Autism Resources in Hickory County, Missouri
8 providers in Hermitage, Osage Beach, Springfield and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Hickory County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Hickory County
Diagnostic clinics
1 providerFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Lake Regional Health System — Developmental Referral Network (Hickory County)
Osage Beach, MO · serves several counties
Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach is the nearest regional hospital to Hickory County, providing developmental pediatric referral coordination for autism evaluations. Families in Hermitage are directed toward Springfield or Jefferson City specialists for comprehensive assessments.
Referral hub for Lake of the Ozarks area. Ask about developmental pediatric network.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Missouri First Steps — Hickory County Early Intervention
Hermitage, MO
Missouri First Steps delivers Part C early intervention services to eligible children birth to age 3 in Hickory County through home-based sessions coordinated from the Lake of the Ozarks region. Speech, OT, and developmental therapy supports are arranged for Hermitage-area families.
FREE for eligible children. Home-based services critical in this rural area.
Speech therapy
1 providerSpeech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
CoxHealth — Speech-Language Pathology (Hickory County Referral)
Springfield, MO · serves several counties
CoxHealth in Springfield provides speech-language pathology services for autism spectrum disorder that Hickory County families access as their nearest major medical hub. Pediatric speech evaluations and AAC consultations are available through the Springfield campus.
Springfield hub for Hickory County families. Expect drive time from Hermitage.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Hickory County)
Hermitage, MO · serves several counties
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy and support for Hickory County families. Remote and phone services are critical for rural Hermitage-area families navigating small school district special education processes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote services available for rural Hickory County families.
Also serving Hickory County
These 16 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Hickory County in the area they cover. Worth calling to confirm how far they actually travel, and whether telehealth or in-home visits are an option.
Diagnostic clinics
2 providersFormal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare — St. Clair County Referrals
Osceola, MO · serves several counties
Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton (Henry County) serves as the primary specialist referral hub for St. Clair County families in Osceola. Developmental referrals route to Springfield (~80 miles south) for comprehensive autism evaluation. St. Clair County is home to Truman Lake.
Clinton (Henry County, ~20 min north) and Springfield (~80 min south) are the primary hubs for St. Clair County families.
Lake Regional Health System — Developmental Referrals (Benton County)
Warsaw, MO · serves several counties
Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach serves as a referral point for Benton County families near the Lake of the Ozarks. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families travel to Columbia (~80 miles north) or Jefferson City (~50 miles northeast). Telehealth extends access for families in Warsaw and rural areas.
Jefferson City (~50 miles) and Columbia (~80 miles) are the primary specialist hubs for Lake of the Ozarks families.
ABA therapy
2 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Burrell Behavioral Health — Telehealth ABA (St. Clair County)
Osceola, MO · serves several counties
Burrell Behavioral Health provides telehealth ABA and behavioral support for St. Clair County families in Osceola. BCBA-supervised remote therapy is the primary ABA access route for this rural Ozarks county.
Springfield Burrell office accessible. Telehealth recommended.
Centria Autism — Lake of the Ozarks Region (Benton County)
Warsaw, MO · serves several counties
Centria Autism provides in-home ABA therapy for children with autism in Benton County and the Lake of the Ozarks region. In-home delivery serves Warsaw-area families and reduces the need to travel to Jefferson City or Columbia for therapy. Accepts Medicaid.
Respite care
2 providersRespite care providers giving families a break — in-home, center-based, and overnight.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Searchable by state, MO
A free national directory of respite providers and programs, run by ARCH, the National Respite Network and Resource Center. ARCH says it is not a complete list, so it works best alongside…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH's advice is to contact your State Respite Coalition or Lifespan Respite program first. Before you pay out of pocket, also check what your state's Medicaid waiver funds.
Your state's Lifespan Respite program
39 states and DC have been funded, MO
Lifespan Respite programs are federally funded, state-run programs that help family caregivers of children or adults, regardless of special need, find and pay for respite.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
ARCH lists every state's Lifespan Respite contact and respite coalition on this page. Ask specifically about voucher or stipend programs — that is the part families most often miss.
Activities, clubs & recreation
10 providersClubs, sports, camps, and social programs that welcome autistic children and teens — inclusive, adaptive, and special-needs specific.
ACEing Autism
227 programs in 32 states, MO
Tennis clinics for kids, teens and, in some locations, adults on the autism spectrum.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Cost varies by location and scholarships are available. Use the Find a Program search on their site with your zip code.
American Camp Association — camp finder
About 3,900 camps, MO
A free searchable directory of about 3,900 camps, with a filter for disabilities and other special needs alongside distance, activities, session length and cost. A good single starting…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Choose day or overnight, then use the "Disabilities and Other Special Needs" filter. Specialized camps can fill early, so start looking in the winter before.
Best Buddies
All 50 states — find your local program, MO
One-to-one friendship matching between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs from elementary school through college and adulthood, plus…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
A national organization, not a local listing — use the finder on their site, or call 1-800-89-BUDDY, to locate your nearest program.
Easterseals — camps and recreation
Local Easterseals across the country, MO
Day and residential camps for children and adults with disabilities, plus sports, social activities and community outings run by local Easterseals.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Programs vary a great deal between locations — use the Find your Easterseals search on the page and check what yours actually runs.
iCan Shine (iCan Bike)
Camps hosted in different towns each year, MO
Teaches people with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle over a five-day camp, 75 minutes a day. iCan Shine says about 80% of participants ride independently by the end…
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Check their Camp Locations page for dates — camps run in different towns each year, so somewhere near you may host this year and not next.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
Six cities only: Chicago, DC–Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, MO
Free, non-competitive, one-to-one recreation for youth ages 5 to 21 with physical or developmental disabilities, led by trained volunteer coaches.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Free to families. KEEN runs in six cities plus two university campus chapters (Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia) — outside those, it is not available yet.
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providersShow fewer
Little League Challenger Division
Through local Little Leagues — use the League Finder, MO
Little League's adaptive baseball program for anyone with a physical or intellectual challenge.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the League Finder on their site to locate the nearest Challenger division, or ask about starting one. Little League's rule is that a player who can take part in regular Little League with reasonable accommodations should do so.
Miracle League
300 leagues — check for one near you, MO
Baseball for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, played on custom-designed rubberized turf fields that accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Use the Find a Miracle League page on their site — there are 300 leagues, so coverage is good but not universal.
Special Olympics
Nationwide — find your local program, MO
Year-round sports training and competition for children and adults.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Eligibility requires an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay, identified by an agency or professional. If your child is autistic without a cognitive delay, have a direct conversation about fit before signing up rather than after. Ask your local program about any costs.
TOPSoccer (US Youth Soccer)
Through local soccer clubs, MO
The Outreach Program for Soccer — recreational soccer for children and adults with intellectual, emotional or physical disabilities, offered through local US Youth Soccer clubs.
A national program with local chapters — we have not verified a chapter in this county. Use their finder to locate the nearest one.
Find your state association's TOPSoccer clubs through the link on their page, or ask your state association office directly — it is often not advertised on the club's own website.
Not sure which kind of therapy you need?
Start with our plain-language guide to ABA, speech and OT — what each one is, and questions to ask on the first call.
Read the guideFor providers
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About autism services in Hickory County
Hickory County — home to Hermitage — is a small rural county in west-central Missouri near Pomme de Terre Lake. Specialized autism services require travel to Springfield or Bolivar. Missouri's First Steps serves children under 3, and MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Hickory 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.
See all Missouri resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Missouri.
Missouri state guide →Common questions
Answered from the providers currently listed for this county — these update as the directory does.
How many autism providers serve Hickory County, Missouri?
We list 8 providers serving Hickory County, covering ABA therapy, speech therapy, diagnostic clinics, early intervention (0–3) and advocacy & legal. Some are based in the county and others serve it from nearby areas. Every listing is reviewed by a person before it is published.
Which autism providers in Hickory County accept Medicaid?
1 of the providers we list for Hickory County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Lake of the Ozarks Region (Benton County). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Hickory County?
ABA providers serving Hickory County are listed in the ABA therapy section of this page, with phone numbers and websites. Many deliver services in the family's home or at school as well as in a clinic. Ask about waitlists when you call — they vary widely and change month to month.
Are there telehealth autism services for Hickory County families?
Yes — 2 providers serving Hickory County offer telehealth or virtual sessions. This is often the fastest route to support for families in rural areas or on long local waitlists.
Can autism therapy happen at home in Hickory County?
2 providers serving Hickory County deliver services in the family's home. Many children do better in a familiar setting than in an unfamiliar clinic room, and in-home visits remove the travel burden.
Does Medicaid pay for autism services in Missouri?
Missouri families can apply to the Comprehensive, MOCDD, Community Support and Partnership for Hope Waivers, a Medicaid waiver that can fund respite, therapies and in-home support. The typical wait is Varies by waiver and regional office, and your place is usually set by the date you apply — so applying early matters even if you are unsure what services you need. Many waivers also disregard parental income, so families who don't qualify for regular Medicaid often still qualify here.
What if I can't find an autism provider in Hickory County?
If none of the Hickory County providers is the right fit, these Missouri counties currently have the most listed providers: Polk County (18), Caldwell County (17), Grundy County (17), Platte County (16). Many providers travel or offer telehealth, so it is worth calling even if they are not based nearby. You can also tell us about a provider we are missing.
Nearby counties in Missouri
You know things we don’t
Still missing from Hickory County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Hickory Countygets an afternoon back. It takes about a minute and you don’t need to know the business details — a name and a rough location is enough for us to check.
- Which dentist here has managed a cleaning without it becoming a fight?
- Who cuts your child's hair without a meltdown?
- Where do parents here actually talk to each other?
- Is there a group here where your child has made a friend?
We check everything before it goes up, and nobody pays to be listed. How we verify.
Get told when this page changes
New provider in Hickory County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Hickory County — no newsletter, no digest, nothing else. Some counties hear from us a few times a year and some stay quiet for months; we would rather send you nothing than send you filler.
We store your address and county, and nothing else. How we handle it.
See something that needs fixing?
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.
Report a correction →Help the community
Know a great provider in Hickory County?
If a therapist, clinic, or specialist helped your family, tell us about them and we’ll add them to the directory so other families can find them too.
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