Autism Specialist | $22.00 - $25.00 / hour

Easterseals Midwest is hiring in Eldon, Missouri, for a full-time Autism Specialist who will work onsite and provide in-home support to families and their children with autism. This nonprofit is dedicated to equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities, families, and communities, and they back you with comprehensive training, opportunities for raises based on experience, and strong benefits. If you’re drawn to direct, impact-driven work with families and you want a clear path to professional growth, this could be a great fit.

As a specialist, you’ll join a team focused on helping kids with autism unlock many life opportunities through practical supports and steady collaboration with families and supervisors. You’ll receive hands-on training to become skilled in the field, with ongoing guidance and a commitment to meaningful outcomes for the families you serve.

In this role you’ll be part of a program that emphasizes growth, support, and professional development, with pay that reflects experience and annual opportunities for increases. The position is onsite in Eldon and involves providing in-home support services to families and their children with autism.

What you’ll do day to day in Eldon

You’ll work directly with families to implement support plans for children with autism, coaching parents on strategies that promote positive behavior and learning, and tracking progress to refine approaches as needed. You’ll document visits and outcomes to help tailor plans over time and ensure consistency across different settings, all while staying aligned with the organization’s training and standards.

Day to day, you’ll coordinate with supervisors and teammates to ensure families receive consistent guidance, adapt techniques to each child’s needs, and participate in the ongoing training that helps you grow into a recognized autism specialist.

Must-have requirements, then nice-to-haves

• A bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field is required

• Experience in a social services setting for a year or more is beneficial
• Familiarity with autism or other developmental disabilities is helpful

Compensation and basics

The role pays $22.00 to $25.00 per hour, and the annual salary range is $44,000 to $50,000. It’s a full-time, onsite position in Eldon, Missouri. Easterseals Midwest offers pay based on experience, yearly opportunities for raises, and a benefits package that includes paid time off, healthcare, a retirement contribution, and comprehensive job training for growth in the field.

Tips to stand out in this role

Lead your resume with your foundation: your bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field, and any direct social services experience you have, especially if it involved work with autism or developmental disabilities.

Show proof of the must-have skills with concrete examples from practicum, internships, or paid work that demonstrate your ability to support families and implement autism-related strategies. Include outcomes or measurable progress where possible.

Prepare to discuss in-home support scenarios and how you collaborate with families, supervisors, and training teams to maintain consistent care and progress for the child.

Ask about the training program and how success is measured: what the comprehensive autism specialist training covers, and what ongoing supervision and milestones look like as you build expertise in this role.