Autism Resources in Arkansas

A statewide guide to autism services across Arkansas — for families in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and communities across the state.

Arkansas has real anchors — the James L. Dennis Developmental Center in Little Rock and the Schmieding Developmental Center in Northwest Arkansas (both Arkansas Children's / UAMS resources), a 2011 insurance mandate that covers ABA, and Medicaid ABA coverage. Arkansas also faces genuine challenges — provider shortages that hit rural areas hardest, a long Community and Employment Supports (CES) waiver waiting list, a very limited Autism Waiver, and, as of 2025-2026, state budget pressure on Medicaid ABA costs.

This page walks through how the pieces fit together and where the gaps are.

We've written this as a starting point. Arkansas readers who know specifics better than we do — tell us what we got wrong or missed.