Step 1 of 2
How old is your child?
Choose the age closest to your child's. The CDC publishes a different milestone list for each of these ages.
Child younger than 12 months or older than 5? The CDC checklists this tool uses cover ages 1 through 5. For other ages, start with our parent guide or talk directly with your pediatrician.
Step 2 of 2
By , does your child…
These are the CDC's social/emotional and language/communication milestones for this age, quoted as written. Answer honestly — “not yet” is useful information, not a failing grade.
For example, they used to say words or wave and have stopped. The CDC advises acting early on any loss of skills at any age.
Your summary
Nothing you entered was sent anywhere. Want a copy? Use your browser's print function to save this summary as a PDF and bring it to your child's next appointment.
What this checklist can and can't tell you
Being clear about this matters more than getting you to fill out a form.
One thing worth understanding about how the CDC built these lists: each milestone is one that roughly 75% or more of children can do by that age. They are deliberately not averages. That design means a missed milestone is a legitimate prompt to ask questions — but it is not, on its own, evidence that something is wrong. Children arrive at skills on their own timelines, and a single “not yet” in an otherwise typical picture is common.
Missouri-Specific
What to do next in Missouri
You do not need a diagnosis — or even a doctor's referral — to start most of these.
If a diagnosis does come
Where ABA therapy fits — and where it doesn't
Applied Behavior Analysis is one of the most established treatment approaches for autistic children, and it is the service Archways provides. It is not the only thing that helps, and it is not appropriate for every child. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and early intervention often matter just as much — sometimes more, depending on what your child needs. If you're still at the stage of wondering, what ABA therapy actually involves is a reasonable next read.
When families do start with us, care is delivered where it fits their life: in-home ABA therapy across Missouri, secure telehealth sessions for families far from a provider, and parent training and coaching so the strategies keep working after the session ends. Programs begin with a functional behavior assessment and every program is supervised by a BCBA.
We accept Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) and most major commercial plans, and we'll verify your benefits for free before you commit to anything. If it turns out we're not the right fit for your family, we'll tell you that too.
Common Questions
Questions parents ask about this checklist
Is this an autism test or a diagnosis?
No. This is a milestone checklist, not a diagnostic test and not an autism screener. It compares what your child is doing against the developmental milestones the CDC publishes for their age. Only a qualified professional — such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or neuropsychologist — can diagnose autism, and that requires a full evaluation. Use this checklist to organize your observations before you talk to your child's doctor.
Do my answers get sent to Archways ABA?
No. Everything you enter stays in your browser on your own device. Nothing is transmitted to Archways ABA or to anyone else, nothing is stored, and no email address or phone number is required to see your results. If you later choose to contact us, that is a separate step you control.
Where do these milestones come from?
The checklist items are the social/emotional and language/communication milestones published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of its “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program. CDC selects milestones that about 75% or more of children can do by a given age, so not meeting one is a reason to ask questions — not proof that something is wrong.
My child missed a milestone. Does that mean they have autism?
No. Children develop at different rates, and a missed milestone can reflect many things — hearing loss, a speech or language delay, a global developmental delay, limited exposure to a skill, or simply individual variation. Missing milestones is a reason to talk with your pediatrician and ask about a developmental evaluation. It is not by itself an indication of autism.
My child is meeting every milestone but something still feels off. What should I do?
Trust that instinct and raise it with your pediatrician anyway. Milestone checklists are broad screening prompts and they do not capture everything — including subtler differences in social interaction, play, sensory responses, or repetitive behaviors. Parents are very often the first to notice that something is different, well before a checklist reflects it. Asking for a developmental screening costs you very little and can save months.
What should I do in Missouri if I have concerns?
If your child is under 3, you can contact Missouri First Steps directly for a free evaluation — no physician referral and no diagnosis are required. If your child is 3 or older, your local public school district must provide a free special education evaluation on written request, even before kindergarten. In parallel, ask your pediatrician for a referral for a developmental evaluation, and get on more than one waitlist, because waits in Missouri can run several months.
About this checklist & its source
The milestone statements in this tool are quoted from the developmental milestone checklists published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program, which are free to use and reproduce. This page uses the social/emotional and language/communication milestones for ages 1 through 5. CDC does not endorse Archways ABA, and this page is not affiliated with or approved by the CDC.
This tool is provided for information only and is not clinical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for evaluation by a qualified professional. Source: CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early. — Milestone checklists.