County resource guide
Autism Resources in Howell County, Missouri
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Howell County. Missouri statewide resources also apply.
Howell County — home to West Plains — is a regional center for south-central Missouri's Ozarks region. West Plains' healthcare system provides some local services, though specialized autism evaluations often require travel to Springfield or Columbia. Missouri's First Steps serves children under 3, and MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Provider directory
Local Providers11 providers in Howell 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.
Alton · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — Autism & Developmental Referral (Oregon County)
Mercy Hospital Springfield is the major regional referral hub for Ozarks counties including Oregon County. Families in Alton can access developmental pediatrics and autism evaluation services through Mercy's Springfield campus, typically a 1.5–2 hour drive.
Expect travel to Springfield — Oregon County has no local diagnostic center.
Ava · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — Developmental Pediatrics (Douglas County)
Mercy's developmental pediatrics and autism evaluation services in Springfield serve as the primary referral destination for Douglas County families. Ava, the county seat, is approximately one hour from Springfield, making Mercy the most accessible comprehensive evaluation center.
Gainesville · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — Developmental Pediatrics (Ozark County)
Mercy's developmental pediatrics program in Springfield is the primary referral destination for Ozark County families seeking autism evaluations. Ozark County has no local diagnostic center — families in Gainesville typically travel north to Springfield for comprehensive assessment.
Expect travel to Springfield — Gainesville is approximately 1.5 hours south.
Mountain Grove · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — Developmental Pediatrics (Wright County)
Mercy's developmental pediatrics program in Springfield is the closest comprehensive autism evaluation center for Wright County families. Mountain Grove, the county seat, is about an hour from Springfield, making Mercy the standard referral destination for autism assessments.
West Plains · multi-county
Ozarks Healthcare — Developmental Pediatric Referrals (Howell County)
Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains is the primary medical hub for Howell County, serving as the entry point for developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations. Full multi-disciplinary evaluations are typically completed at Mercy Springfield or Children's Hospital in St. Louis.
Houston · multi-county
Phelps Health — Developmental Referrals (Texas County)
Phelps Health in Rolla is the closest major medical hub for Texas County families seeking developmental pediatric referrals and autism evaluations. Families in Houston, the county seat, typically travel to Rolla or Springfield for comprehensive assessments.
Rolla and Springfield are both approximately 1–1.5 hours from Houston, MO.
Alton · multi-county
Phelps Health — Telehealth Developmental Services (Oregon County)
Phelps Health in Rolla extends telehealth developmental consultations to Oregon County families. This Ozarks border county has very limited local clinical resources — telehealth is the primary access point before referral to Rolla or West Plains for in-person evaluation.
Telehealth recommended as first step for Oregon County families.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
West Plains
Missouri First Steps — Howell County
Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program serving infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Howell County. Home-based services are standard in this south-central Ozarks county, ensuring families in West Plains and surrounding rural communities receive services without travel.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Gainesville · multi-county
Centria Autism — Telehealth ABA (Ozark County)
Centria Autism's telehealth ABA therapy services reach children with autism in rural Ozark County. Telehealth supervision paired with in-home sessions allows families in Gainesville to access evidence-based ABA without traveling to Springfield. Accepts Medicaid.
West Plains · multi-county
Mercy Hospital Springfield — ABA & Behavioral Services (Howell County)
Mercy's behavioral health network in Springfield provides ABA therapy referrals and behavioral services for Howell County children. Families in West Plains typically travel to Springfield for center-based care; telehealth and in-home options supplement for those who cannot make the trip.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
West Plains
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Howell County)
Missouri's federally funded PTI center provides free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Howell County families in West Plains and surrounding rural communities.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
For providers
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Helpful guides
Guides for Howell 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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