County resource guide
Autism Resources in Boone County, Missouri
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Boone County. Missouri statewide resources also apply.
Boone County — home to Columbia and the University of Missouri — is a regional healthcare center with the Thompson Center for Autism at MU, one of Missouri's most respected autism evaluation and treatment programs. MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide, and Missouri's First Steps program covers children under 3. The Thompson Center's telehealth services extend its reach to rural Missouri families.
Provider directory
Local Providers14 providers in Boone County
About our listings
Provider listings on Autism Parent Club are submitted by practices or researched from public sources. All listings are reviewed for accuracy before publication. To suggest a correction, use the “Suggest a correction” link below.
Diagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders — University of Missouri
Columbia · serves multiple counties
One of the most comprehensive autism centers in the Midwest, housed at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Offers multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluations, behavioral health, speech-language therapy, OT, and telehealth services. Nationally recognized research center with a lifespan approach from toddlers through adults. A flagship resource for mid-Missouri families.
Columbia · multi-county
Thompson Center for Autism — Cooper County Referrals
The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri (Columbia) is the primary autism evaluation referral destination for Cooper County families. Thompson Center provides diagnostic evaluations, behavioral consultation, and family support services accessible from Boonville via the I-70 corridor.
Columbia · multi-county
Thompson Center for Autism — Johnson County Referrals
The Thompson Center for Autism at the University of Missouri (Columbia) is a primary comprehensive autism evaluation resource for Johnson County families. Accessible from Warrensburg via I-70, Thompson Center provides diagnostic evaluations, behavioral consultation, and family education.
Columbia · multi-county
Thompson Center for Autism — Moniteau County Referrals
The Thompson Center for Autism at University of Missouri (Columbia) is the primary autism evaluation referral for Moniteau County families. Located in nearby Columbia via US-50, Thompson Center provides comprehensive diagnostic, behavioral, and family support services for central Missouri families.
Columbia · multi-county
Thompson Center for Autism — University of Missouri (Howard County)
The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri in Columbia is the closest comprehensive autism evaluation center for Howard County families in Fayette. An internationally recognized center with multidisciplinary teams providing diagnostic, behavioral, and family support services.
National center of excellence. Fayette is ~30 miles from Columbia. Expect waitlists.
Mexico · multi-county
University of Missouri Health Care — Developmental Pediatrics (Audrain)
MU Health Care in Columbia is the primary referral hub for Audrain County families seeking autism evaluations. Mexico, the Audrain County seat, is approximately 35 miles east of Columbia, giving families access to MU's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment.
Columbia's Thompson Center (~35 miles) is one of Missouri's top autism evaluation and treatment centers.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Mexico · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Audrain County
Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Audrain County. Home-based services reach Mexico and surrounding rural areas of north-central Missouri.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
Columbia · multi-county
MU Thompson Center — Early Intervention Services
Early intervention evaluations and services for children birth to age 3 through Missouri's First Steps program, coordinated at the Thompson Center. Covers developmental screening, speech, OT, and family support planning for Boone County and surrounding mid-Missouri counties.
Missouri First Steps partner. Referrals through your pediatrician or call the Thompson Center directly.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Mexico · multi-county
Centria Autism — Mid-Missouri (Audrain County)
Centria Autism provides in-home ABA therapy for children with autism in Audrain County. The in-home model benefits Mexico-area families who prefer not to make the daily drive to Columbia for center-based services. Accepts Medicaid.
Columbia
Crossroads Pediatric Therapy — Columbia
BCBA-supervised ABA therapy in Boone County for children with autism and developmental differences. Center-based model with naturalistic teaching environments. Works alongside Thompson Center for coordinated care in the Columbia area.
Missouri commercial insurance ABA mandate applies.
Columbia · multi-county
Hopebridge — Columbia (Howard County Referral)
Hopebridge's Columbia location provides center-based ABA therapy accessible to Howard County families in Fayette. The Columbia campus offers BCBA-supervised services with multidisciplinary integration of speech and OT. Missouri Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted.
Columbia hub for Howard County. Missouri requires insurance to cover ABA.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Mexico · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Audrain County)
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Audrain County families navigating special education rights in north-central Missouri school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Boonville · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Cooper County)
MPACT provides free IEP advocacy by phone and virtually for Cooper County families in Boonville. Remote services are essential for families in this rural Missouri River county navigating Missouri special education rules.
Columbia · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Mid-Missouri)
Missouri's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, serving Boone County and mid-Missouri families. Free IEP advocacy training, one-on-one support, and special education rights information. Bilingual services available.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Call before any IEP meeting or dispute.
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Helpful guides
Guides for Boone County families
Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.
School & IEP
Navigating the IEP process
Your rights under IDEA, how evaluations work, and what every IEP section means.
Finding help
ABA, OT, speech and waitlists
How to find qualified providers, navigate insurance, and get off waitlists faster.
Getting started
Where to start after diagnosis
A week-by-week checklist for the first 90 days — from evaluation to early intervention.
Benefits & money
SSI, Medicaid waivers, ABLE accounts
Federal benefits your child may qualify for and how to apply without losing your spot.
Mental health
Co-occurring conditions and support
Managing anxiety, ADHD, and depression alongside an autism diagnosis.
Daily life
Sensory processing and OT
Understanding sensory needs, sensory diets, and how occupational therapy helps.
Adulthood
Employment, housing, legal planning
Supported employment, housing options, guardianship alternatives, and ABLE accounts.
Communities served
Cities in Boone County
Serving families across Boone County including Columbia, Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville, Sturgeon, Rocheport, Hartsburg, Harrisburg, Easley and Wilton and more.
See all Missouri resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Missouri.
Missouri state guide →Nearby counties in Missouri
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Providers move, phone numbers change, and links break — it happens. If anything on this page is out of date, wrong, or no longer working, please tell us and we’ll fix it. Keeping this accurate for autism families is the whole reason we’re here.
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