Autism Resources in Columbia, Missouri

Columbia sits almost exactly halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis, and for autism families across the state it is best known as the home of the University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment — one of the most significant autism diagnosis, treatment, and research centers in the country. That makes Columbia a place many Missouri families travel to, not just live in. This guide covers how families find diagnosis, therapy, schools, and community here, and how the statewide programs — First Steps early intervention, MO HealthNet, and Missouri's insurance mandate — fit in.