Autism Resources in Mississippi

A statewide guide to autism services across Mississippi — for families in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, and communities across the state.

We'll be honest up front: Mississippi is a low-resource, high-need state for autism services. It has real anchors — the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Center for the Advancement of Youth, Canopy Children's Solutions, a state insurance mandate, and Medicaid ABA coverage — but it also has among the country's most severe provider shortages, a very long developmental disability waiver waiting list, and large rural gaps. In 2025 the state created a new Division of Autism Services precisely because services had been fragmented.

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

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