Autism Resources in Shannon County, Missouri

11 providers in Eminence and nearby, plus 12 national programs. Waitlists change often, so it’s worth calling a few.

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Filter by age

0 providers in Shannon County. Filter by your child’s age — including 18+, which is the hardest to find anywhere.

Based in Shannon County

Diagnostic clinics

1 provider

Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.

Phelps Health — Telehealth Developmental Services (Shannon)

Eminence, MO · serves several counties

Phelps Health in Rolla provides telehealth developmental consultations for Shannon County families, one of Missouri's most rural and underserved counties. Telehealth is the critical first step before in-person evaluations in Rolla or Springfield for families in Eminence and the Current River area.

Telehealth recommended as first step — Shannon County is one of Missouri's most remote counties.

Ages 0–18Telehealth

Early Intervention (0–3)

1 provider

Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.

Missouri First Steps — Shannon County

Eminence, MO

Missouri's Part C Early Intervention program serving infants and toddlers with developmental delays in Shannon County. Home-based services are essential for families in this rural Ozarks county where clinical infrastructure is limited.

FREE under IDEA Part C. Home visits are standard practice for Shannon County's rural population.

Accepting new patientsAges 0–3In-home

ABA therapy

1 provider

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.

Behavioral Health Works — Telehealth ABA (Shannon County)

Eminence, MO · serves several counties

Behavioral Health Works offers telehealth ABA therapy and supervision for children with autism in Shannon County. Reliable internet access can be a barrier in some areas — families should confirm connectivity before enrolling. Accepts Medicaid.

Telehealth model. Confirm internet reliability before enrolling.

MedicaidAccepting new patientsAges 0–21Telehealth

Advocacy & legal

1 provider

Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.

MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Shannon County)

Eminence, MO

Missouri's federally funded PTI center provides free IEP advocacy, training, and individual support for Shannon County families navigating special education in rural Missouri school districts.

FREE. Federally funded PTI.

Accepting new patientsAll ages

Also serving Shannon County

These 19 are based elsewhere, or operate nationally, and list Shannon 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

4 providers

Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.

Mercy Hospital Springfield — Autism & Developmental Referral (Oregon County)

Alton, MO · serves several counties

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.

Ages 0–18

Phelps Health — Telehealth Developmental Services (Oregon County)

Alton, MO · serves several counties

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.

Ages 0–18Telehealth

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center — Reynolds County Referrals

Centerville, MO · serves several counties

Reynolds County families in Centerville rely on Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center (~50 miles southeast, Butler County) for specialist autism evaluations, as Reynolds County has virtually no local healthcare infrastructure. This extremely rural Ozarks county is one of Missouri's most isolated.

Reynolds County has almost no local healthcare. Poplar Bluff (~50 min southeast) is the nearest specialist hub.

SEMO Health Network — Telehealth (Carter County)

Van Buren, MO · serves several counties

Carter County is one of Missouri's most rural counties, located in the Current River country. SEMO Health Network telehealth services provide the critical first step for developmental consultations before in-person evaluations in West Plains (~45 miles) or Poplar Bluff (~50 miles). Telehealth is essential in this remote Ozarks county.

Telehealth is essential for Carter County — West Plains and Poplar Bluff are each ~45 miles away.

Ages 0–18Telehealth

ABA therapy

2 providers

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.

Behavioral Health Works — Rural Ozarks Telehealth (Carter County)

Van Buren, MO · serves several counties

Telehealth ABA therapy for Carter County families in the remote Current River area. Virtual BCBA-supervised parent training and behavior support reach families who have no local in-person providers. Accepts Medicaid.

Telehealth is the primary delivery model — no local ABA providers in Carter County.

MedicaidAccepting new patientsAges 0–21Telehealth

Behavioral Health Works — Telehealth ABA (Reynolds County)

Centerville, MO · serves several counties

Telehealth ABA for Reynolds County families is the only ABA access point for this extraordinarily isolated Ozarks county. BCBA-supervised virtual parent training and behavior support through Behavioral Health Works.

No in-person ABA exists in Reynolds County. Telehealth is the only option.

Telehealth

Respite care

2 providers

Respite 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 provider

Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.

MPACT — Missouri Parents Act (Carter County)

Van Buren, MO · serves several counties

Missouri's federally funded PTI provides free IEP advocacy and training for Carter County families. Phone and virtual services are the only practical advocacy resource for families in this remote Ozarks county.

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Virtual services are critical for Carter County families.

Accepting new patientsAll agesTelehealth

Activities, clubs & recreation

10 providers

Clubs, 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.

Ages elementary school through adult

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.

Ages 5–21
See all 10 activities, clubs & recreation providers

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.

Ages 4–18 (to 22 if in school); Senior League 15+

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.

Ages 8+ (Young Athletes: 2–7)

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 guide

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About autism services in Shannon County

Shannon County — home to Eminence — is one of Missouri's most rural and sparsely populated counties in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways region. Families typically travel significant distances to access autism evaluations and therapy. Missouri's First Steps serves children under 3, and MPACT provides free IEP advocacy statewide.

Helpful guides

Guides for Shannon County families

Step-by-step help on the topics that matter most.

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 Shannon County, Missouri?

We list 11 providers serving Shannon 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 Shannon County accept Medicaid?

2 of the providers we list for Shannon County state that they accept Medicaid, including Behavioral Health Works — Rural Ozarks Telehealth (Carter County) and Behavioral Health Works — Telehealth ABA (Shannon County). Coverage and plan participation change often, so confirm directly with the provider before your first appointment.

Where can I find ABA therapy in Shannon County?

ABA providers serving Shannon 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 Shannon County families?

Yes — 7 providers serving Shannon 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 Shannon County?

1 provider serving Shannon County delivers 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 Shannon County?

If none of the Shannon 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 Shannon County

These are the things no database has and every parent knows. If you can answer one of them, another family in Shannon 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.

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 Shannon County? We'll email you.

One email when we verify a new provider in Shannon 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.

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Help the community

Know a great provider in Shannon 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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For providers

Are you a provider serving Shannon County?

Add your practice so families searching for help can find you. Listings are free.

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