Is Kansas City MO a Good Place to Live for People with Autism?

Parents always want what’s best for their children. For parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), doing so can be very challenging, especially if the place you live doesn’t have the support and services that your child might need.

For example, if your child has been diagnosed with autism, they likely will be recommended to have applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. As a science-based approach to learning and behavior, it’s widely recognized as the leading treatment option for children on the autism spectrum.

Yet, if there aren’t many (or any) ABA therapy clinics around and other services, organizations and programs that can provide help, parents may find it difficult to live in a certain region.

Luckily, Kansas City MO is one of those places that does have ample resources and supports for children with autism and their families.

Below, we’ll dive deeper into why Kansas City MO is a good place to live for people with autism.

Find ABA Treatment in Missouri
Find ABA Treatment in Kansas City MO

Key Takeaways

• Kansas City ranks highly among U.S. cities for disability-friendliness.
• Wide access to ABA therapy, especially through Blue Gems ABA.
• Strong infrastructure of autism-focused organizations and state support.
• Life-long support available for individuals with autism, including into adulthood.
• Nearby St. Louis also ranks highly, expanding Missouri’s overall autism support network.

Table Of Contents

Kansas City Ranks High on Wallet Hub List

Wallet Hub recently released its Best & Worst Cities for People with Disabilities, and Kansas City ranks very high on that list. In fact, it came in at No. 13 in total score.

The study compared close to 200 of the most populated cities in the U.S. across 33 indicators of “disability-friendliness.” This includes data sets such as the rate of workers with disabilities, park accessibility and physicians per capita.

Kansas City had a composite score of 56.87, which isn’t that far off the top score of 61.62 for Minneapolis. The city ranked 17th for economy and 22nd for overall health care.

If specific resources aren’t available directly in the Kansas City region, Missouri families of children with autism will be happy to know that St. Louis ranked second on the list.

Kansas City Has Many Autism-Related Organizations

A big advantage to living in Kansas City MO is that there are many autism-related organizations there that provide a wealth of services.

The state Department of Mental Health runs the Office of Autism Services (OAS) and has established the Missouri Autism Center Consortium. These two state-affiliated agencies work to provide information and guidance, training and education, support and direct links to other organizations that offer diagnostic and intervention services for people in the state with ASD.

The Autism Society-The Heartland and Autism Speaks are two other nationally-recognized organizations that are dedicated to providing support, services and advocacy for children with autism and their families.

Much of this information is available online, though they both also hold in-person events, trainings, seminars and more.

Nonprofits Serve Kansas City’s Autism Community Throughout Life

Another major reason why Kansas City MO is a good place to live for people with autism is there are nonprofits dedicated to supporting this population throughout their lifetime.

Life Unlimited was established in 2016, and expanded in 2018 and 2024, when four non-profit organizations merged so they could provide a broader scope of services to adults with disabilities in the region.

Today, Life Unlimited continues to provide exceptional services to support individuals with autism and other disabilities even when they become adults. People who were familiar with Concerned Care, Immacolata Manor, Open Options and MERIL can now benefit from Life Unlimited’s continued services.

Blue Gems ABA is Kansas City’s Top ABA Therapy Clinic

These are just a few of the reasons why Kansas City MO is a good place to live for people with autism. Another is the fact that the region is home to Blue Gems ABA, the leading provider of ABA therapy in the Kansas City region.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced therapists is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children with autism, helping them to live as independently as possible. We do this by creating personalized treatment plans that target their unique strengths, challenges, needs and preferences.

In doing so, we can help them gain social, communication and daily life skills they may struggle with, and modify certain negative and/or harmful behaviors.

To learn more, please contact us today.

FAQs – Autism Support in Kansas City, MO

• Is Kansas City a good place to live for kids with autism?
  Yes. It has access to leading ABA therapy, national and local organizations, and excellent disability rankings.
• What is Blue Gems ABA?
  It’s the top ABA therapy clinic in Kansas City, offering custom programs to support children with ASD.
• Are there resources for adults with autism in Kansas City?
  Yes. Life Unlimited offers residential, vocational, and community-based services for adults with autism and other disabilities.
• Does Kansas City offer statewide autism support?
  Yes. Through the Missouri Autism Center Consortium and Office of Autism Services.
• How does Kansas City compare to other cities?
  It ranked #13 out of nearly 200 U.S. cities in Wallet Hub’s disability-friendliness index. St. Louis ranked #2.