ABA, speech and OT at a glance
| ABA | Speech therapy | Occupational therapy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does it | A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) plans it; a registered behavior technician (RBT) works with your child | A licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) | A licensed occupational therapist (OT) |
| What it works on | Communication, social skills, daily living skills, school readiness and behavior that gets in the way of learning | Speech, language, social communication and swallowing | Everyday skills such as dressing, eating, bathing and relating to people |
| At Latitude's centers | Latitude, ages 2 to 6, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays | Conquer Therapy at Bridgeton; Sensory Solutions at St. Peters | Conquer Therapy at Bridgeton; Sensory Solutions at St. Peters |
| Ordered by | A physician or psychologist, with an autism diagnosis | Your child's physician | Your child's physician |
Does ABA include speech and OT?
No. They are three separate professions with separate licenses. ABA goals often include communication, but a speech-language pathologist treats speech and language disorders, and an OT builds the skills of daily life.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says SLPs "work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders."
Can a child have ABA, speech and OT at the same time?
Yes, and many children with autism do. The CDC says behavioral approaches "have the most evidence for treating symptoms of ASD," and "The most common developmental therapy for people with ASD is speech and language therapy."
The hard part is the driving. One St. Louis parent of a newly diagnosed 3 year old asked on Reddit for "a place that he will receive enough therapies where we don't have to visit 4 different places." One building solves most of that.
Why one building helps
- Less driving. Sessions can sit back to back on the same day.
- One team. Missouri's autism guidelines say families are best served "through a tightly integrated and well-coordinated team of professionals."
- Shared goals. Lindee Morgan, PhD, CCC-SLP, wrote in The ASHA Leader: "SLPs and BCBAs are frequently practicing in the same space, particularly in providing treatment for people with autism spectrum disorder."
- Evidence-based care. Latitude's clinicians are trained in evidence-based interventions, and each BCBA writes your child's treatment plan.
- Meet the analyst. Latitude encourages at least one meeting a month with your child's BCBA to review goals and plan practice at home.
- Bridgeton, St. Louis County3859 Fee Fee RoadABA: Latitude, ages 2 to 6Speech and OT: Conquer Therapy, 314-828-1443
- St. Peters, St. Charles County4200 N Cloverleaf DrABA: Latitude, ages 2 to 6Speech, OT, physical therapy and feeding: Sensory Solutions, 636-922-4700
Each service is checked with your insurance on its own. Ask Latitude intake how to line up the days.
Does insurance cover ABA, speech and OT in Missouri?
Usually yes, and each one is checked on its own.
| Coverage | ABA | Speech and OT |
|---|---|---|
| Private insurance (Missouri law) | Covered when ordered by a physician or psychologist; $40,000 a year through age 18, adjusted for inflation | Covered as "therapeutic care" for autism when ordered and medically necessary; the ABA dollar cap does not apply. Ask your plan about visit limits. |
| MO HealthNet (Medicaid) | Covered under age 21 with an autism diagnosis from a physician or psychologist | Covered under age 21: physical, occupational and speech/language therapy |
Missouri law also says autism coverage "shall not be denied on the basis that it is educational or habilitative in nature." Latitude checks your ABA benefits before services start.
How do you book all three?
- ABA: call Latitude intake at 314-410-9670. We check insurance, then a BCBA assesses your child and writes the plan.
- Speech and OT: ask Latitude intake on the same call. Our partners are Conquer Therapy at Bridgeton and Sensory Solutions at St. Peters. Conquer says you need an order from your physician.
- Line up the days. Ask Latitude intake how to fit speech and OT around your child's ABA hours.
Which center is closer?
- Bridgeton (St. Louis County): 3859 Fee Fee Road, with Conquer Therapy.
- St. Peters (St. Charles County): 4200 N Cloverleaf Dr, with Sensory Solutions. Sensory Solutions lists hours Monday to Thursday, 8 AM to 7 PM.
Both Latitude centers are early intervention ABA centers for ages 2 to 6, with part-time hours and no waitlist. See the insurance plans Latitude accepts.
Sources
Every fact on this page was read on the source's own page. Outside sources are not affiliated with Latitude.
- ASHA: Speech-Language Pathologists
- AOTA: What Is Occupational Therapy?
- BACB: Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- CDC: Treatment and Intervention for Autism
- RSMo 376.1224, autism coverage in health benefit plans
- MO HealthNet: Therapy Services
- MO HealthNet: Diagnosis Requirements for ABA Services
- Missouri DMH: Autism Guidelines Initiative
- Lindee Morgan, PhD, CCC-SLP, The ASHA Leader (2020)
- Conquer Therapy Services: FAQ
- Sensory Solutions: St. Peters
- Reddit r/StLouis: ABA services advice (January 2026)