County resource guide
Autism Resources in Polk, Missouri
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Polk. Missouri statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
20 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
Bolivar · multi-county
Citizens Memorial Hospital — Bolivar Developmental Services
Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar is Polk County's primary healthcare facility in southwest Missouri. Developmental referrals connect families to Springfield specialists (~35 miles south) at Mercy or Cox hospitals for comprehensive autism evaluation. Bolivar is home to Southwest Baptist University.
Springfield (Greene County, ~35 min south) is the primary specialist hub for Polk County families.
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.
Buffalo · multi-county
Missouri First Steps — Dallas County
Missouri First Steps delivers free birth-to-3 early intervention services for Dallas County families in Buffalo. Developmental evaluations and autism-related EI supports are coordinated through local EI contacts in this rural south-central Missouri Ozarks county.
Bolivar
Missouri First Steps — Polk County
Missouri Part C early intervention for children under 3 in Polk County. Free home-based developmental evaluation and therapy in Bolivar and surrounding southwest Missouri communities.
FREE under IDEA Part C.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Bolivar · multi-county
Burrell Behavioral Health — Bolivar / Polk County
Burrell Behavioral Health provides ABA and behavioral services accessible to Polk County families through the Springfield network and local outreach in Bolivar. BCBA-supervised. Accepts commercial insurance and Missouri Medicaid.
Springfield Burrell locations are ~35 min south. Telehealth also available.
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.
Speech therapy
Speech-language pathology, AAC, pragmatic language, and feeding.
Springfield · multi-county
CoxHealth — Speech-Language Pathology (Hickory County Referral)
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.
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.
Buffalo · multi-county
Burrell Behavioral Health — Dallas County
Burrell Behavioral Health provides mental health and developmental disability services for Dallas County residents in Buffalo. This south-central Missouri Ozarks county between Springfield and the Lake of the Ozarks region accesses autism-related supports through Burrell's regional network.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Buffalo · multi-county
Autism Society of Missouri — South-Central Missouri (Dallas County)
The Autism Society of Missouri connects Dallas County families in Buffalo with virtual peer support and statewide resources. Online programming provides the primary autism community access for families in this rural Ozarks county.
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.
Bolivar · multi-county
Autism Society of Missouri — Southwest MO (Polk County)
The Autism Society of Missouri connects Polk County families in Bolivar to peer support and resources through the Springfield network and statewide virtual programming.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
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.
Buffalo · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Dallas County)
MPACT provides free IEP advocacy by phone and virtually for Dallas County families in Buffalo. An essential remote resource for families in this rural south-central Missouri Ozarks county navigating Missouri special education.
Hermitage · multi-county
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Hickory County)
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.
Bolivar
MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Polk County)
Free IEP advocacy for Polk County families from Missouri's federally funded PTI. Supports parents navigating Bolivar R-I and other local southwest Missouri school districts.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
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See all Missouri resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Missouri.
Missouri state guide →