers official guidance on IEPs, evaluation and eligibility, parental rights like prior written notice, and how to resolve disagreements with your school. It's a helpful reference when you want to know what the state requires.
TNSTEP is Tennessee's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, and their staff will help you understand your child's special education rights and prepare for IEP and 504 meetings. All of their support, training, and one-on-one guidance is free for families across the state.
A Memphis-based Center for Independent Living run by and for people with disabilities, serving Shelby County and the surrounding area since 1985. They help families learn their rights, request accommodations, and navigate school-to-adult transition planning.
This is the local school district office that oversees special education and IEP services for roughly 17,000 students in Shelby County. If you have questions about your child's evaluation, IEP, or the services their school should be providing, this is the department to reach.
This is the state office where parents can file a formal complaint or request a due process hearing when a school is not following special education law. Their legal team can walk you through your options and the procedural safeguards that protect your child.
A long-established Memphis nonprofit serving Shelby County families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A community advocate can talk through special education disputes with you and even attend your child's IEP meeting when you need someone at your side.
Therapy & Treatment
ABA, speech, OT, and finding the right providers.
You matter too. Psychology Today's therapist finder filters for 'caregiver stress' and 'autism family,' and Open Path Collective offers reduced-cost therapy sessions nationwide. You cannot support your child well without also supporting yourself.
A free, multilingual statewide helpline run by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center that helps families find autism diagnostic services, therapy providers, and community programs near them. Now the home of Vanderbilt's former Autism Resource Line, staff can help you navigate next steps in English, Spanish, and other languages.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center provides comprehensive speech-language evaluations, individual therapy, and parent training for children with autism, plus birth-to-three early intervention. A university clinic focused on language development and social-communication skills.
A Memphis nonprofit serving families since 1957, Harwood provides education, therapy, and support for young children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and speech or developmental delays. They welcome children from across Shelby County and the surrounding Mid-South.
Financial Assistance & Benefits
Medicaid waivers, SSI, ABLE accounts, and legal aid.
ABLE accounts let people with disabilities (onset before age 26) save money tax-free without losing Medicaid or SSI eligibility. This center compares every state's ABLE program so you can pick the best one for your family.
A state savings and investment program that lets Tennesseans with disabilities set aside money tax-free for things like housing, therapy, transportation, and education without losing SSI or Medicaid. Opening an account is a simple way to plan for your child's future while keeping the benefits you already rely on.
Tennessee's Medicaid (TennCare) waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, that helps with employment, personal assistance, respite, and living independently in the community. Your regional Department of Disability and Aging office can help you complete a self-referral.
A TennCare program for children under 18 with significant disabilities or complex medical needs whose families don't qualify for Medicaid because of income. It can provide full Medicaid benefits or up to $10,000 a year in flexible services like respite and supportive care, so your child can be cared for at home.
A state-funded program that helps families caring for a loved one with a severe disability at home, offering up to $6,000 a year toward respite care, equipment, home modifications, and other supports. Local agencies across all 95 counties can walk you through applying, and there's no cost to families.
Tennessee's Medicaid program for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, covering supports like personal assistance, respite, and help finding and keeping a job. This is the main waiver families apply to now, since the older DDA waivers are closed to new enrollment.
Free civil legal help for lower-income families in Shelby County, including appeals and problems with SSI, TennCare, Medicaid, and other benefits. A good first call when a benefit is denied, cut off, or tangled in paperwork.
Support Groups & Community
Find your people, in person and online.
The nation's oldest grassroots autism organization. Their National Helpline connects families to information and referrals, and their affiliate finder points you to a local chapter in your area for in-person support and events.
The largest national community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local chapters offer advocacy, family support, and lifelong services. Use the chapter finder to locate the office nearest you.
Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org) to reach a free, confidential referral line for local health and human services in almost every US community, including disability services, respite, food, housing, and financial assistance.
This East Tennessee chapter builds connection and belonging through inclusive social events, its Social Scene program, education, and family resources. A warm place to meet other families and find community.
Tennessee's leading autism nonprofit offers a free HELPline plus family support and social groups, including a dads group, a sibling group, and a Spanish-language Familias Latinas group. Reach out for one-on-one guidance and a welcoming community.
Serving Southeast Tennessee, this center promotes inclusion and acceptance while offering therapy, education, music programs, and community resources for autistic individuals and their families. A welcoming local hub in the Chattanooga area.
This statewide coalition helps family caregivers take a much-needed break through its Respite Voucher Program, which reimburses respite care for loved ones of any age or disability. Call their helpline to learn what support is available.
Vanderbilt's autism institute offers free Families First workshops for caregivers of young children, online caregiver training, and printable tip sheets. A trusted university source for practical, evidence-based family support.
The local Arc chapter serving Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties, offering respite care (in-home and out-of-home), weekend retreats, and summer camps for people with developmental disabilities. It gives caregivers real, practical relief.
A long-running Memphis nonprofit (formerly the local Autism Society chapter) that runs parent support meetings, Sib Shops for siblings, kids' clubs, and family workshops for anyone affected by autism. A warm first call for connecting with other Mid-South families.
Year-round sports, fitness, and social events, free of charge, for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Greater Memphis area. A joyful way for your child to build friendships and belong to a team.
A Memphis nonprofit serving people with disabilities and their families in Shelby County since 1962, with family support, early childhood, and community-living programs. A steady local anchor for families at every age and stage.
Adult Transition & Long-Term Planning
Aging out of school, adult services, and long-term planning.
A neurodivergent employment agency offering job support nationwide over Zoom: resume building, mock interviews, and career guidance, plus direct outreach to employers to help secure placements. Supports neurodivergent individuals roughly ages 16 to 50, and has been in business over 15 years.
A trusted statewide resource that explains your options for supporting an adult child's decisions, from supported decision-making and power of attorney to conservatorship, special needs trusts, and ABLE accounts. Trained staff can answer questions and connect you with legal help as you plan for the future.
Free state services that help teens and adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job, including job coaching, interview practice, and pre-employment help for high school students getting ready to transition. A great first stop when your son or daughter starts thinking about work.
A long-established Memphis nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through day services and community employment, helping your son or daughter find meaningful work and connection after school ends. Their job coaches match each person's strengths and interests to real jobs across Shelby County.
This is the front door to Tennessee's long-term disability programs for adults, including Employment and Community First CHOICES, which funds job supports and community living. The intake team helps you apply, gathers documents, and determines eligibility so your adult child can access ongoing services.
A note on these listings. This directory is informational and not an
endorsement. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility change, so always confirm details
directly with the provider before relying on them. Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
Spot something out of date? Suggest or report a resource →