Cabell County's Part C referrals go through Regional Administrative Unit IV, one of eight WV Birth to Three regions, while children 3 and older move to Cabell County Schools, which is legally required to evaluate a child with a suspected disability at no charge.

Huntington is also home to Marshall University's autism programs, which give local families a second front door beyond the county's early-intervention and school-based routes; this page lists both, plus the state's disability-waiver office.

Statewide programs, numbers, and rights are on the West Virginia page. This page adds the local entry points that are specific to Huntington (Cabell County).

Early intervention under 3: WV Birth to Three — Regional Administrative Unit IV (RAU IV)

Regional Administrative Unit IV, based at 2021 5th Avenue West in Huntington, is the local office of the statewide WV Birth to Three program for Cabell County and seven neighboring counties: Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne. A referral can come from a parent, doctor, or anyone else who has a concern about how a child under 3 is developing. The referral line is 1-866-982-8855, with the office itself reachable at 304-523-5444. As with the rest of the state's Part C system, an Individualized Family Service Plan is written once eligibility is confirmed, and services carry no cost to the family.

• WV Birth to Three — Regional Administrative Unit IV (RAU IV)
• Referral phone: 304-523-5444

New to early intervention? Read the plain-language guide first.

School districts and special education

Every West Virginia county school system carries a Child Find duty and follows the same statewide framework, Board of Education Policy 2419, once a family requests an evaluation. A written request to the school or the district's special education office starts the process, and there is no charge to the family for the evaluation itself.

• Cabell County Schools — Department of Special Education oversees evaluation and IEP services for Huntington and the rest of Cabell County

Other places to ask — not a substitute for the district

An evaluation request has to go to the school district itself; only the district can start the legal timeline. These are for asking questions about the process, or for when the district has not responded.

• West Virginia Department of Education — Office of Special Education — the state agency families can escalate to when a county-level process stalls; 833-627-2833

IEP or 504 · If you disagree with the school

Evaluation and diagnosis pathways in Huntington

These are hospital and university programs with public intake information. Listing here is informational — it is not a recommendation, and it is not medical advice. Public school evaluation is free and does not require any of these.

• Marshall Health — Autism Evaluation & Treatment — diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning for autism spectrum disorder through Marshall's Department of Psychiatry

How assessment works · What to do while you wait

Disability services and waivers: WV Bureau for Medical Services — Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver Program

The I/DD Waiver is West Virginia's Medicaid home- and community-based program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism is one of its most common qualifying diagnoses. It is run statewide by the Bureau for Medical Services, with Acentra Health handling utilization management under contract. Applicants — including children, who can qualify from age 3 — must document medical need, meet Medicaid's financial rules, and live in West Virginia. Start by calling the program directly rather than a Huntington-specific office, since BMS runs intake centrally.

• WV Bureau for Medical Services — Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver Program
• Phone: 304-558-1700

Local organizations that help Huntington families

• WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University — 304-696-2332, Old Main 316, 1 John Marshall Drive; the state's dedicated autism technical-assistance agency, established in 1984 and headquartered in Huntington
• Autism Services Center — provides service coordination for autistic individuals and families

Documented waits and access notes

Wait times change. Each note below links to the public source it came from — confirm current status directly with the program.

• After Cabell County Schools receives your written consent, the district has 80 calendar days to finish evaluation and convene the Eligibility Committee to determine if your child qualifies for services. (source)
• WV Birth to Three's Regional Administrative Unit IV must complete your child's initial evaluation, family assessment, and first IFSP meeting within 45 calendar days of referral. (source)
• West Virginia's I/DD Waiver program had 1,031 individuals on its waiting list as of October 2025, with most individuals waiting an extended period for services. (source)