Autism Resources in Pemiscot County, Missouri
10 providers in Caruthersville and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.
0 providers in Pemiscot County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.
Based in Pemiscot County
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Missouri First Steps — Pemiscot County Early Intervention
Caruthersville, MO
Free early intervention for Pemiscot County children under 3 under IDEA Part C. Home visits are essential in this rural Bootheel county. Start with Pemiscot County Health Department.
Free under IDEA Part C. Home-based services.
ABA therapy
1 providerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Centria Autism — Pemiscot County (Telehealth/In-Home)
Caruthersville, MO
In-home and telehealth ABA therapy for Missouri's rural Bootheel. Telehealth ABA is often the most practical option for Pemiscot County families given the severe local specialist shortage. Accepts Missouri Medicaid.
Telehealth and in-home services for this rural Bootheel county.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Pemiscot County)
Caruthersville, MO
Missouri's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. Especially critical in Pemiscot County where local resources are scarce — MPACT can advocate remotely and connect families to state supports.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Remote advocacy available.
Also serving Pemiscot County
These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Pemiscot 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.
Missouri Delta Medical Center — New Madrid County Developmental Referrals
New Madrid, MO · serves several counties
Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston (Scott County) is the primary healthcare hub for New Madrid County in the Missouri Bootheel. Developmental referrals for autism evaluations connect families to Cape Girardeau specialists (~45 miles north) or Memphis, TN providers. The Bootheel has some of Missouri's highest poverty rates — access to care is a significant challenge.
Cape Girardeau (~45 min north) and Memphis, TN (~90 min south) are the nearest specialist hubs. Medicaid is critical for most Bootheel families.
Southeast Missouri State University — Autism & Developmental Clinic
Cape Girardeau, MO · serves several counties
SEMO's Department of Communication Disorders and Family and Consumer Sciences offers developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations. Families in Stoddard County travel to Cape Girardeau for full multi-disciplinary assessments through SEMO's affiliated clinical network.
Early Intervention (0–3)
1 providerFree services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Missouri First Steps — Dunklin County
Kennett, MO · serves several counties
Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Dunklin County. Home-based services are essential in this agricultural Bootheel county where specialist clinical infrastructure is limited.
FREE under IDEA Part C. Critical resource for the underserved Bootheel region.
ABA therapy
3 providersApplied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Burrell Behavioral Health — Telehealth ABA (New Madrid County)
New Madrid, MO · serves several counties
Telehealth ABA and behavioral support for New Madrid County Bootheel families. BCBA-supervised remote therapy is the most accessible ABA option given the extreme rural poverty and provider shortage in the Missouri Bootheel.
Medicaid coverage essential. Telehealth reduces geographic barriers in this underserved region.
Centria Autism — Missouri Bootheel (Dunklin County)
Kennett, MO · serves several counties
Centria Autism provides in-home ABA therapy for children with autism in Dunklin County. In-home delivery is the standard model for the Bootheel region, where travel distances to clinic-based providers are significant. Accepts Medicaid.
Centria Autism — Southeast Missouri
Cape Girardeau, MO · serves several counties
Centria Autism provides in-home and center-based ABA therapy for children with autism in southeast Missouri, including Stoddard County. Accepts Medicaid and most private insurance. Telehealth supervision available for families in more rural areas of the county.
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.
Advocacy & legal
1 providerLegal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Dunklin County)
Kennett, MO · serves several counties
Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for Dunklin County families. Phone and virtual services are essential for families in this geographically isolated Bootheel region.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Critical resource in the underserved Missouri Bootheel.
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 Pemiscot County
Pemiscot County — home to Caruthersville and Hayti — is in Missouri's far southeast Bootheel, one of the state's most rural and economically challenged regions. Access to specialized autism services requires travel to Cape Girardeau or beyond. Missouri's First Steps serves children under 3, and MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide.
Helpful guides
Guides for Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County, Missouri?
We list 10 providers serving Pemiscot County, covering ABA 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 Pemiscot County accept Medicaid?
3 of the providers we list for Pemiscot County state that they accept Medicaid, including Centria Autism — Missouri Bootheel (Dunklin County), Centria Autism — Pemiscot County (Telehealth/In-Home) and Centria Autism — Southeast Missouri. Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.
Where can I find ABA therapy in Pemiscot County?
ABA providers serving Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County families?
Yes — 4 providers serving Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County?
5 providers serving Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County?
If none of the Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County
These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot County? We'll email you.
One email when we verify a new provider in Pemiscot 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 Pemiscot 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.
Tell us about a provider →For providers
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Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.
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