This page gathers autism and disability resources for families in Kanawha County, West Virginia. You'll find 12 local resources listed here, alongside West Virginia statewide programs and nationwide services, all verified and in one place. For children under three, West Virginia's starting point is WV Birth to Three; 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.
Marshall Health's child and adolescent psychiatry team offers comprehensive autism assessment along with ongoing treatment like therapy and medication management. Their Multidisciplinary Autism Assessment Clinic partners with the WV Autism Training Center for evaluations.
Established by the West Virginia Legislature in 1984, this center provides statewide support to individuals with autism and their families across the lifespan. They offer person-centered services, family consultation, and a multidisciplinary autism assessment clinic.
West Virginia's free early intervention program for children from birth to age three who have developmental delays or disabilities. They arrange evaluations and in-home services, and any parent or provider can make a referral to get started.
A statewide hub at WVU that connects West Virginia families to disability services, including a searchable directory of autism evaluations and therapy providers by county. Staff can help you find the right resources and answer questions about services in your area.
A team of specialists at WVU Children's Hospital that provides multidisciplinary evaluations for children with concerns about autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences. Evaluations serve children from birth to age 12, and a referral from your child's doctor is needed to begin.
A university medical program near Charleston offering thorough developmental evaluations and autism diagnosis by fellowship-trained, board-certified specialists. They assess your child's communication, social-emotional, cognitive, and motor development and help map out next steps for therapy and support.
West Virginia's free early intervention program for children birth to age three with developmental delays or concerns. River Valley Child Development Services is the local entry point for Kanawha County, and any parent can call directly to request an evaluation, with services provided at no cost right in your home.
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.
DRWV is the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for West Virginians with disabilities, offering free and confidential help when your child's rights at school or in the community are being denied. They provide information, referrals, self-advocacy training, and legal representation.
The FAST program (Family Advocacy, Support, and Training) offers free advocacy across all 55 West Virginia counties for families whose children face school struggles tied to mental health or a disability. Advocates and an attorney help you build IEPs, resolve access problems, and keep your child in school.
For more than 34 years, WVPTI has helped West Virginia parents of children with disabilities (birth to age 26) understand their special education rights, prepare for IEP meetings, and work as equal partners with their child's school. Staffed by parents who have been there, they offer free one-on-one help, meeting support, and workshops.
The state Office of Special Education oversees IEPs and special education services for West Virginia students and provides parents with plain-language guides, procedural-safeguards information, and IDEA forms. It's the official source for how special education is supposed to work in your child's school.
This state council builds parents' advocacy skills and publishes the free "Parent's Advocacy Guide to Special Education" (in English and Spanish) to help families navigate IEPs and their rights. It also runs the Partners in Policymaking leadership training for parents and self-advocates.
This is Kanawha County Schools' own family center, right in South Charleston, where staff walk parents through SATs, 504 plans, and IEPs and connect you to community resources. They also help with transitions from Birth to Three all the way through high school and beyond.
A statewide nonprofit offering free legal help to families on special education issues, including IEP disputes, evaluations, eligibility, and due process hearings. Their Special Education (FAST) program and helpline can guide you when you feel stuck with a school.
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.
Part of West Virginia's Birth to Three program, this page explains Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and evidence-based autism services for infants and toddlers, with guidance for families navigating early autism support. It's a trustworthy state-agency starting point if your very young child was recently identified.
A Charleston nonprofit providing speech, occupational, and physical therapy plus an autism socialization program for children from birth through 18. Fees are set on a sliding scale, so families with limited or no insurance can still get care.
A pediatric outpatient clinic in Charleston offering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for young children with autism, along with CSED waiver support and school-based services. A local option right in Kanawha County.
This state-funded center, established by the West Virginia Legislature, offers free support to any registered West Virginia family living with autism, including those in Kanawha County. Services include coaching, social skills groups, a lending library, and individualized behavior support plans.
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.
Legal Aid of West Virginia offers free civil legal help to lower-income families, including appealing denied Social Security disability benefits, protecting access to Medicaid and other benefits, and resolving housing, education, and healthcare disputes. They have offices across the state.
West Virginia's Medicaid I/DD Waiver funds home- and community-based services like respite, therapies, job support, and behavior support for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, so your child can be cared for at home instead of in a facility. There is often a waitlist, so it helps to apply early.
WVABLE lets West Virginians with a disability that began before age 46 save and invest money in a tax-advantaged account without losing SSI, Medicaid, or other needs-based benefits. It's an easy way to set aside funds for your child's future disability-related expenses.
West Virginia Medicaid covers health care for eligible children and families, and it is the doorway to autism-related therapies and the I/DD Waiver. You can apply online through WV PATH, by phone, or at your local county office.
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 long-established Huntington nonprofit provides respite care to give caregivers a break, plus community and recreation programs, ABA, and case management for families in Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties. Founded in 1979, they've supported local families for decades.
The statewide Autism Society network runs local parent support groups and Circle of Parents meetings across West Virginia, plus regional chapters where you can connect with other families who get it. It's a warm place to find people, events, and answers close to home.
CARES is a West Virginia nonprofit that hosts community events and offers education, advocacy, and outreach to empower kids on the autism spectrum and their families. It's a friendly way to plug into local gatherings and support.
The Mountaineer Autism Project is a statewide West Virginia nonprofit dedicated to empowering parents with accurate information and building a stronger community for families touched by autism. It is a good starting point when you want trustworthy guidance from people focused on West Virginia families.
Prestera is Kanawha County's community behavioral health center, offering intellectual and developmental disability services along with family support that can help fund respite care in Charleston and the surrounding counties. Ask about their I/DD and family support programs to see what your family qualifies for.
Special Olympics West Virginia offers year-round sports, recreation, and unified programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, across the Charleston and Kanawha Valley area. Young Athletes activities welcome kids as young as two.
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.
When your child turns 18 you may need to make decisions about guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney, and this free plain-language guide from Legal Aid WV walks you through what each one means and how the court process works. Their statewide helpline can point you toward further legal help.
West Virginia's state vocational rehabilitation agency helps teens and adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job through career counseling, job coaching, training, and workplace accommodations. They serve youth starting at age 14, so you can begin planning the move toward employment well before your child ages out of school.
West Virginia's university disability center offers guidance for families navigating the big transitions into adulthood, covering employment, independent living, and moving from pediatric to adult health care. Their statewide staff can help you plan the road ahead as your child ages out of school.
This state agency helps teens and adults with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep a job through career counseling, job coaching, supported employment, and training. The Charleston district office directly serves Kanawha County families.
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.
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