Primary Resources

Autism Division
3440 Harden Street Ext.

P.O. Box 4706
Columbia, SC 29240

(803) 898-9609
(888) 376-4636 (toll free)

A part of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN), the Autism Division provides consultation, training and evaluation services for families of individuals with autism and the professionals who work with them. The Autism Division has an office in the DDSN agency building in Columbia.

The Autism Division also has four regional offices located in different parts of the state to provide services locally. The addresses of those offices and the respective counties they serve are on the following page.

Coastal Autism Division

Fairfield Office Park
1064 Gardner Road, Suite 302
Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 852-4120
(843) 852-4175 (fax)

Pee Dee Autism Division

P.O. Box 3209
Florence, SC 29502

(843) 664-2720
(843) 664-2735

Midlands Autism Division

8301 Farrow Road
Columbia, SC 29203-3294

(803) 935-5090
(803) 594-6172 (fax)

Piedmont Autism Division

269 S. Church Street, Ste 309
Spartanburg, SC 29306

(864) 594-4907
(864) 594-4923

Midlands CARE Center

USC School of Medicine
Center for Disability Resources
Columbia, SC 29208

(803) 935-5390
(803) 935-5410 (fax)

Coastal CARE Center

Fairfield Office Park
1064 Gardner Road, Ste 301
Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 852-4172
(843) 852-4175

Piedmont CARE Center

Greenville Hospital System
Center for Developmental Services
29 North Academy Street
Greenville, SC 29601

(864) 331-1392

806 12th Street
West Columbia, SC 29169

(803) 750 6988
(800) 438-4790 (toll free)
(803) 750 8121 (fax)

scas@scautism.org

The South Carolina Autism Society (SCAS) is a chapter of the Autism Society of America. SCAS is a statewide organization whose mission is to enable all individuals with autism in South Carolina to reach their maximum potential. SCAS works to achieve this by providing information and referrals, regional support groups, educational opportunities and individual and system wide advocacy as well as service coordination to select counties. SCAS publishes a quarterly newsletter, the UPDATE.

SCAS offers various educational/informational opportunities, including an annual conference and workshops. The society is the only statewide advocacy organization on issues involving autism in South Carolina.

SCAS programs include Autism and Informed Response training for emergency responders; the Parent-School Partnership to support families and schools in determining the most appropriate school placement for students with autism; and the organization's annual conference for families and professionals as well as service coordination to limited counties.

Other Resources

7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814

(800) 3-AUTISM
(301) 657-0869 (fax)

Provides information and referrals to individuals, professionals, and people with autism and their families. Advocates for people with autism on the national level.

1429 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 734-8806
(800) 763-KIDS

The State Department of Education, through school districts in each county, is responsible for ensuring that all children, ages three through 21 years, have available to them a free, appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet the unique needs of the child. The Office of Programs for Exceptional Children ensures that children with disabilities have public education, that the rights of the children and their parents are protected, and that school districts receive assistance in providing for the education of all children.

652 Bush River Road Suite 218
Columbia, SC 29210

(803) 772-5688
(800) 759-4776 (toll free)
(803) 772-5341 (fax)

A nonprofit organization for and founded by parents of children with special needs. Provides information, trains parents, holds workshops and provides referrals to support groups and networks.

1823 Gadsden Street
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 748-5020
(803) 779-0017 (fax)

e-mail: TheArcSC@aol.com

Advocacy organization that provides information, training and support to people with cognitive, intellectual and development disabilities and their families.

3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 208
Columbia, SC 29204

A private, nonprofit organization that provides a variety of protection and advocacy services for people with disabilities. Offers printed materials about advocacy for and legal rights of people with disabilities. Regional offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville.

Disability Action Center Inc.

1115 Belleview Street
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 779-5121 (Columbia)
(803) 779-5114 (fax)

Provides counseling, independent-living skills training, peer support groups, referral services, community education, and individual and systems advocacy to people with disabilities. Offices in Columbia and Greenville.

Family Connection of South Carolina Inc.

2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 103B
Columbia, SC 29204

(803) 252-0914 (Columbia)
(864) 455-6213 (Greenville)
(800) 578-8750 (toll free)
(803) 799-8017 (fax)

Family Connection is a nonprofit, statewide support network for families of children with developmental delay, disability or chronic illness. It fosters family to family support and communication between families and professionals through statewide conferences and support groups. Family Connection provides the following: one-to-one matches to parents by disability or chronic illness for emotional and informational support; specialized training to parents as support parents, family partners to families with children who qualify for early intervention; and publishes a quarterly newsletter.