Starting at AB Spectrum
AB Spectrum is a locally owned autism clinic serving families in the St. Louis area since 2016. If you are just arriving on this site, it can be hard to know whether to start with a conversation, an evaluation, or a look at a clinic. This guide walks through how care usually begins, what we offer, and how to choose a location, so you can take a next step that actually fits your family.
What we offer, in plain terms
We provide three core services for young children: Reggio ABA therapy, speech therapy, and autism evaluations. Reggio ABA is our approach to ABA therapy. Board Certified Behavior Analysts design and supervise each plan, and learning is child-led in studio-style spaces inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Speech therapy is directed by speech-language pathologists and can stand on its own or be coordinated with ABA therapy. Autism evaluations are meant to give your family clearer answers; they are separate from therapy, and a diagnosis does not commit you to any service.
These services are available to families of all five clinics. You do not have to decide everything at once. Many families begin with a Welcome Call simply to talk through what they are seeing and what they hope will change.
How a Welcome Call works
A Welcome Call with our care coordination team is a conversation. You can share concerns, prior reports, and questions about benefits or scheduling. You do not need a complete file to start talking with us. If you already have a diagnosis, bring what you have. If you do not, we can talk about whether an evaluation is the right first step. If communication is the main need, we can talk about speech therapy.
After that call, the next steps depend on the service. Therapy plans usually involve assessment and, when insurance is involved, authorization. Evaluations follow their own process, which you can read about on our diagnostic clinic page. At each point you should know who will contact you and what you are being asked to do.
Choosing a clinic
We have five clinics: St. Louis at 2338 Lemay Ferry Road (serving Mehlville and South County), Chesterfield at 14733 Clayton Road, Florissant at 11753 W. Florissant Avenue, St. Peters at 1421 Triad Center Drive, and Wright City at 312 Warren Avenue. Many families in the St. Louis area are within about a 30-minute drive of at least one clinic. The locations page can help you compare, and each clinic page explains what a first visit can look like. For a longer checklist of questions to ask any provider, read our guide to choosing an autism clinic in St. Louis.
If you have a strong preference, tell us. If two clinics could work, tell us that too. Availability changes, and a second option can make planning easier. You are always welcome to ask about seeing a clinic before you begin.
What the first weeks can feel like
The first weeks mix paperwork and getting used to a new routine. Care coordination helps with benefits and forms. Clinicians get to know your child and write a plan you can review in language that should make sense. In ABA therapy, sessions are one-to-one. In speech therapy, the schedule is set by the speech-language pathologist around the goals you agreed to. In either case, you should have a way to hear about the day and a person to call when something is unclear.
If a drop-off, a goal, or a communication method is not working, say so early. Plans and routines can be adjusted. You are not expected to already know how clinic life works.
Benefits, records, and what you do not need yet
We work with families who use Medicaid (MO HealthNet) and with families who have commercial insurance. Coverage, authorization, and any out-of-pocket costs depend on the plan and the service. Our team verifies benefits and explains what we find before care begins. You do not have to understand every insurance term before the first call. Have your insurance card nearby if you have one, and tell us if you are still waiting on a new plan or a change in coverage.
Prior evaluations, therapy notes, and school or pediatrician records are helpful, and they can arrive after the first conversation. If you do not have them, we can still start talking. Physicians who want to refer a child can use our referring providers page. Families do not have to wait for a referral to schedule a meeting.
How you stay involved
Care works better when you can see the goals, understand why they were chosen, and share what a typical day looks like at home. In ABA therapy, the BCBA should review progress with you. In speech therapy, the speech-language pathologist should do the same. You can ask to have a goal explained, changed, or paused. You can also ask who to contact on a day when something unexpected happens.
Some families want frequent updates. Others prefer a scheduled review and a short daily note. Tell us what you can realistically keep up with. We will not assume every household can take on the same home practice.
How to take the next step
When you are ready, schedule a meeting with our care coordination team. You can also read getting started, browse services, or learn about Reggio ABA. Come with the questions you actually have. There is no required script, and you do not have to be sure of the service name before you reach out.
We’re here for you.
