welcome!
We are so glad that you are here! We know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate services, supports, diagnoses, and the emotional weight that comes with loving a child with additional needs.
Kindred was built on the belief that moms are stronger when they’re supported, understood, and surrounded by others who get it. We hope this page equips you with tools you can use, resources you can trust, and a renewed sense of confidence as you continue advocating for your child and your family.
We have made every effort to ensure the information is accurate at the time of publication. However, details may change and occasional errors or omissions may occur. We encourages you to verify information independently and use your own discretion when accessing listed resources.
traditional + alternative therapies
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
ABA therapy for children 6 and under. Also provides diagnostic evaluations for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
ABA therapy for children in a clinic setting.
Offering OT, PT and SLP for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Specializes in Pediatric Feeding Therapy, OT, SLP, PT and much more!
Provides Speech, Occupation, and Physical Therapy.
▼ Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy
Provides Speech, Occupation, and Feeding Therapy.
▼ MercyKids Therapy - Mid Rivers
Provides Speech, Occupation, and Feeding Therapy.
◊ Tree House of Greater St. Louis
Where children with disabilities and their families can find acceptance, tackle mental and physical challenges, and express their spirit in a peaceful and natural setting. Offers equine-assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, and mental health and counseling.
▼ Exceptional Equestrians of the MO Valley
Provides people with disabilities affordable, enjoyable horsemanship experiences for therapeutic effect, developing and strengthening mind, body and spirit.
▼ Speech.Love.Language Speech Therapy
Provides speech & language evaluations, therapy, and education to the community.
▼ Come As You Are Counseling, LLC.
Provides counseling for developmental trauma recovery, attachment wounds, substance use disorders, eating disorders, women’s mental health, childhood social-emotional development and life transitions.
advocacy + services
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
◊ Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
Helps eligible blind and visually impaired persons achieve personal and employment services.
Helps families, children, and adults of all ages live joyful lives of their own choosing, no matter what challenges they face.
Provides children and adults living with differing abilities the extraordinary care and support they need to thrive in school, at home, at work and in their community.
▼ FACT (Family Advocacy & Community Training)
Provides services to families that include a child with a developmental disability and/or behavioral health disorder. This includes training in advocacy, how to improve quality of life, and improve opportunities.
Can help navigate programs, recommend servies and programs outside of ARC, and help you find programs that align with your interests and needs.
Creates inclusive opportunities for neurodiverse individuals within all aspect of their lives through education, awareness, access to communication preference, and technology as a natural support.
Serves people across Illinois, Kansas and Missouri through life changing programs for families with autism, employment, health, and more.
◊ Regional Office for Eastern Missouri – DMH
Registers your child for services provided by the State of Missouri for those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Provides supports to help families access the resources needed to care for their child.
Helps students with disabilities served by the Special School District to improve independence by increasing social skills and expanding their meaningful life aspirations.
Empowers children with disabilities in the St. Louis region to live amazing lives through critical programs and services.
An advocacy group that helps parents navigate the school system and more in Missouri.
Advocacy and education for families.
▼ Freddie Ford Family Foundation
Hosts community events that promote inclusion, support group meetings for parents and provide support for underserved families impacted by autism.
▼ Special Needs Tracking & Awareness Response System (STARS)
Program designed for children with moderate to severe medical conditions who utilize special medical equipment and/or present with uncommon symptoms. STARS provides Paramedics with important information about the patient prior to their arrival on the scene of an emergency call.
◊ Developmental Disabilities Resource Board of St. Charles County – (DDRB)
By funding vital programs and services, DDRB helps propel the lives, careers, and independence of people with I/DD. From early intervention to employment support, we help people access the tools they need to thrive in our community.
funding + financial planning
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
Provides grants for children under 16 for therapy services.
Non-profit that provides need-based adaptive equipment to children with special needs in the Greater St. Louis Region.
◊ Community Living for St. Charles County
Provides services such as Employment Services, Respite Care Home, Respite Center, Social Opportunities and Recreation and Support Services for Adults. They provide funding for respite care for both children and adults.
Provides fully-funded service dogs for children ages 5-12 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
◊ Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis
Provides grants and vouchers for recreational activities and programs in the St. Louis area.
▼ Special Education Foundation
Provides programs, grants, scholarships, adaptive equipment, and resources for St. Louis County students.
▼ Nathaniel’s Hope – Buddy Break
Provides free respite care for individuals with disabilities ages 2-16 and their siblings ages 4 to fifth grade.
◊ Joni and Friends in Missouri
Provides retreats and getaways, wheelchairs, Bibles, and respite care for families with special needs.
◊ Thrivent – Special Needs Planning
Offers a simplified approach to special needs financial planning – ones that’s personalized to accommodate your financial situation and the goals you have for your child.
◊ Boone Center, Inc. – Benefits Planning Assistance
Helps with benefit planning for your individual with special needs.
Provides estate planning services and educational material supports.
summer camps + adult day centers
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
△ Starkloff Disability Institute: Dream Big Camp
Empowers college-interested students with disabilities in making friends, discovering disability history, building leadership skills and meeting role models.
Provides care to adults ages 18 and over and focuses on enriching their participants’ lives based on individual needs while building on their skills, knowledge, interests and abilities.
△ Cave Springs Adult Day Center
Committed to providing comprehensive day services designed to support adults with developmental disabilities in living their best lives.
Creates an environment that supports health-related services, educational and recreational opportunities for each participant and services seniors and adults with disabilities.
△ IN Program – Adult Day at the J
Designed to foster Independence, Inclusion, Ingenuity, and to Inspire young adults with disabilities to achieve their personal goals and have fun while doing it.
△ SUCCEED Summer Enrichment Camp
For those at least 17 yrs old that want to feel what it’s like to be in college at UMSL campus.
fitness + social opportunities
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
Provides adaptive swim lessons for children with disabilities.
Adaptive lessons for individuals with disabilities.
Adaptive lessons for children with disabilities.
◊ Show Me Aquatics and Fitness
Provides health, fitness and quality of life in an environment that is as accommodating, accessible and barrier-free as possible.
Promotes athleticism, engages individuals with intellectual disabilities, strengthens communities, and improves the well-being of athletes.
An adaptive play gym for those on the spectrum and their families. New location coming to St. Charles, MO!
Provides athletic, artistic, life-skill building and social opportunities for kids and adults.
◊ Danceabilities School of Dance
Located in St. Louis, MO, and Cape Girardeau, MO. Find them on facebook!
Provides Adaptive Gymnastics Program.
▼ Team Central Gymnastics Academy
Provides Adaptive Gymnastics Program.
Individual health through movement and personalized training.
Located in Fenton, MO, this organization provides an adaptive program for fitness.
Empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a life beyond limits through personalized support and community engagement.
△ Living Well in the Community
Designed for adults with disabilities to set and achieve goals, overcome barriers, develop health habits, and access resources and community support.
educational + employment
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
△ Black Cat Coffee Cafe Project
Hosts pop-up events where their Coffee Crew (individuals with special needs) gain hands-on experience in a welcoming, supportive environment. Through these events, their crew members develop valuable job skills to help them transition into gainful employment.
△ Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation
Provides services for young adults with disabilities who are preparing for life after high school.
△ TJ Swift House ASCEND Program
At Missouri State University – West Plains. It offers neurodivergent students specialized support in reaching their goals.
△ PAWS (University of Missouri)
The University of Missouri’s inclusive postsecondary certificate option for students with intellectual disabilities.
Employment & Training and Excel Center.
Helps individuals with disabilities develop life skills to attain employment, engage in social activities, live independently and obtain adaptive equipment.
Provides employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
mom recommended
This list was crowd-sourced from moms in the Kindred Facebook community. These are parent-recommended resources—not necessarily ones we’ve personally used—but they reflect what other families have found helpful.
index key:
▼ Ages 18 + Under
△ Ages 18 + Above
◇ All Ages
dentists
Offices located in Creve Coeur and St. Charles, Missouri.
▼ Salthouse Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Office located in Des Peres.
◊ The Dental Anesthesia Center
Office in Clayton, MO.
▼ Skyview Pediatric Dentistry – Dr Emily Hahn
Offices in Town and Country and St. Louis.
Offices located in St. Louis, Wentzville and Columbia, Missouri.
▼ Lenahan Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Located in Oakville, Missouri.
mental health care
A leader is outpatient mental health care in Missouri. Provides therapy, psychiatry, and testing and evaluations.
Helps with a variety of health services including behavioral health, dental care, primary healthcare for adults and children, and community support.
Provides counseling for children, adults, and families.
◊ Center for Behavioral Health (UMSL)
Provides psychological services to the St. Louis area.
◊ Better Days Psychiatry and Family Practice
Located in St. Louis and virtual visits available.
hair cuts
◊ Sweet and Sour Salon - Mr. Tim
Located in Ballwin.
pediatricians + developmental pediatricians
▼ Caryn Garriga Pediatrics - Dr. Caryn Garriga
Located in Ellisville.
▼ SSM Pediatrics - Dr. Elizabeth Bergamini
Located in O’Fallon.
▼ Heart2Heart Pediatrics – Dr. Kristen Bruno
Located in Chesterfield.
eye doctors
Located in Town and Country.
◊ St. Louis Eye Care Specialists - Andrew Blatt
Located in St. Louis, MO.
chiropractors
Located in Richmond Heights.
Located in Wildwood.
◊ Amplify Life Chiropractic - Dr. Stephen Schoenherr
Located in St. Peters.
specialty doctors
▼ SSM Pediatrics - Dr. Anu French
Integrative Medicine and Pediatrics
Located at DePaul Hospital.
◊ Allergy, Asthma and Food Allergy Centers - Manoj Warrier, M.D.
Allergist
Located in South County, West County, and Swansea, IL.
photographers
With a background in working with children and individuals with disabilities and training in special education, Megan creates relaxed, supportive sessions that help every client feel confident, safe, and truly seen.