County resource guide
Autism Resources in Howard County, Missouri
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Howard County. Missouri statewide resources also apply.
Howard County — home to Fayette and Glasgow — is a small rural county in central Missouri. Columbia's University of Missouri Health Care is the nearest major academic medical center for developmental evaluations. Missouri's First Steps serves children under 3, and MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers15 providers in Howard 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 — 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.
Keytesville · multi-county
University of Missouri Health Care — Developmental Referrals (Chariton)
MU Health Care in Columbia is the primary referral hub for Chariton County families. Keytesville is approximately 65 miles northwest of Columbia. The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at MU provides comprehensive evaluation services accessible for families who can make the drive.
Columbia's Thompson Center (~65 miles south) is the nearest comprehensive autism evaluation center.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Keytesville · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Chariton County
Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Chariton County. Home-based services reach Keytesville, Salisbury, and rural communities throughout north-central Missouri.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
Boonville · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Cooper County
Missouri First Steps delivers free birth-to-3 developmental services and autism-related EI supports for Cooper County families in Boonville and surrounding communities. Coordinated through local school district contacts in this mid-Missouri river town.
Fayette
Missouri First Steps — Howard County Early Intervention
Missouri First Steps provides Part C early intervention services to eligible children birth to age 3 in Howard County through home-based and community-based delivery. Fayette families are connected to speech, OT, and developmental therapy with coordination toward the Columbia hub.
FREE for eligible children. Columbia proximity makes follow-up specialty care accessible.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Keytesville · multi-county
Behavioral Health Works — North-Central Missouri Telehealth (Chariton)
Telehealth ABA therapy for Chariton County families in rural north-central Missouri. Virtual BCBA-supervised parent training and behavior support reduce the burden of commuting to Columbia or Kansas City for services. Accepts Medicaid.
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.
Mental health
Therapists and psychiatrists experienced with autistic children and adults.
Boonville · multi-county
Pathways Behavioral Health Services — Cooper County
Pathways Behavioral Health Services (formerly Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center) provides developmental disability services and autism supports for Cooper County families in Boonville. This historic Missouri River county is served by regional CMH programs connecting to Columbia and Kansas City resources.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Fayette
Central Methodist University — Community Education & Family Resources
Central Methodist University in Fayette provides community programming and continuing education relevant to families of children with developmental differences. Howard County families can connect through CMU's outreach programs for local resource referrals and community support networks.
University community resource. Ask about disability support and family programming.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Keytesville · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Chariton County)
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Chariton County families navigating special education rights in small 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.
Fayette · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Howard County)
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy and support for Howard County families in Fayette. MPACT's staff understand Missouri special education regulations and can support families in navigating the Howard County school district's special education processes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Columbia is ~30 miles away for in-person meetings.
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 Howard 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 →Nearby counties in Missouri
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.
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