Autism Resources in Des Moines, Iowa

A guide for central Iowa families navigating autism diagnosis, therapy, schools, and support — across Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, and the surrounding metro.

Des Moines is the center of Iowa's autism services — home to ChildServe, one of the most substantial pediatric autism providers in the state, plus Blank Children's Hospital, the headquarters of Iowa's Medicaid and Health and Human Services agencies, and the Heartland Area Education Agency that supports special education across the metro. For central Iowa families, and for many families across the state who travel here for specialty care, Des Moines is where a lot of the system lives.

This page covers what's actually available in the Des Moines metro, how to navigate it, and where the gaps are.

We've written this as a starting point. Des Moines-area readers who know more than we do — tell us what we got wrong or missed.