What We Offer: Comprehensive Center-Based ABA Therapy Services
ABA therapy for autistic children ages 2-6 from diagnosis through school age, delivered in person at our centers. Midwest’s center-based care model focuses on early intervention therapy. The goal of our program is to help your child achieve the early life skills they’ll need to be successful in a classroom or community environment.
In a center-based care model, you (the parent or caregiver) will bring your child to a Midwest therapy center each day for services. Children enrolled in center-based services receive ABA therapy from a team of direct care clinicians.
Center-based ABA
What is it: 1:1 therapy with a trained behavior technician (RBT), directed by your child’s BCBA. Play-based, built on your child’s strengths. Typically comprehensive ABA. As children near graduation or transition, we may move to focused ABA.
Small-group social skills
Caregiver training
What is it: Part of every treatment plan. You and your BCBA practice together on the moments that are hardest at home. Typically 2 to 4 hours a month.
School collaboration
What is it: With your permission, your BCBA shares data, observes at school, attends IEP meetings with you, and connects ABA goals to your child’s IEP. This is consultation, not direct therapy at school .
Who we serve
AGE: From the time of an autism diagnosis through the school-age years. We don’t set an upper age limit; children transition out as they are ready for school. There is no minimum age. Generally, we find most of our clients are in the range of 2-6 years.
DIAGNOSIS: A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is required for Insurance to cover ABA coverage. If an evaluation is pending, call us and we’ll tell you what to bring!
OTHER CONDITIONS: Many children we see also have other diagnoses. Our ABA supports the symptoms of autism; it does not treat the other condition itself, and we coordinate with your child’s other providers. Ask us if you’re not sure whether we’re a fit.
Where does our ABA Therapy take place?
In person, at our centers in Altoona, Ankeny, Waukee, and West Des Moines, Iowa; Edina and Woodbury, Minnesota; and Southfield, Michigan.
*Occasional in-home consultations and caregiver training are available for existing clients, for specific situations like a doctor or dentist visit or a first haircut.
How is ABA Therapy delivered?
Face to face, with your child’s RBT team and BCBA in the center. Caregiver training is sometimes done by telehealth, always alongside an in-person component. BCBA direction of staff is almost always in person.
Weekly Schedule
Part-time schedules run roughly 20–35 hours a week, planned around your child’s other services and your family’s routine. Hours are set by your child’s needs.
Center Hours
Altoona, Ankeny, Waukee, West Des Moines Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday
Woodbury & Edina Hours: 8:30am – 4:30 pm, Monday–Friday,
Southfield Hours: 8:00-4:30, Monday–Friday,
How therapy changes as your child grows
We don’t end therapy on a birthday or the first day of kindergarten. Hours step down gradually, based on your child’s data, and your BCBA reviews them with you every 6 months.
- Building the foundation. Mostly 1:1, play-based, with caregiver training alongside.
- Adding friends. 1:1 plus small-group social skills.
- School and ABA side by side. Hours come down; your BCBA works with the IEP team.
- Stepping down, with the door open. Fewer sessions, caregiver coaching, and school consultation. When skills hold across settings, we plan the next step together.
What we do not currently provide
We provide ABA therapy. We do not provide:
- Autism diagnostic evaluations
- Speech-language, occupational, or physical therapy
- Feeding therapy
- Academic instruction or school services
- Services for adults
If your child sees one of these providers, we gladly coordinate with them! With your permission, we share goals and progress so everyone supports the same skills.
What Are the Benefits of Center-Based Care?
Center-based services provide major advantages for children, especially those in their key developmental period between the ages or two and five. Some of the benefits include:
- Structured Learning Setting
- Specialized Environments & Equipment
- Individualized Treatment Plan
- 1:1 Care Teams
- Peer-to-Peer Social Skills Development
- Classroom Readiness
Program Eligibility
Center-based therapy services are available for children ages 2-6+ with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Medical necessity determines the amount of therapy – generally beginning around 15-20+ therapy hours per week.
Iowa Accepted Insurances:
- Iowa TotalCare
- Molina (Medicaid)
- United Health Care
- Unity Point Health Partners
- Wellpoint (BCBS)
- Wellmark (BCBS)
Minnesota Accepted Insurances:
- BCBS Blue Plus (MA)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield-Commercial
- Health Partners (MA)
Health Partners - Minnesota Assistance (MA)
- Medica (MA)
- Medica-Commercial
- United Health Care
Southfield, MI Accepted Insurances:
- Aetna Commercial
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Commercial
- Priority Health Commercial
- Medicaid coming soon!
Iowa Center Locations
Minnesota Center Locations
Southfield Center Locations
Recent Posts
- Play-Based ABA Therapy in Waukee, IA
- Why early ABA therapy matters for ages 2–6 with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- My day at Midwest: A day of ABA Therapy at Midwest Autism & Therapy Centers
- Creating sensory-friendly holiday experiences for autistic children in crowded places
- Minnesota Medicaid: Understanding the CMDE Process for ABA Therapy Services
