Metro Atlanta is where the CDC began tracking autism in 1996, and the region still has much of what families need: nationally known evaluation centers, a statewide early intervention program and a Medicaid benefit for ABA therapy. The hard part is knowing what to do first. Nationally, the CDC now estimates that about one in 31 eight-year-olds has been identified with autism, so the system is busy and the order of steps matters.
This guide follows the path most families take, from evaluation to early support to paying for therapy and finding community. It ends with how Little Champs ABA in Georgia fits in, with and school-based and in-home ABA across the metro.
Start here: the path most families follow
Families usually move through the same five steps, though the timing varies from child to child. Knowing the order can save weeks of phone calls, because a diagnosis, an insurance card and a few key documents unlock most of the services described below.
Before a diagnosis
- Raise your concerns. Talk with your child’s pediatrician and ask for a developmental screening.
- Get an evaluation. A diagnosis opens most doors, including ABA coverage.
After a diagnosis
- Connect to early intervention or school services. Which one applies depends on whether your child is under three.
- Line up therapy and insurance. Georgia Medicaid and many private plans cover ABA.
- Build your support network. Other parents and parent-led organizations save time and stress.
Get an evaluation in metro Atlanta
A formal evaluation is the step that unlocks therapy, insurance coverage and most school and state services. Two of the region’s best-known options are tied to Emory University School of Medicine, and your pediatrician can refer you to others.
Marcus Autism Center
Marcus Autism Center is part of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and partners with Emory. For children two and younger, it offers a one-day evaluation with a multidisciplinary team that lasts about three hours. Children three and older have two appointments, a one-hour diagnostic interview with parents followed by a testing appointment that usually happens several weeks later. Families receive a full written report either way.
Emory Autism Center
Emory Autism Center is part of Emory’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and serves people from 15 months through adulthood. Its services include diagnostic assessments, behavior support and ABA, school-based consultation through its Monarch Program, counseling, medication services and a college support program called Emory Oaks.
Tips for a smoother evaluation
Both centers are busy, so ask about current wait times when you call. Many families join more than one list. Our post on autism diagnosis criteria explains what an evaluation involves and what the report should contain.
Early intervention for children under three
For children from birth to age three, Georgia runs a free statewide program that can start before a formal diagnosis. It is the quickest way to get support moving while you wait for an evaluation or an ABA start date.
What Babies Can’t Wait provides
Georgia’s early intervention program is called Babies Can’t Wait, and it is run by the Georgia Department of Public Health. It serves children from birth to their third birthday regardless of income. The evaluation to determine eligibility is free, and eligible children receive an Individualized Family Service Plan, which is completed within 45 days of referral.
How to make a referral
Anyone can make a referral, including a parent, pediatrician or child care provider. Complete the Child Health Referral Form and submit it to the local Child Health Referral Contact in your county. You do not need a formal diagnosis to refer. Our guide to Babies Can’t Wait and autism in Georgia explains eligibility, the referral steps and what changes when your child turns three.
School support
Once children reach school age, educational supports run through the local school district rather than the early intervention program. Understanding how special education works, and where to find a guide, helps parents advocate with confidence.
Special education at school age
Families work through their district’s special education team. Ask early about evaluations, IEPs and 504 plans, and keep copies of every report you receive.
Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership
Georgia also has the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, an initiative of the Georgia Department of Education. Many districts employ a parent mentor who has a child with a disability and can help you understand IEPs, 504 plans and transitions, and who may attend meetings with you. Ask your child’s school whether your district has one.
Paying for ABA in Georgia
Cost is often the biggest question after a diagnosis. Georgia has a Medicaid benefit for ABA, and many private plans cover it too, though the rules differ by plan type.
Georgia Medicaid
The Georgia Department of Community Health has covered autism services for Medicaid members under 21 since January 1, 2018. According to the state’s autism services page, members need a documented DSM-5 diagnosis of autism from a licensed physician, psychologist or other qualified licensed professional. Coverage is for assessment and treatment through Adaptive Behavior Services, based on medical necessity.
According to Georgia’s own training materials, these services do not require a NOW/COMP waiver. Our Georgia Medicaid page explains how we work with Medicaid, and we list Peach State and Amerigroup among the Georgia plans we accept.
Private insurance
Georgia’s autism insurance law requires many state-regulated plans to cover medically necessary ABA. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules and can differ, so confirm your plan type. Our documents checklist lists what to gather before an intake call.
Support for parents and caregivers
Raising a child with autism is easier with people who have been through it. Metro Atlanta has free statewide supports and local groups where parents trade advice, providers and encouragement.
Parent to Parent of Georgia
Parent to Parent of Georgia is the state’s Parent Training and Information Center. It provides free statewide support for families of children and young adults with disabilities from birth to 26, including parent matching, training and help navigating Medicaid and health care.
Local groups and center-based support
- Spectrum Autism Support Group serves families in Gwinnett County and the surrounding metro with monthly parent support groups, camps and events.
- Marcus Autism Center’s support services include workshops, camps for children and an educational resource center for patient families.
When things get hard: crisis help
Some families face moments when behavior becomes unsafe or overwhelming. Georgia has a round-the-clock system for these situations, and it helps to know the numbers before you need them.
Georgia Crisis and Access Line and 988
If a child with autism is in crisis, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities says families can call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 or dial 988. Mobile crisis response for intellectual and developmental disability or autism-related crises is reached through either number.
In an immediate emergency
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Sensory-friendly outings in Atlanta
Family outings can be easier when a venue plans for sensory needs. Several of Atlanta’s biggest attractions offer quiet spaces, sensory tools and trained staff.
Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive venue. It offers low-sensory hours each day until 10 a.m., quiet areas, a private sensory room and sensory bags with headphones and fidget toys.
Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank Museum
Zoo Atlanta offers sensory bags, quiet areas and headphone zones. Fernbank Museum runs sensory mornings on select days. Programs and hours change, so check each venue’s website before you go.
ABA therapy across metro Atlanta with Little Champs ABA
Once you have a diagnosis and coverage, the next step is choosing a provider. Little Champs ABA brings therapy to families where they already are, at home, at school and online, across the Atlanta area and beyond.
What we offer in Georgia
Little Champs ABA provides in-home and school-based ABA, parent training and telehealth support in Georgia, with an office at 260 Peachtree St NW in downtown Atlanta. Our team verifies your Georgia insurance benefits and handles authorization paperwork, and your first step is a free consultation.
Where we serve families
- Intown Atlanta and nearby. Atlanta, Brookhaven and Dunwoody, plus Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners.
- North Fulton. Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton.
- Cobb, south and east metro. Marietta, South Fulton and Stonecrest.
- Farther out. Newnan to the southwest and Gainesville to the northeast.
- Across Georgia. Athens-Clarke County, Augusta-Richmond County, Macon-Bibb County, Warner Robins, Columbus and Savannah.
What getting started looks like
Picture a family in Alpharetta whose three-year-old is evaluated at an Emory-affiliated center in the spring. They get the written report, a Medicaid card and an ABA order, then call us. We verify benefits, a BCBA completes the assessment at home, and therapy begins once authorization is in place. This scenario is an illustration, not a client story.
For most families, the time from first call to first session runs about four to eight weeks. Our guide to how long it takes to start ABA in Georgia explains each stage, and our post on the first ABA session helps you prepare for day one. Book a free consultation and we will tell you what to expect for your area.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get an autism evaluation in metro Atlanta?
Marcus Autism Center and Emory Autism Center are two established options, and your pediatrician can refer you to others. Ask about current wait times, and consider joining more than one list.
Does Georgia Medicaid cover ABA therapy?
Yes. Georgia Medicaid has covered autism services for members under 21 since 2018, with a documented DSM-5 autism diagnosis and medical necessity. Services do not require a NOW/COMP waiver.
What is Babies Can’t Wait, and who can refer a child?
It is Georgia’s early intervention program for children from birth to age three. Anyone can refer, including parents and pediatricians, and the eligibility evaluation is free.
Are there free supports for parents?
Yes. Parent to Parent of Georgia offers free statewide support, including parent matching and training. Many school districts also have a parent mentor through the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership.
What do I do in a crisis?
Call 988 or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225, and call 911 in an emergency.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/index.html
- Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Office of Children, Young Adults, and Family Services. https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/cyf-services
- Georgia Department of Community Health. (n.d.). Autism spectrum disorder. https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/autism-spectrum-disorder
- Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Babies Can’t Wait. https://dph.georgia.gov/babies-cant-wait
- Emory University School of Medicine. (n.d.). Emory Autism Center. https://autism.emory.edu/
- Georgia Aquarium. (n.d.). Ocean of inclusion: Accessibility at Georgia Aquarium. https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/resource-center/stories/ocean-of-inclusion-accessibility-at-georgia-aquarium/
- Marcus Autism Center. (n.d.). Assessment and diagnosis. https://www.marcus.org/care-and-services/assessment-and-diagnosis
- National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education. (n.d.). Parent Mentor Partnership: Georgia. https://cadreworks.org/cadre-continuum/stage-i-prevention/family-engagement/parent-mentor-partnership-georgia
- Parent to Parent of Georgia. (n.d.). Parent to Parent of Georgia. https://www.p2pga.org/