You can start getting help for your autistic child in Charlotte this week. The first call depends on your child's age, and the office you reach can tell you where to go next. You don't need every answer on day one.
Some of the help has a long wait. Some of it opens only on set dates. Join those lists first, while you set up the evaluation and the school request.
Key Takeaways
- A baby or toddler starts with the county's early intervention office, and a child of preschool age or older starts with a written request to the school district.
- The state's Medicaid waiver for disability services has a long wait, so families are asked to apply now, and some grants and school funding open only on set dates.
- The free Charlotte checklist on this page keeps every number and date in one place, and if you're ready for ABA therapy too, you can start your intake.
Every Charlotte number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Who to call first, based on your child's age
The Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) runs early intervention for babies and toddlers in North Carolina. If your child is under 3, you can make the referral yourself by phone or with a form on the NC Infant-Toddler Program page. If your child is already 3, the same program sends you to your local school district instead.
Parents pay nothing for the evaluation or for a service coordinator, under federal early intervention rules. The service coordinator is the staff member who helps your family set up care once your child qualifies.
- The CDSA of Mecklenburg County serves Charlotte children under 3 at the Valerie C. Woodard Center, 3205 Freedom Drive, Suite 7500. Its number in the state CDSA directory is 704-336-7100.
- The Concord CDSA serves families in Cabarrus, Iredell, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties, and the same CDSA directory lists it at 704-998-5730.
- The Autism Society of North Carolina's Autism Resource Specialists are all parents of autistic children or adults, and they help families of any age in every county. You can fill out the form on the specialist page, which has a Spanish version, or call 800-442-2762.
When you call the CDSA, staff ask about your child's growth and health before they set up an evaluation. Have your child's birth date, your doctor's name and a short list of what worries you in front of you. Early intervention ends on your child's third birthday. The program's family page says planning for the next step starts at about 2 years and 3 months.
Once your child is old enough for preschool, two things can happen at the same time. The school decides whether your child qualifies for special education. A doctor or psychologist decides whether your child has autism. You can start both in the same week, so help can begin at school and at home sooner.
Where to get a medical autism diagnosis
If you're not sure yet, the free M-CHAT-R screener takes about two minutes and is made for toddlers 16 to 30 months old. Bring the result to your pediatrician and ask about a full evaluation.
- The UNC TEACCH Charlotte Center evaluates children, teens and adults at 8401 University Executive Park Drive, Suite 100, and the Charlotte center page lists 919-445-2365. TEACCH bills insurance, and a professional who knows your child, such as a doctor, teacher or case manager, fills out its referral form before you can book, according to its referral steps. You also send a history form, a copy of your insurance card and a photo ID.
- Atrium Health Levine Children's Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, at 2608 East 7th Street, evaluates children for autism, ADHD and other developmental concerns. It sees children whose primary care doctor is in North Carolina or South Carolina, and it needs a referral from your child's doctor plus online questionnaires. The clinic page lists 704-403-2626.
- Novant Health Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics evaluates and treats autism, ADHD and other developmental concerns from birth to 18. Ask your pediatrician about a referral, or check the Novant clinic page for how to book.
Alpaca Health also offers autism evaluations with the ADOS-2 (a standard autism test done with a clinician) and checks your coverage before you book. You can ask more than one clinic for a spot. The first appointment you get can lead to the diagnosis. When you call, ask how long the wait is and which forms to send ahead.
Before the visit, write down how your child talks and plays, and what happens when a plan changes. Bring those notes with any school or therapy reports. Keep the diagnosis report in one folder afterward, since health plans and grant programs ask for proof. If you'll pay for an evaluation yourself, the diagnosis cost guide shows what's typical.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Alpaca Health matches your family with an independent BCBA in North Carolina and handles the insurance paperwork and scheduling so you can focus on your child.
Get matched with a BCBA →
Parent support and advocacy groups
Other parents can tell you which form to fill out first and what to ask at each meeting. Some of these groups can also step in when a school or health plan says no.
- The Autism Society of North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Support Group posts meetups on the society's calendar and runs a Facebook group for local families. Email mecklenburgsupportgroup@autismsociety-nc.org, or choose Mecklenburg on the support group finder.
- Trusted Parents matches you with a mentor parent who has a child with special needs, and it offers referrals and workshops. Its Family Support Network program is free and confidential for families in Mecklenburg and nearby counties, and the number is (980) 229-7253.
- The Arc of NC helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families with care management, advocacy, housing and guardianship. Its Charlotte Region office is at 2300 Sardis Road North, Suite G, and the phone number is 704-568-0112.
- Let's Talk About It, The Autism Center works with autistic youth ages 3 to 25 and offers caregiver education, life skills and job training. Call 704-241-5828, email info@letstalkautism23.com or visit its website.
- Disability Rights North Carolina is the state's protection and advocacy agency, and its services are free for North Carolina residents with a disability. It takes on problems with school, housing and access to the community. Call 877-235-4210 or visit the Disability Rights NC website.
A mentor from Trusted Parents or the support group can tell you what worked for their child and what they wish they had known. At a first meetup it's fine to listen and take notes. If the meeting time doesn't work for you, ask whether the group meets online. Call Disability Rights North Carolina when you think a school or agency broke a disability law.
School help from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Your child can get a school evaluation even if a doctor already gave a diagnosis, because the school team makes its own decision about special education. Put your request in writing so you have a dated record, and copy the principal on the email.
- CMS Exceptional Children evaluates students ages 3 to 21 who may have a disability. Parents can ask for an evaluation at ec@cms.k12.nc.us or 980-343-6960, and for a preschool child the intake line on the district's Child Find page is 980-343-2720.
- The Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC) is North Carolina's parent training and information center, and it supports families of children with special needs from birth to age 26. Call its help line at 800-962-6817 or visit the ECAC website before an IEP meeting.
- North Carolina's ESA+ scholarship pays $9,000 a year for eligible students with disabilities, or $17,000 for certain designated disabilities. Families can spend ESA+ money on private school tuition and services such as speech therapy and tutoring, and you need an Eligibility Determination from a public school to apply. Applications for 2027-28 open on the first Monday in February, and the help line is 855-330-3955.
- Autism Charlotte, at 2331 Crown Point Executive Drive, Suite A, runs an after-school program for students with autism from kindergarten through 12th grade. It also runs Paths Academy for teens and young adults getting ready for high school, college or work, and sign-ups are on the Autism Charlotte website.
After you ask, a school team meets with you about your concerns. If the team thinks your child may have a disability, it asks for your written OK before testing, according to the district's evaluation steps. If your child qualifies, the team writes an Individualized Education Program (IEP). That plan lists your child's services and goals.
The IEP meeting checklist helps you bring the right questions to that first meeting. Keep every email and report in one folder. You'll want them at the next meeting.
If you and the school disagree, ECAC can explain your options before you meet again. One caution about ESA+ money. If you move your child to a private school with it, your child gives up the public school's special education services, according to the ESA+ program.
Every Charlotte number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Paying for therapy and care
NC Medicaid covers ABA for members under 21 who have an autism diagnosis and meet the rules in the state's ABA coverage policy. The health plan approves therapy before it starts.
Children on Medicaid also have EPSDT, the part of Medicaid that pays for a child's checkups and needed care. The same policy says EPSDT can cover care past the usual limits. Before you choose a provider, read how NC Medicaid covers ABA.
- Alliance Health runs health plans in Mecklenburg County for Tailored Plan members and state-funded recipients, and its member line is 800-510-9132. Call Alliance to join the Innovations Waiver waitlist or to ask about services for a child with a disability.
- The NC Innovations Waiver pays for home and community services for children and adults with I/DD, which can include autism, and it doesn't count your family's income. NC Medicaid says the wait is long and asks families to apply now, especially if services may be needed later.
- NC Medicaid 1915(i) services, such as help with daily activities and job coaching, are open to Medicaid members while they wait for an Innovations slot. The state says using them won't change your child's spot on the Innovations waitlist.
- The NC Medicaid Ombudsman answers questions about a notice or a bill at 877-201-3750 on weekdays. It also helps when you've talked with your provider or health plan and still can't solve a problem.
- NC ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities, overseen by the Department of State Treasurer. According to NC ABLE, balances up to $100,000 don't count against Supplemental Security Income, and state law blocks Medicaid from taking money back from the account unless federal law requires it. Call (888) 627-7503 with questions.
Once you've applied for the Innovations Waiver, ask Alliance to confirm your child is on the waitlist, and write down the date. Check in once a year to make sure your phone number and address are still current.
The Autism Strong Foundation in Charlotte runs four grant programs for families in Mecklenburg and nearby counties, and each one opens on its own schedule. Landon's Hope pays for therapy, and its next round opens November 16, 2026, with awards in December. Angels 4 Autism gives therapy tablets to children during the holidays and opens October 1, 2026.
CampStrong pays the camp directly. The N.E.E.D. grant helps with costs such as a first round of therapy, a diagnosis, education advocacy or past-due therapy bills. Each child can receive one grant per calendar year under the foundation's grant rules. The foundation's number is 704-981-2740.
If your child has private insurance, call the member number on the card. Ask what the plan pays for autism evaluations and ABA therapy, and whether it has to approve therapy first. Write down the date and the name of the person you spoke with. If you'll pay part of the bill yourself, check typical ABA therapy costs before you agree to a weekly schedule.
What if the plan says no? Ask for the reason in writing and keep the letter. Medicaid families can bring that letter to the Ombudsman.
Paying for ABA therapy
Alpaca Health accepts NC Medicaid and many private plans, and verifies your benefits before therapy starts so you know what your plan covers.
Check your coverage →
Respite, weekends and sensory-friendly outings
A few Charlotte programs pay for a caregiver's break or offer one at no charge. The library and the science museum also set aside quiet hours when your child can visit with less noise and fewer people.
- The NC Lifespan Respite Program pays family caregivers back for up to $750 of respite care in a calendar year. A local agency sends the application for you, and the program page says funding is limited and applications open only when money is available.
- Parents Time Out is a free evening of care that Autism Charlotte runs several times a year for children with autism and their siblings. You register ahead on the Parents Time Out page.
- Mecklenburg County Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services runs adaptive and inclusive recreation programs and asks for a yearly assessment before your child joins. Call 980-314-1192, email TRInfo@MeckNC.gov, or read about the programs on the county recreation page.
- ImaginOn, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch at 300 East Seventh Street, holds a sensory-friendly hour on Mondays from 9 to 10 am, with noise-canceling headphones and fidgets to borrow. Its autism storytime for children up to 11 meets on the first Monday and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm, and the phone number is (704) 416-4600.
- Discovery Place Science opens early once a month for sensory-friendly hours with lower lights and quiet spaces, and entry is included with admission. The next date is October 11, 2026, and the museum's number is 704-286-8302.
If money is tight, start with Parents Time Out. For a first visit anywhere new, pick a short trip at a slow time of day, bring whatever helps your child settle, and plan a way to leave early if you need to.
Crisis help in Mecklenburg County
Save these numbers in your phone while things are calm. Alliance Health lists its crisis line, NC START West and the Smith Family center on its crisis services page.
| Who to Call | When to Call | How to Reach Them |
|---|---|---|
| 988 Lifeline | Any mental health crisis, day or night | Call or text 988 |
| Alliance crisis line | A behavioral health crisis in Mecklenburg; a clinician decides whether to send a mobile crisis team, and there is a team for children and youth | 877-223-4617, 24 hours a day |
| NC START West | Crisis prevention and response for people 6 and up with I/DD and complex behavior or mental health needs | 888-974-2937 |
| Smith Family Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center | Walk-in behavioral health care with no appointment, at 616 Colonnade Drive | Open 24 hours a day |
| 911 | A life-threatening emergency | Call 911 |
If you call 911, tell the dispatcher that your child is autistic and what helps calm them. NC START works on prevention as well as response, so you can call before a crisis. It also helps to keep a short note with your child's diagnosis, medicines, doctor's name and what calms them in your phone or by the door.
Support for autistic teens and adults
Big changes happen at 18. At that age the right to make school decisions passes to the student, unless a guardian has been named, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. It helps to start planning in the early teen years. If your family needs to plan for guardianship, The Arc of NC's Charlotte office can help.
- NC Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities offers job-seeker and vocational rehabilitation services. Its Charlotte office is at 5501 Executive Center Drive, Suite 101, the number is (980) 296-6720, and other offices are on the local office list.
- ZABS Place is a nonprofit thrift boutique in Matthews with a job training program for young adults of all abilities. Call 704-708-5600 or visit ZABS Place.
- Cakeable is a nonprofit cafe on North Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte that trains adults with intellectual differences for work. You can apply or send a message through Cakeable's website.
- Autism Services of Mecklenburg County has run residential services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities since 1979, with eight group homes in the Charlotte area. The homes are funded in part through Medicaid, including the Innovations Waiver, according to its residential services page.
Autism Strong also lists a one-time college scholarship for autistic students heading to college or job training, and students have to live in its service area. Ask your child's school team to add work and college goals to the IEP well before graduation.
Faith and community groups
If your family belongs to a place of worship, ask whether it has a special needs ministry or a buddy program for classes. A team or a weekly class also gives your child a steady routine outside the house, and it gives you time with other families.
- Spanish-speaking parents meet through the Autism Society of North Carolina on the first Tuesday of each month, from 9 to 11 am at Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Charlotte, according to the society's Spanish resources page.
- The YMCA of Greater Charlotte offers Miracle League baseball, swim lessons, dance, cheerleading and waterskiing for people with disabilities, and the Keith Family YMCA runs adaptive basketball with the Charlotte Hornets. Contact the Keith Family YMCA at 704-716-6700 or KeithYMCA@ymcacharlotte.org, or see the adaptive programs page.
- Special Olympics Mecklenburg County offers year-round training and competition in 19 sports, including Unified sports, and athletes never pay a fee. Email mecklenburg@sonc.net, call 704-317-3648, or visit the county program page.
If a first try doesn't go well, ask the coach or leader what they would change, and give it a second visit before you decide.
How Alpaca Health helps Charlotte families
Alpaca Health matches Charlotte families with independent BCBAs. A BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) is the clinician who plans and leads your child's ABA therapy. Therapy can happen at home in Charlotte and nearby towns, or by video anywhere in North Carolina.
Alpaca Health checks your NC Medicaid or private insurance before therapy starts. It accepts Alliance Health plans. Your BCBA builds the plan around the skills your family cares about, such as talking or getting through a trip to the store. You can see local BCBAs and the parts of town they serve on the Charlotte ABA page. When you're ready to begin ABA while the school and waiver steps move forward, you can start your intake.
Every Charlotte number you need in your first 90 days, in one place.
We also sent the link to your email.
Frequently asked questions about autism resources in Charlotte
Where should I start if my child has autism in Charlotte?
Start with one call based on your child's age. Babies and toddlers go to the CDSA of Mecklenburg County, and older children go to CMS Exceptional Children for a school evaluation. At any age, a parent specialist at the Autism Society of North Carolina can help you plan, and it helps to join the Innovations Waiver waitlist early.
Is UNC TEACCH free for North Carolina families?
No, UNC TEACCH bills insurance. A professional such as a doctor or teacher sends its referral form before you can book, according to its referral steps. For babies and toddlers, the CDSA evaluation is free under federal early intervention rules.
Can my child start ABA therapy while we wait for other services?
Yes, NC Medicaid covers ABA for members under 21 with an autism diagnosis who meet its coverage rules, and your child doesn't need a waiver slot to begin. Alpaca Health checks your NC Medicaid or private insurance before therapy starts, and you can begin your intake today.
Are there free autism support groups in Charlotte?
Yes, Trusted Parents runs a free, private mentor program through its Family Support Network, and the Autism Society's Mecklenburg group posts meetups and runs a Facebook group. Spanish-speaking parents can also join the society's monthly group at a Charlotte church.
Support for the hard days.
When you are ready for expert support, Alpaca Health matches your family with a BCBA who can help with the hardest moments, at home, in a clinic, or by telehealth.
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