Sensory Tools in Des Moines, IA: A Resource Guide for Practitioners and Parents
A comprehensive guide to sensory therapy resources in Des Moines, IA — local clinics, sensory gyms, practitioner associations, and tools for OTs, PTs, counselors, and parents.
Des Moines has quietly built one of the Midwest's most comprehensive therapy ecosystems. Two major health systems — UnityPoint Health and MercyOne — anchor the metro with hospital-based rehabilitation programs, while Blank Children's Hospital provides specialized pediatric therapy services that draw families from across Iowa. The city's insurance industry workforce (Principal, EMC, Wellmark) creates steady demand for adult hand therapy and ergonomic rehab, and Des Moines's growing suburban footprint in Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Waukee has attracted private therapy practices to serve young families. Drake University's occupational therapy program feeds local clinics with new graduates, and community organizations like Easterseals Iowa and Orchard Place fill critical gaps in behavioral health and disability support. Whether you're a practitioner building a referral network or a parent navigating sensory needs, Des Moines offers depth across every therapy category.
Local Clinics & Sensory Resources in Des Moines
Blank Children's Hospital — Therapy Services
UnityPoint Health's dedicated pediatric hospital in Des Moines, established in 1944, offering comprehensive OT, PT, and speech-language pathology through its Variety Pediatric Therapy Services program. Operates a developmental center with monthly autism and behavior clinics, serving central Iowa families at locations in Des Moines and Ankeny.
MercyOne Des Moines Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
Comprehensive rehabilitation program offering PT, OT, speech therapy, and specialized hand therapy across seven Des Moines-area clinics including Pleasant Hill, Ankeny, Waukee, and Clive. Operates Iowa's first freestanding rehabilitation hospital (MercyOne Clive Rehabilitation Hospital) and offers vestibular rehab, lymphedema management, and functional capacity assessments.
The Iowa Clinic — Physical Therapy
Central Iowa's largest multi-specialty physician group, with over 30 physical therapists across five Des Moines-metro locations (Ankeny, Downtown, Johnston, South Waukee, West Des Moines). Offers hand and elbow therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, pelvic health, dry needling, and breast cancer recovery therapy.
Iowa Ortho — Physical & Occupational Therapy
Major Des Moines orthopedic practice with 22 specialty physicians and dedicated PT/OT services at locations in Des Moines, Ankeny, and Johnston. Provides post-surgical rehab, sports injury recovery, and upper extremity therapy integrated with their orthopedic surgical team.
On With Life — Neuro Rehabilitation
CARF-accredited neuro rehabilitation provider in Ankeny specializing in brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and complex neurological conditions. One of only two programs worldwide with CARF CIIRP accreditation, employing 76 certified brain injury specialists across inpatient, outpatient, residential, and day programs.
Brain Balance Center of Des Moines
Assessment-based developmental center in Clive offering individualized programs for children with ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum concerns, learning disorders, and sensory processing challenges. Combines in-center sessions with at-home exercises and nutritional guidance to address the whole child.
Easterseals Iowa
Statewide nonprofit headquartered in Des Moines serving approximately 3,000 individuals annually through disability services, assistive technology lending, brain health services, Camp Sunnyside, and employment training programs. Covers all 99 Iowa counties with direct and indirect services for children and adults with disabilities.
Orchard Place
Des Moines's oldest locally based charity (est. 1886) and Iowa's leading children's mental health treatment provider. Serves over 5,500 children and families annually through residential treatment, outpatient therapy, in-home programs, and community-based behavioral health services for ages birth through 21.
UnityPoint Health — Eyerly Ball
Certified Community Behavioral Health Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in Des Moines, providing over 50 years of community mental health services. Offers individual and family counseling, substance use treatment, 24/7 crisis response across 18 counties, peer support, residential care, and the RESTORE first-episode psychosis program.
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI)
One of Iowa's largest nonprofit human services agencies, operating across all 99 counties with 19 office locations including multiple Des Moines sites. Provides therapy services for children, adults, and families alongside behavioral health intervention, disability support, foster care, and refugee community services.
Practitioner Associations & Community Groups
Des Moines practitioners and families connect through several state and regional networks. The Iowa Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) provides continuing education, advocacy, and professional development for OTs statewide. The Iowa Physical Therapy Association supports PTs with licensure resources, mentorship, and legislative advocacy at the state capitol — conveniently located in Des Moines. The Autism Society of Iowa offers family support groups, resource navigation, and sensory-friendly community events. UnityPoint Health and MercyOne both run practitioner referral networks that span central Iowa. Drake University's OT program connects students and alumni with local clinical placements and community partnerships. The Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa coordinates support groups, resource facilitation, and education programs from its base in Iowa City with outreach across the metro. For families, Easterseals Iowa's assistive technology lending program and Camp Sunnyside provide year-round support beyond the therapy room.
Beast Putty in Des Moines
Beast Putty integrates across Des Moines's therapy ecosystem at every level. For the hand therapists at MercyOne and The Iowa Clinic, it's a graded resistance tool for post-surgical rehab and repetitive strain recovery — particularly relevant given the metro's large insurance-industry workforce spending long hours at keyboards. For pediatric OTs at Blank Children's Hospital and developmental programs like Brain Balance, Beast Putty serves as a sensory regulation tool that travels from the clinic to Des Moines Public Schools and suburban districts like Ankeny and Waukee. Behavioral health providers at Eyerly Ball and Orchard Place use tactile tools to ground clients during counseling sessions. Iowa's cold winters mean kids and adults spend more time indoors, making portable sensory tools essential for maintaining regulation routines at home and in the classroom. For parents, Beast Putty is an accessible entry point — no training needed, mess-free, and durable enough for Iowa's demanding four-season climate.
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