Midwest Autism & Therapy Centers - West Des Moines

No, Midwest does not currently offer assessments to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder.  We do provide functional behavior assessments during our intake process. A functional behavior assessment, helps a clinician identify social, emotional, fine/gross motor, or behavioral challenges that may be affecting a child’s development or quality of life. Our clinical teams use functional behavior assessments to craft individualized therapy plans that address challenge areas and build on strengths. 

The number of therapy hours your child needs will depend on many factors including their age, strengths, challenges, Autism level, and family background. Upon enrollment, our clinical teams will conduct a functional behavior assessment for your child to help determine a recommended number of therapy hours.

At Midwest we specialize in intensive early-intervention ABA Therapy services for ages 2-5. Our goal is to help your child prepare for school and community settings!

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy rooted in the science of learning and behavior. Using principles of ABA, children and adults can learn to improve their communication skills, social skills, and daily living skills while also addressing problematic or challenging behaviors. The primary goal of ABA therapy is to teach helpful skills that promote independence and reduce harmful behaviors. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.

It's a big decision to make for your family! Applied behavior analysis (ABA) seeks to improve communication skills, introduce productive habits, and reduce harmful behaviors. Watch out for ABA providers who look to "cure" autism.

High quality ABA therapy does exist where the goal is not to “fix” children, make them appear “less autistic”, or change who they are. The goal is to help people learn all that they can so they can live to their potential while embracing their unique, individual personality traits. Here's our complete guide to start and end ABA therapy.

ABA is usually covered by insurance if you have an autism diagnosis. Autism is typically the only diagnosis insurance will authorize for ABA services since its benefits have been researched extensively.

Always check with your specific insurance plan to confirm that ABA is covered for your child’s diagnoses and that the provider you are seeking care at is in-network. Here's our complete guide to everything you need to know about ABA therapy.

“Early Intervention” might be the provider’s way of describing services that they provide to babies or young children. However, it might also indicate that the provider is a vendor for your state’s publicly funded program. This means the services with this provider might be covered by your state! 

The first step in accessing these free services from your state is to get an evaluation. The evaluation will help the state determine what services your child qualifies for, if any. You can find your state’s local EI program by clicking here.

When you contact your local center, say “I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for early intervention services.” They will ask screening questions and arrange for an evaluation, which is provided for free.