County resource guide
Autism Resources in Dade, Missouri
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Dade. Missouri statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
14 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Stockton · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — Developmental Referrals (Cedar County)
Mercy Hospital Springfield is the primary referral hub for Cedar County families seeking autism evaluations. Stockton is approximately 60 miles northwest of Springfield. Cox Medical Center in Springfield provides an alternative option for comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluations.
Springfield (~60 miles southeast) is the regional hub for autism specialist services for Cedar County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Stockton · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Cedar County
Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Cedar County. Home-based services reach Stockton and surrounding communities near Stockton Lake.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
Greenfield · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Dade County
Missouri First Steps provides free birth-to-3 developmental services for Dade County families in Greenfield and Lockwood. EI coordinators connect families with autism-related developmental supports through Missouri's statewide early intervention system.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Lawrence County
Missouri First Steps provides free birth-to-3 developmental services and autism-related EI supports for Lawrence County families in Mount Vernon and Aurora. Coordinated through local contacts in this rural southwest Missouri county.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Stockton · multi-county
Centria Autism — Southwest Missouri (Cedar County)
Centria Autism provides in-home ABA therapy for children with autism in Cedar County, with access to Springfield's provider network for center-based options. In-home delivery is standard for rural Stockton-area families. Accepts Medicaid.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Greenfield · multi-county
4 Rivers Behavioral Health — Dade County
4 Rivers Behavioral Health provides mental health and developmental disability services for Dade County families in Greenfield. This small southwest Missouri county between Joplin and Springfield relies on regional CMH services and telehealth for autism-related supports.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
4 Rivers Behavioral Health — Lawrence County
4 Rivers Behavioral Health provides developmental disability services and autism-related mental health supports for Lawrence County families in Mount Vernon. This southwest Missouri county between Springfield and Joplin relies on regional CMH services and Burrell Behavioral Health for autism-related community supports.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Stockton · multi-county
Autism Society of Missouri — Southwest Missouri (Cedar County)
The Autism Society of Missouri connects Cedar County families to the Springfield-area autism community. Stockton families access regional support groups and resources through this statewide organization's Ozarks network.
Greenfield · multi-county
Autism Society of Missouri — Southwest Missouri (Dade County)
The Autism Society of Missouri provides virtual peer support and statewide resource connections for Dade County families in Greenfield. Online programming and the statewide helpline are the primary autism community resources for families in this small rural county.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
Autism Society of Missouri — Southwest Missouri (Lawrence County)
The Autism Society of Missouri connects Lawrence County families in Mount Vernon and Aurora with virtual peer support and statewide resources. Online programming serves families in this rural southwest Missouri county positioned between two larger metro areas.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Greenfield
Greenfield R-IV School District — Special Education
Greenfield R-IV School District provides autism evaluations and IEP services for school-age students in Dade County. Families typically travel to Joplin or Springfield for comprehensive autism evaluations and specialty ABA or speech therapy.
Stockton · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Cedar County)
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Cedar County families navigating autism-related school services in rural southwest Missouri.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Greenfield · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Dade County)
Missouri Parents Act provides free IEP training and advocacy by phone and virtually for Dade County families. A vital remote resource for families in this small rural southwest Missouri county with very limited local advocacy support.
Mount Vernon · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Lawrence County)
MPACT delivers free IEP advocacy by phone and virtually for Lawrence County families in Mount Vernon and Aurora. A critical remote resource for families in this rural southwest Missouri county between Springfield and Joplin.
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See all Missouri resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Missouri.
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