In-Home ABA Therapy in West Des Moines, IA
West Des Moines runs from Historic Valley Junction out past Jordan Creek, and it crosses two counties, Polk and Dallas. With new subdivisions going up on the west side and busy school calendars, evenings here fill up fast.
In-home ABA therapy fits into that schedule instead of adding to it. A Shining Steps behavior technician comes to your home after school, so your child practices new skills in their own space and you skip the drive to a clinic. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) builds the plan, supervises the work and coaches you, too. We accept Iowa Medicaid and all of its health plans, plus Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna.
Call us: (515) 316-7770
Get started with in-home ABA
Tell us about your family and our intake team will check your coverage and get back to you.
We accept most insurances including
.svg.png)
Hear from our families
Google reviews from families who work with Shining Steps.
Rosie M.
Clark P.
Shaninda S.
Brad O.
Temima K.
Adina Z.
In-home ABA services
Your child’s program is built around your family’s calendar, with most sessions in the after-school hours. Here is what it can include.
- In-home sessions. Whether your home is in an older neighborhood near Valley Junction or a newer subdivision on the west side, your child learns in a familiar space. Goals are built around your real routines, like unpacking a backpack, sitting down for dinner or getting ready for an early school morning.
- In-school sessions. With your school’s permission, a technician can support your child during the school day in West Des Moines Community Schools or the Waukee Community School District, depending on which side of the county line you live on.
- Community sessions. Practicing at a park, the library or a store helps your child use new skills outside the house, with a trained adult right there.
- Caregiver training. Your BCBA meets with you on a regular schedule, shows you what is working and helps you use the same strategies on busy days, when it counts most.
Insurance and coverage
Whether your child’s coverage comes through a parent’s job or through Iowa Medicaid, our intake team can check it for you. We accept Iowa Medicaid and all of its health plans, plus Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna.
Commercial plans
In Iowa, the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and we are in network with it. We are also in network with Aetna commercial plans. ABA coverage depends on your specific plan, and most plans need approval before therapy begins. Have a different commercial plan? Call us and we’ll check your benefits.
Iowa Medicaid
We accept all three IA Health Link plans: Iowa Total Care, Molina Healthcare of Iowa and Wellpoint Iowa. Medicaid covers ABA for children under 21 with an autism diagnosis when it is medically necessary.
Either way, our intake team requests the approval for you. See our Iowa page for coverage details.
Areas we serve
We serve West Des Moines and its neighbors on both sides of the Polk and Dallas county line.
Neighborhoods and nearby cities
Historic Valley Junction, the Jordan Creek area, the Valley West and West Glen areas, and older neighborhoods near the Des Moines line. We also serve Clive, Waukee, Windsor Heights and Urbandale.
School districts
Most of the city is in West Des Moines Community Schools, which also reaches into parts of Clive, Urbandale and Windsor Heights. The Dallas County side of the city is in the Waukee Community School District. With the school’s permission, we can support your child during the school day in either district. Schools here are supported by Heartland AEA, which serves both Polk and Dallas counties.
Closer to downtown? See our Des Moines page or all of our Iowa locations.
Practicing skills around town
Some sessions take place out in the community, so your child can practice new skills in real places. A few public spots in town work well for that.
- West Des Moines Public Library. The library on Mills Civic Parkway is a good place to practice a quiet voice, walking instead of running, and waiting to check out.
- Raccoon River Park. Its inclusive playgrounds have separate areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. Your child can practice taking turns, sharing equipment and coming when called. The lake loop trail is good for practicing staying close on a walk.
- American Legion Park. The sprayground on Vine Street can help with waiting your turn, handling noise and splashes, and leaving when it is time to go.
We don’t have a partnership with these places. Your BCBA chooses settings that match your child’s goals.
The Team
Aron Stein
Founder and CEO
.jpg)
Beth Wittwer
Clinical Director
Sora Lee
Lead BCBA
Autism resources near you
Some of central Iowa’s key autism resources are right here in West Des Moines or a short drive away. Most evaluation clinics ask for a referral, so a call to your pediatrician is a good first step.
- Blank Children’s Developmental Center (UnityPoint Health). Developmental specialists for children from birth through age 10, including autism diagnostic evaluations. 4055 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Call 515-224-3399. Learn more.
- Blank Children’s Psychology. In the same building, psychologists evaluate children and teens ages 3 to 16 for autism, with a doctor’s referral. Learn more.
- Early ACCESS through Heartland AEA. Free help for children under 3 whose development is a concern. You don’t need a diagnosis. Call 1-888-IAKIDS1 (1-888-425-4371). Learn more.
- ASK Resource Center. Family support, training and mentoring, based nearby in Johnston. Call 515-243-1713. Learn more.
- University of Iowa Autism Center. Part of the Center for Disabilities and Development at Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Call 1-877-686-0031. Learn more.
See if ABA is covered for your child
Send us a few details and our intake team will check your coverage, explain what it includes and tell you what we need to get started.
- We check your Medicaid plan or insurance benefits
- We tell you what we need, usually the diagnosis report
- We match your family with a BCBA and an in-home therapist
Prefer to talk? Call (515) 316-7770
Tell us about your family
Share a few details and our intake team will get back to you.
How to get started
Starting ABA can feel like a lot. We keep it simple and walk with you through each step.
- 1. Call us or fill out our form. Tell us about your child and what you’re hoping for. We’ll answer your questions about ABA.
- 2. We check your insurance. Our intake team verifies your Iowa Medicaid plan or private insurance and explains what is covered.
- 3. Share the diagnosis. Insurance coverage for ABA needs an autism diagnosis. If your child doesn’t have one yet, we can point you to evaluation options in Iowa.
- 4. Meet your BCBA. A BCBA assesses your child, learns your family’s goals and writes a treatment plan. We send it to your health plan for approval.
- 5. Sessions begin. Your child’s technician comes to your home, school or a community spot on a set schedule, and your BCBA checks in on progress.
Why families choose us
Here is what Iowa families can count on when they work with Shining Steps.
- Plans built by a BCBA. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst assesses your child, writes the treatment plan and supervises it. Our clinical team is led by Beth Wittwer, Clinical Director, and Sora Lee, Lead BCBA.
- One-on-one sessions. A Registered Behavior Technician works with your child individually, following the plan your BCBA designed.
- You are part of the team. Caregiver training is built into every program, and you meet with your BCBA regularly to review progress and set new goals.
- Less paperwork for you. Our intake team checks your benefits and requests approval from your health plan.
- Therapy where your child lives. Sessions happen at home, at school with the school’s permission, and in the community, mostly after school with some daytime hours.
- Iowa coverage we accept. Iowa Medicaid and all of its health plans, including Iowa Total Care, Molina Healthcare of Iowa and Wellpoint Iowa, plus Blue Cross Blue Shield (Wellmark in Iowa) and Aetna.
Common Questions
Yes. We serve families in West Des Moines and nearby Clive, Waukee, Windsor Heights and Urbandale, on both the Polk County and Dallas County sides. Because sessions happen in your home, the main question is whether we can match your child with a technician at the hours you need. Call us with your address and schedule, and we’ll let you know.
Often, yes. With the school’s permission, a technician can support your child during the school day in West Des Moines Community Schools or the Waukee Community School District. School sessions can help with classroom routines, transitions and getting along with classmates. Each school decides whether outside providers can join the school day, so we work with your child’s team to set it up.
Two good places are right in town on Westown Parkway. Blank Children’s Developmental Center sees children from birth through age 10, and Blank Children’s Psychology evaluates children ages 3 to 16 with a doctor’s referral. Both can be reached at 515-224-3399. Ask your pediatrician for a referral first. For children under 3, Early ACCESS is another free starting point.
Many plans do, but it depends on your specific plan. In Iowa that is Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and we are in network with it. We also accept Aetna. Most plans need approval before ABA starts. Our intake team checks your benefits and requests that approval for you. We also accept Iowa Medicaid and all of its health plans.
Your family deserves the best
Our team works closely with each family to build a plan that fits your child and your schedule. Reach out and our intake team will take it from there.