An autism evaluation opens the door to services, school supports, and understanding. This guide covers how to get one in the Des Moines metro — the process, where to go, how long it takes, and what to do while you wait.
Located on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, this center provides autism diagnostic evaluations for children birth through 10, staffed by developmental-behavioral pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and allied therapists. Entry is by referral from your pediatrician and goes through clinical triage before scheduling, so ask your PCP to send the referral early.
Visit siteChildServe's autism diagnostic clinic operates out of Johnston and uses standardized testing across psychology, occupational, and speech disciplines. A diagnosis here connects directly into their ABA, day program, and outpatient therapy pipeline — ask whether a diagnosis moves you up their internal therapy waitlist.
Visit siteCaravel evaluates children as young as 12 months at its Des Moines clinic and also offers diagnostic evaluations by telehealth across Iowa, which can matter if in-person slots are backed up. Evaluations bill to insurance or Medicaid — ask billing about deductible and co-pay exposure before you book.
Visit siteRegional — about two hours east in Iowa City, inside the Center for Disabilities and Development at 100 Hawkins Drive. This is Iowa's tertiary-level evaluation center, using team assessments across psychology, speech-language pathology, and OT; it is often where complex or ambiguous cases land, and waits reflect that.
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