County resource guide
Autism Resources in Shelby, Iowa
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Shelby. Iowa statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
10 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Denison · multi-county
Crawford County Memorial Hospital — Developmental Referrals
Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison provides primary care and developmental referrals. Denison is a diverse agricultural community with a large Spanish-speaking population. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families travel to Sioux City (~70 miles north) or Omaha NE (~90 miles southwest).
Sioux City and Omaha are both within 1.5 hrs — bilingual support critical for Denison's Spanish-speaking families.
Harlan · multi-county
Myrtue Medical Center — Shelby County Developmental Referrals
Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan provides primary care and developmental referrals for Shelby County. Families are referred to Children's Nebraska in Omaha (~75 miles west) or Blank Children's in Des Moines (~70 miles east) for comprehensive autism evaluations.
Omaha and Des Moines are roughly equidistant — both accessible for full evaluations.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Denison · multi-county
Crawford County Early ACCESS
Iowa Part C early intervention for children birth–3 in Crawford County. Coordinated through Heartland AEA, providing in-home developmental therapy and family support at no cost. Bilingual coordination available for Spanish-speaking families in Denison.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Bilingual staff available — essential for Crawford County's Spanish-speaking families.
Harlan · multi-county
Shelby County Early ACCESS
Iowa Part C early intervention for children birth–3 in Shelby County. Coordinated by GreatWest AEA, providing in-home therapy and family support at no cost.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Harlan · multi-county
Behavior Care Specialists — Shelby County
Home- and community-based ABA therapy for children with autism in Shelby County. Iowa Medicaid accepted. In-home delivery serves this agricultural southwest Iowa county.
Iowa Medicaid covers ABA therapy.
Denison · multi-county
Sanford Health — Bilingual Telehealth Autism Services (Crawford Co.)
Sanford Health provides telehealth autism behavioral services for Crawford County families, with bilingual (Spanish/English) coordination available for Denison's large Latino community. Iowa Medicaid accepted.
Bilingual Spanish/English coordination available — essential for Denison's immigrant families.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Harlan · multi-county
Autism Society of Iowa — Southwest Iowa
Statewide parent support and resource connections for Shelby County autism families through the Autism Society of Iowa.
Denison · multi-county
Autism Society of Iowa — West Central Iowa
Parent support and statewide resource connections for Crawford County autism families through the Autism Society of Iowa. Connects Denison families to Sioux City area and statewide networks.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Denison · multi-county
Iowa PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Free IEP advocacy and special education support for Crawford County families. Iowa PTI offers Spanish-language resources for Denison's large Latino community. Phone, video, and in-person consultations available statewide.
FREE. Spanish-language resources available for Crawford County's immigrant families.
Harlan · multi-county
Iowa PTI — Parent Training and Information Center
Free IEP advocacy and special education support for Shelby County families from Iowa's federally funded PTI.
FREE. Statewide service.
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See all Iowa resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Iowa.
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