Special Needs/Disability Services
Autism Site Knoxville (ASK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and community center dedicated to informing, supporting, and enriching the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
We are a community-based non-residential program of services. We are designed to assist people with disabilities to attain independent lives. In order to achieve independence, we strive to eliminate physical and attitudinal barriers in our community. Services provided are Information and Referral, Independent Living Skills, Individual System Advocacy and Peer Support
Our highly-trained Children’s Hospital staff of physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, nutritionists, psychologists and physiatrists work together to motivate each child, involve families and set attainable goals. In order to increase each child’s confidence and independence, the staff teaches families how to incorporate rehabilitation exercises into life at home. Inpatient physical and occupational therapy services are a part of a child’s physician-directed inpatient stay at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Our therapists provide assessment, treatment and discharge planning for all ages of children in intensive care, surgical and medical units.
One of the missions of the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation (ETKF) is to improve the lives of East Tennesseans suffering from kidney disease. Our primary goal is patient services, specifically helping patients get to and from dialysis, (which is necessary for their survival), providing up to $2,000 per patient dental work needed in order to be placed on the kidney transplant waiting list, and providing FREE nutritional supplements (protein bars, etc.) to patients in area dialysis clinics. We also work with Tennessee Donor Services / Donate Life Tennessee to promote the donation of all organs for transplantation. Kidneys are unique in that you only need one; this allows many healthy individuals to be living donors.
The Child Find Staff at Fort Sanders Educational Development Center evaluate children between the ages of 3 and 5 to determine eligibility and the need for special educational services. Educational needs are determined through parent interview and child evaluation. Areas evaluated may include, but are not limited to: vision, hearing, speech and language, fine and gross motor, cognitive/pre-academic, social/emotional and adaptive development.
Knoxville Center for Autism, Inc. (KCA) was opened in March, 2010 to provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The center has since grown and added services, including Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), and Psychological/ Educational testing and diagnostic services. We continue to add programs and offer new services as we identify the need in the Knoxville area. We are a group of dedicated professionals trained specifically in delivering services to children on the Autism Spectrum and related disorders. Our main goal is to help children reach their full potential.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing persons by providing a wide array of services that empower them to become fully integrated into the fabric of the Knoxville and East Tennessee communities. KCD believes in the worth of each person no matter his or her circumstance in life and treats each person with respect. No problem is ever discounted. Our purpose is to do whatever we can to make the world a better place.
Non-profit, volunteer-driven program dedicated to providing accessible and affordable transportation to Knox County seniors and persons with disabilities who require aid and assistance to travel safely. Volunteers are thoroughly screened and trained and use agency-owned hybrid vehicles.
a Tennessee based charity founded in 2001, is a 501©3 nonprofit organization. The mission is to serve individuals with disabilities in multiple functional domains with unique, needs-based programs that enrich their lives and provide the opportunity to achieve life-long learning. The Koinonia Foundation Tennessee betters lives and strengthens families.
The Pediatric Language Clinic (PLC) is a family-focused early intervention program for children birth to three years of age who are in need of intensive services due to significant social/communication/ behavior delays and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The developmental program is funded by the State of Tennessee’s Department of Education as an Early Intervention Resource Agency (EIRA) at no cost to the families. A child, however, must meet eligibility criteria for the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) and receive services through TEIS in order to qualify for the program.
PEER Academy of Knoxville is in the process of becoming a fully accredited 501c3 non-profit school, specializing in the needs of children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.
PEER Academy was founded in 2016 and will start with a Kindergarten class in the fall of 2017. We look to expand upward and be a fully functional school with grades K through twelve with plans for a vocational and life skills programs.
PEER Academy will provide a much needed alternative for our children in East Tennessee. Our mission and purpose is to allow each student to learn in an environment specifically tailored to their needs while helping each child to reach their full potential.
Sertoma Center is dedicated to providing programs and services that empower adults with intellectual disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.
Welcome to Shining Light Equestrian! We are helping change the lives of children and adults with (or without) special needs. Our Therapeutic Riding Instructors & Therapists work together with God’s creation, equines (horses), to achieve many benefits! We don’t rescue horses. Our horses help rescue humans.
Formerly East Tennessee Technology Access Center connects people with disabilities in East Tennessee to the adaptive technology tools and services they need to live with maximum independence and dignity.
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder provides free information, resources, support, and referrals to Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. Through three major program components, we provide information and resources to individuals of all ages, all types of disabilities, and language spoken.
Tennessee’s Early Intervention System is a voluntary educational program for families with children birth through age two with disabilities or developmental delays.The principles of Early Intervention are to support families in promoting their child’s optimal development, facilitate the child’s participation in family and community activities, encourage the active participation of families in the intervention by imbedding strategies into family routines. It is the parents who provide the real early intervention by creatively adapting their child care methods to facilitate the development of their child, while balancing the needs of the rest of the family.
The Arc Knox County is a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities in Knox County; safeguarding their rights and protecting their welfare; and helping each individual achieve the highest possible level of personal growth and independence.
The Autism Society of East Tennessee is a community-based organization that improves the lives of all persons impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The Cerebral Palsy Center is committed to helping individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities have the chance at a fulfilling life with as much independence as possible.
The Epilepsy Foundation will ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and will prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research. Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which the nerve cell activity in your brain is disturbed, causing a seizure during which you experience abnormal behavior, symptoms and sensations, including loss of consciousness. Although there has yet to be a cure for epilepsy, we can strive to ensure that Ònot another moment is lost to seizures.Ó People living with epilepsy can manage their seizures and improve how they are perceived, accepted and valued in society.
The mission of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) is to partner with the campus community in creating equitable access to eligible students while promoting disability-inclusive diversity.
The Hearing and Speech Center provides diagnostic and treatment services for children, adolescents, and adults who have problems with communication skills. The clinical services are provided by students-in-training under the supervision of highly qualified clinical supervisors who hold certification awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The mission of STAR is to foster personal achievement by providing therapeutic experiences using horse related activities for persons with disabilities or other special challenges.