Providing diagnostic evaluations and personalized ABA therapy for children as young as 12 months in Altoona, IA.
Services: Diagnostics Evaluation, ABA Therapy
Address: 501 8th Street Southwest, Altoona, IA 50009
Parents & Caregivers: 515-320-8199
General Inquiries: 515-585-1617
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Caravel offers diagnostic evaluations via Telehealth across all of Iowa, including areas such as Ames, Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Cedar Falls, Mason City, Marshalltown, Clinton, Burlington, Fort Dodge.
Request Diagnostic EvaluationAt Caravel Autism Health, we work with a wide range of insurance providers to help make care as accessible as possible. While we accept many plans, these are the top insurance providers used at our Altoona, IA location.
Explore Insurance & FinancialsA leader in the field, Caravel Autism Health specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of very young children with autism spectrum disorder. Our research-based, data-driven programs help these children build skills and embrace new ways of connecting with the world. Caravel offers autism diagnostic evaluations in clinic or through telehealth and provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children in a welcoming, clinic-based setting.
Our services include autism testing, early intervention, communication and language skills, social skills, school readiness, daily living and self-help skills, toilet training, mealtime and eating support, support for reducing challenging behaviors and parent/caregiver training and coaching. Children receive one-to-one therapy in clinic alongside opportunities for peer interaction. When a skill is best learned in a real-world setting (for example, a morning routine at home, a trip to the grocery store, or a haircut or dental visit), our team works with each child in the places that matter most based on their individual treatment plan.
Better outcomes. Happier lives.
Take a look inside our clinic. Our centers are designed especially for children on the autism spectrum, with therapy rooms, play areas, and spaces that encourage communication, social growth, and confidence.
At Caravel Autism Health, families are supported by a compassionate team of specialists dedicated to helping children with autism grow and thrive. Our clinicians, therapists, and care coordinators work closely with parents to create individualized ABA therapy plans, provide ongoing guidance, and celebrate every milestone together.
Alexis has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2022 when she started as a behavior technician with Caravel. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in child, adult, and family services from Iowa State University in 2021 and then worked with children in before- and after-school programs and as a PACE enrichment intern. While earning her master’s degree in ABA from Ball State University, Alexis grew with Caravel, becoming a senior intern, senior therapist, and following her certification, a BCBA. She loves seeing the growth in clients and families through assessments, individualized therapy, and parent training. Supporting the interests and development of others in this field is also a particular passion.
Early intervention can change a child’s future. Caravel helps families take the first steps, from recognizing early signs to completing a quick screener and connecting with the team who will support your child’s journey.
Give us a call at 920-239-5474 or complete this form: https://caravelautism.com/contact-us/
Prior to beginning therapy, a diagnostic evaluation is required. Additional testing is based on individual need and is only used if the testing will help us to design a program or therapy. In general, testing is used to help diagnose disorders and determine levels of intellectual functioning, language ability or adaptive skills. Caravel provides diagnostic evaluations or if you have one from another professional source, that can usually also be used. Testing can also be helpful to chart the effectiveness of therapy.
An evaluation and any diagnostic testing will be billed to insurance (and/or Medicaid where permissible). Testing may be a part of the initial assessment or follow-up assessment. Please check with your insurance company. Typically, your family would be responsible for a potential deductible and/or co-pay. In some states, if you have Medicaid there would be no charge for the assessment beyond what is reimbursed by Medicaid. Any questions regarding financial responsibility may be discussed prior to an appointment with our billing staff. If testing would pose a financial hardship for the family, this should be discussed with billing. We work with parents/guardians to meet the needs of their individual case. Expenses can be spread over time.
Therapy typically takes place in a local Caravel clinic. Under limited and clinically appropriate circumstances, we recommend that some children receive therapy in a home-based setting.
ABA therapy programs are wide-ranging and covers all areas in which your child needs to be successful. Goals are created and broken down into small steps. The steps are then organized into a logical order and taught one small step at a time. Areas may include communication, behavioral, functional and social skills.
Research shows that the greater the amount of hours, the better the outcome for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with an autism characteristically do not learn naturally throughout their days like typically developing children do. Learning is a full-time job for children that typically occurs without being noticed. Children with an autism need to be taught to learn. This means many hours of practicing these skills. Parent/guardian training and involvement is also an essential part of a successful ABA program. Tools and techniques of ABA should be incorporated into daily life. The amount of ABA therapy needed will depend on a variety of factors to be determined in the diagnostic evaluation.
Parent/guardians are trained to do individual therapy with their child. We recommend that parent/guardians engage their child in a few hours of therapy a week to be familiar with what their child is learning. Parent/guardians are encouraged to join team meetings and training provided by clinic staff or outside professionals.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is data-driven, so your clinical team will consistently record data and write session notes during each therapy session, documenting your child’s responses using our proprietary computerized data system.
Our clinicians often work closely with other professionals because we realize that different experts can add valuable insight into treatment. If suggestions can be added to a therapy plan without crossing ethical or professional boundaries, we will bring these suggestions into therapy.