Chattanooga Autism Center

Mission

a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves autistic individuals of all ages  The Center promotes inclusion and acceptance of autistic individuals and provides services, resources, and education to the community.

Our Story

In 2009, Dr. I. Leslie Rubin and Dr. Karen Weigle founded the Chattanooga Autism Center (CAC) after hearing from parents at The TEAM Centers who wanted more local resources and support for individuals with autism. Parents often gathered in clinic waiting rooms, sharing stories and dreaming of programs that could better serve their children and families.

Together, these parents and clinicians began turning those ideas into reality—hosting free workshops, building an autism library, creating a parent mentor network, and organizing the region’s first autism conference, which drew over 200 participants. Their collaboration grew into the Parent/Advocate Collaboration Team (PACT), a group that brought families, professionals, and advocates together to strengthen the autism community across the region.

When the clinic at The TEAM Centers closed in 2011, CAC became an independent nonprofit organization with its own board of directors. Using community donations, CAC opened a small clinic at 1400 McCallie Avenue, offering autism assessments, therapies, and a space for families and advocates to continue their work together.

Since then, the Chattanooga Autism Center has continued to grow—hosting an annual autism conference with over 500 attendees, providing education and outreach, and connecting thousands of families through in-person and online resources. CAC remains guided by the same mission that started it all: building a community where individuals with autism and their families are understood, supported, and empowered.

CAC Website