Directory for Therapists and Professionals in Kansas City MO Who Know Autism

Summary: If you’re in the Kansas City area and seeking trusted therapists who are experienced with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), here’s a carefully curated directory. Included are speech, occupational, and physical therapy providers who understand neurodiversity and partner with your family’s goals.

Building Your Child’s Support Team

Families supporting a child on the autism spectrum often coordinate multiple services. These may include speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), behavioral supports, and more. Having reliable local providers who understand autism and work collaboratively with families and allied professionals can make a real difference in the outcome.

The good news: the Kansas City region boasts several such practices with autism-aware teams. Below are three excellent places to begin your search.

Top local providers

1. Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City – The Children’s SPOT

Location: 4333 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111. Contact: 816-932-3832.
What they offer: At The Children’s SPOT, the therapy team provides early, intensive speech, occupational and physical therapy for children with developmental delays. They emphasise individualized plans, family involvement and functional outcomes.
Why it’s helpful: A hospital-affiliated setting means access to robust resources and professionals trained across modalities. If your child’s needs span multiple domains (communication + motor + feeding), this may be a strong option.
Tip for families: Ask about how speech, OT and PT goals are aligned and how they integrate with your child’s school or home environment.

2. Playabilities for Sensational Kids

Location: Multiple locations in the KC metro:

• 3715 W 133rd St, Leawood, KS 66209
• 8340 Mission Rd, Ste B, Prairie Village, KS 66206
• 8555 Monrovia St, Lenexa, KS 66215

Contact: (913) 213-3531

What they offer: A pediatric therapy practice offering OT, PT, speech therapy, feeding therapy and play-based supports. It is specifically for children with neurodevelopmental differences including autism.
Why it’s helpful: Their philosophy centers on strength-based, fun, child-led therapy and it’s especially helpful for families seeking a less clinical feel.
Tip for families: Ask whether you can attend or observe sessions, and how the therapists coach you to support progress at home (the “carry-over” piece matters a lot).

3. New Balloon Speech Therapy

Location: 4033 Central St, Kansas City, MO 64111. Contact: 816-492-6870.
What they offer: Speech and language therapy services specialized in autism spectrum disorders and developmental delays. They emphasise working in natural settings (home, school, community) for greater generalization.
Why it’s helpful: If your primary concern is communication, expressive/receptive language or social-pragmatic skills, this focused speech practice may be a good match.
Tip for families: Ask if the speech-pathologist collaborates with other therapists (OT/PT/ABA) and how progress is communicated to you.

How to choose the right fit for your family

Here are some guiding questions and steps to help you evaluate and connect with a provider:

• Ask about autism-specific experience. Example: “How many children on the spectrum do you see? What training have you done specific to ASD?”
• Look for interdisciplinary collaboration. If your child receives or may receive ABA therapy (like from us at Shining Steps ABA), speech/OT/PT providers who coordinate make transitions smoother.
• Check setting and generalization. Is therapy limited to the clinic room or offered in home/school/community? Real-world practice supports broader gains.
• Consider family-partnering. Good providers will coach caregivers and give strategies for home environments. They don’t just have the attitude of “therapy happens, then we dismiss”.
• Check insurance and scheduling. Ask about in-network status, waitlists, cancellations, and how therapy frequency aligns with your child’s needs.
• Meet the team. Bring your child in for an evaluation or trial and observe: do they feel safe, welcomed, engaged? Is the therapist respectful of neurodiversity and your family’s goals?

How this supports your child’s development

When speech, OT and PT are aligned with your child’s overall program (which may include ABA therapy, educational plans, home routines, etc.), you support stronger outcomes. For example:

• Communication goals (speech) + sensory-motor regulation (OT) lead to better social participation and engagement.
• Physical therapy may address gross motor skills that enable community outings, sports or play with peers.
• Therapists who understand autism can help design supports for generalization across settings and functional use of skills, not just isolated drills.
• Families with a strong allied-therapist network feel more empowered and better equipped to integrate progress into everyday life.

Final thoughts

Finding the right therapists in the Kansas City region who know autism makes a meaningful difference. Whether your child is just entering services or you’re supporting them through adolescence, the right match matters.

The three providers above: Saint Luke’s The Children’s SPOT, Playabilities, and New Balloon are strong starting points. From there, you may explore others as your child’s needs evolve. As you build your team, remember: you as a caregiver know your child best, your insight matters, and the best services will partner with you (not just to you).

At Shining Steps ABA, we’re happy to collaborate with your speech, OT, and PT providers to ensure consistency and alignment across your child’s developmental journey. If you’d like help evaluating providers or coordinating services, please feel welcome to reach out.

FAQ
Q: At what age should I look for OT or PT if my child has ASD?
A: Intervention is beneficial at any age, though earlier often means broader impact; family-centred care and consistent services matter more than exact age.
Q: Can my child see multiple therapists concurrently (speech + OT + PT)?
A: Yes! Many children benefit from parallel supports, provided the providers coordinate and avoid over-scheduling your child.
Q: How do I know therapy is working?
A: You’ll see measurable goals, regular updates, home-practice strategies, and increasingly independent application of skills in daily life.
Q: What if a therapist says “we don’t treat autism specifically”?
A: Ask for clarification: do they have experience with ASD, sensory issues, social-communication challenges? If not, you might look for an autism-aware provider.