Local Autism Resources in Fayetteville, NC
Clinics, programs, parks and people in Cumberland County and on Fort Bragg that help families of autistic kids, each one checked against the organization's own website. No sponsored listings.
Getting a diagnosis
Where to get an evaluation, and who to call first for a child under 3.
Ages 0-3
CDSA of the Cape Fear, Fayetteville Area
Free evaluation
Early intervention
The early intervention office for Cumberland County babies and toddlers under 3. A parent can make the referral, and the evaluation costs nothing.
BCBA note
Ages 3-5
Cumberland County Schools Early-In Special Education Preschool
School district
Screenings
Preschool
The school district's preschool special education team for children ages 3 to 5. Call to ask for a developmental screening.
BCBA note
Ages 0-3
Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS), Fort Bragg
Military
Early intervention
The Army's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 who live on Fort Bragg or in the Linden Oaks area.
BCBA note
All ages
UNC TEACCH Autism Program, Raleigh Center
Insurance
Referral needed
UNC's autism program serves Cumberland County families from its Raleigh Center, with evaluations and therapy. A professional who knows your child sends the referral form first.
BCBA note
Womack Army Medical Center Developmental Pediatrics
Military
TRICARE
Referral needed
Developmental pediatricians at Womack who evaluate children in military families for autism and other developmental conditions, after a referral from the primary care manager.
BCBA note
Alpaca Health
This is us.
ABA therapy at home across Fayetteville and by telehealth anywhere in North Carolina, with independent BCBAs. North Carolina Medicaid and private insurance are verified before therapy starts.
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Paying for care
Medicaid, the Innovations Waiver, SSI, grants and local charities.
All ages
Alliance Health
Medicaid
Tailored Plan
Innovations waitlist
The public health plan for Tailored Plan members in Cumberland County. Call to join the NC Innovations Waiver waitlist.
BCBA note
All ages
Cumberland County Department of Social Services, Medicaid
Medicaid
County program
Apply online
The county office where Cumberland families apply for Family and Children's Medicaid online, in person or by mail.
BCBA note
All ages
NC ABLE
Savings account
Statewide
Savings accounts for people whose disability began before age 46, so families can save for disability costs and keep SSI and Medicaid.
BCBA note
All ages
NC Lifespan Respite Program
Respite
Referral needed
Statewide
Pays family caregivers back for part of the cost of respite care each year. A local agency fills out the application for you.
BCBA note
All ages
NC Medicaid 1915(i) Services
Free
Medicaid
While you wait
Free home and community services for NC Medicaid members with I/DD, including people still waiting for the Innovations waiver.
BCBA note
All ages
NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Medicaid help
Statewide
A help line for NC Medicaid members and families with questions, or with a problem they can't solve with their provider or health plan.
BCBA note
TRICARE Autism Care Demonstration
Military
TRICARE
TRICARE's program that pays for ABA for children with autism in military families. Active duty families enroll in EFMP and ECHO first.
BCBA note
Parent groups and advocates
People who have done this before and will pick up the phone.
Birth to 26
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC)
Free
Spanish
Statewide
North Carolina's parent training and information center. It gives free help to families of children with special needs, including before IEP meetings.
BCBA note
Family Support Network of Southeastern NC
Free
Parent to parent
Support groups
The Family Support Network office for Cumberland County, with free parent-to-parent support, support groups and workshops for families of children with special needs.
BCBA note
Fort Bragg Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Family Support
Military
School meetings
Support groups
The Army office that helps Fort Bragg families of children with special needs find services on and off post and get ready for school meetings.
BCBA note
Disability Rights North Carolina
Legal rights
Free
Statewide
North Carolina's protection and advocacy agency, based in Raleigh. Free legal help for people with disabilities, including school and housing problems.
BCBA note
Military OneSource Special Needs Consultations
Military
Free help
Phone or video
Free, confidential phone or video sessions with a special needs consultant who knows military programs, TRICARE, early intervention and special education.
BCBA note
School help
The district offices, scholarships and programs that shape your child's school day.
Cumberland County Schools Exceptional Children's Services
School district
IEP services
Cumberland County Schools' special education department, which supports students with disabilities from preschool through age 21 with an IEP.
BCBA note
ESA+ Scholarship (Education Student Accounts)
State scholarship
K-12
Opens in February
State scholarship for students with disabilities who need special education. It pays for private school tuition and approved costs like speech therapy and tutoring.
BCBA note
Fort Bragg School Liaison Officers
Military
Free help
IEP transfers
Army school liaisons who help military families move IEPs and 504 plans between schools and explain a child's needs to school staff.
BCBA note
Opportunity Scholarship
Income-based
Private school
Opens in February
State scholarship, sized by household income, that helps pay tuition and required fees at registered private schools.
BCBA note
Places to play and explore
Parks, libraries, museums and sports with quieter hours or adapted programs.
Fascinate-U Children's Museum, Sensory Friendly Mornings
Sensory mornings
Sensory bags
Fayetteville's children's museum opens early one Sunday each quarter for a calmer, less crowded visit, and lends sensory bags at the front desk.
BCBA note
Age 5 through grade 12
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Buddy Sports
Adaptive sports
Buddy system
Non-competitive football, basketball and baseball leagues for boys and girls with disabilities, where every player has a volunteer buddy.
BCBA note
Segra Stadium Sensory Bags (Fayetteville Woodpeckers)
Sensory bags
Sensory certified
The minor league ballpark lends sensory bags with headphones, fidget tools and cue cards, plus a weighted lap pad, at guest services.
BCBA note
Special Olympics North Carolina, Cumberland County
Free
Sports
Unified sports
Free sports training and local games for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Cumberland County, with Unified teams for siblings and friends.
BCBA note
Dentists, haircuts and everyday care
Appointments that go better when the office already knows autism.
Fort Bragg EFMP Respite Care
Military
Respite
No cost
Short breaks for Army families caring for a family member with special needs, with up to 25 hours a month of care at home at no cost.
BCBA note
Infants to teens
Cape Fear Valley Health Pediatric Rehabilitation
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Feeding therapy
Cape Fear Valley's outpatient therapy for infants, children and teens with developmental and physical disabilities, with speech, occupational, physical and feeding therapy.
BCBA note
Community Mental Health Center at Cape Fear Valley
Mental health
Child psychiatry
Cape Fear Valley's outpatient mental health center, with child and adolescent psychiatrists, therapy, parent-child interaction therapy and psychological testing.
BCBA note
Fort Bragg Child and Youth Services Inclusion (MIAT and SNAP)
Military
Child care
Inclusion
The Fort Bragg team that plans how a child with special needs is placed safely in Army child care, school age and youth programs.
BCBA note
Help in a crisis
Numbers to keep in your phone for the hard days.
All ages
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free
24/7
Spanish
Call, text or chat 988 any time, day or night, for free and confidential help from a trained counselor.
BCBA note
All ages
Alliance Health Behavioral Health Crisis Line
24/7
Mobile crisis
Youth team
Alliance Health's 24/7 crisis line for Cumberland County. A clinician decides whether to send a mobile crisis team, including one for children and youth.
BCBA note
Cape Fear Valley Health Emergency Psychiatric Care
24/7
Emergency
Child psychiatry
The emergency department at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where Cape Fear Valley tells anyone thinking about self-harm to go, open 24 hours.
BCBA note
NAMI Cumberland, Harnett and Lee Counties
Free
Family support
Support groups
The local NAMI affiliate, with free family support groups, peer groups and education for families living with a mental health condition.
BCBA note
Ages 6 and up
NC START East
I/DD crisis
Referral
Crisis prevention and response for people ages 6 and up with I/DD and complex behavioral or mental health needs, covering Cumberland County.
BCBA note
All ages
Veterans and Military Crisis Line
Military
24/7
Call, text or chat
Dial 988 then press 1 for crisis help for service members, veterans and the families who support them, any time of day.
BCBA note
Teens, adults and community life
Work, independence and places to belong after high school.
Ages 14 and up
Employment Source (ServiceSource North Carolina)
Job training
Paid internships
Ticket to Work
A Fayetteville nonprofit that gives students with an IEP or 504 plan paid job exploration and helps adults with disabilities find and keep jobs.
BCBA note
NC Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities, Fayetteville Office
Vocational rehab
State program
North Carolina's vocational rehabilitation office in Fayetteville. It helps people with disabilities get ready for, find and keep jobs.
BCBA note
Fayetteville Technical Community College Disability Support Services
College
Accommodations
FTCC's office that sets up classroom and testing accommodations for students with documented disabilities, from the intake packet to notices for instructors.
BCBA note
Adults
Friendship House Fayetteville
Housing
Adults with I/DD
Shared housing where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live with college students and young professionals while building job and life skills.
BCBA note
Where to start
Know a place that belongs here? Email the team and we will check it and add it. Suggest a resource →
Questions Fayetteville parents ask
How do I get my child evaluated for autism in Fayetteville?
For a child under 3, call the CDSA of the Cape Fear at 910-912-2200, where the evaluation is free, or EDIS at 910-907-3347 if you live on Fort Bragg or in Linden Oaks. For ages 3 to 5, Cumberland County Schools Early-In at 910-484-6761 holds developmental screenings every month. For a medical autism diagnosis, the UNC TEACCH Raleigh Center serves Cumberland County after a professional referral, and military families can ask their Primary Care Manager for a referral to Womack Developmental Pediatrics.
What autism help is there for military families at Fort Bragg?
The Fort Bragg Exceptional Family Member Program at 910-643-9642 connects families with services on and off post, can attend IEP and 504 meetings, and offers up to 25 hours a month of in-home respite at no cost for enrolled families. School Liaison Officers help move IEPs between schools. TRICARE's Autism Care Demonstration covers ABA for qualifying children, and active duty families enroll in EFMP and ECHO first.
How do Fayetteville families apply for NC Medicaid or the Innovations waiver?
Cumberland County families apply for Family and Children's Medicaid online, at the DSS building at 1225 Ramsey Street, or by mail, and can call 910-323-1540 for a paper application. To join the NC Innovations Waiver waitlist, call Alliance Health at 800-510-9132, since anyone can apply regardless of age, income or insurance. Alpaca Health verifies North Carolina Medicaid and private insurance before the first session.
Ready to start ABA therapy in Fayetteville?
Tell us about your child and we verify your insurance before the first session.
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