Applied Behavior Analysis is the most-funded autism therapy in Iowa — and one of the most debated. This guide covers how to access it in the Des Moines metro, the funding pathways (including Iowa's distinctive Autism Support Program), and what to look for in a provider.
ChildServe delivers ABA at its Johnston campus on Merle Hay Road, in 1:1 or group settings ranging from four to 30 hours a week, alongside an Autism Day Program for ages two to six. Referrals come through an intake team, so ask where you land in the queue and how ABA hours are coordinated with their on-site speech and OT.
Visit siteClinic on Southwest 5th Street serving children as young as 12 months, with diagnostic evaluations and center-based ABA under one roof. A diagnostic evaluation is required before therapy starts — ask how long the gap runs between evaluation and an actual therapy slot.
Visit siteFormerly The Homestead, Balance Autism runs clinical services out of Altoona and Clive (including a Metro West location combining ABA, speech, and OT) and accepts Medicaid, Iowa's Autism Support Program, insurance, and private pay. Ask which specific location has openings — availability varies by site and service.
Visit siteClinic on Office Plaza Drive North offering ABA, occupational therapy, speech, feeding therapy, and social skills groups, with additional sites in Urbandale, Ankeny, and Ames. Axis states plainly that its intake form places children on a waitlist and that it may not be able to estimate wait times — worth asking directly.
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