Providing diagnostic evaluations and personalized ABA therapy for children as young as 12 months in Ankeny, IA.
Services: Diagnostics Evaluation, ABA Therapy
Address: 2325 Southwest State Street, Suite D, Ankeny, IA 50023
Parents & Caregivers: 515-498-3854
General Inquiries: 515-305-2409
Professional Referral Fax: 800-513-7773
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 Ankeny, IA location.
Explore Insurance & Financials
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.
Brittnaey has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2008. She earned her bachelor’s degree in child and family development at American Public University in 2011 and received her master’s degree in ABA with an emphasis in autism from Ball State University MA in 2016. Brittnaey’s wide-ranging experience includes early intervention in both home- and clinic-based environments, family guidance, and crisis interventions with teenagers and adults. She is passionate about providing trauma-informed care and advancing inclusion for all people with disabilities within various communities. Brittnaey is committed to providing children and their families supportive, research-based care that fosters their development and success.
Leah has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2019. She graduated with a bachelor of science in health and human physiology, minoring in psychology, from University of Iowa in 2018 and earned her master of science in ABA from Drake University in 2022. Leah has worked with clients ages 18 months to 13 across outpatient clinic, home, community, telehealth, and private school settings, coordinating care with speech-language, occupational, and physical therapists as well as public and private schools. She is especially committed to addressing foundational needs—particularly sleep—through a whole-family approach and providing caregiver support and training. Leah is also passionate about culturally responsive care, ensuring that each family’s values, culture, and unique background are integrated into all goals and interventions.
Kathryn has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2022. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Mount Mercy University in 2005, earned her master of social work from University of Kansas in 2008, and completed a graduate certificate in behavior analysis from Florida Institute of Technology in 2024. Starting her career as a registered behavior technician, she has worked with children ages 2–11 with autism spectrum disability. She is passionate about helping people learn and grow, especially in areas that are meaningful to them. Kathryn loves being able to work with the whole family because it helps to know what they value and the areas that interest them.
Claire has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2022. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2022 with a major in psychology and a minor in human development and family studies and earned her master of education in ABA from University of Cincinnati in fall 2024. Claire has worked with clients ages 3–19 with ASD, using the PEAK (Promoting Emergence of Advanced Knowledge) and AIM (Accept, Identify, Move) curriculums to work on skill acquisition, psychological flexibility, and challenging behavior reduction. During her undergrad, she served as a supported community living specialist for adults with traumatic brain injuries. Claire enjoys being creative with her therapy plans, developing goals that are unique to each child’s needs, and celebrating all their successes—big and small.
Michaela has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2017. She attended University of North Texas, graduating with a bachelor of science in ABA and a minor in psychology in 2017 and earning her master of science in behavior analysis in 2022. Michaela has worked with clients of all ages who present with a range of intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health needs, and physical challenges. Her experience includes serving as a care provider for individuals with disabilities, a teaching assistant, a RBT, and since 2023, a BCBA. Michaela has also contributed to research efforts and taught undergraduate-level courses. She is passionate about community engagement and integration, Natural Environment Teaching (NET), and helping children build sustainable social and emotional skills.
Give us a call at 515-498-3854 or complete this form: https://caravelautism.com/contact-us/
Prior to beginning treatment, 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 treatment. 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 treatment 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 treatment plan without crossing ethical or professional boundaries, we will bring these suggestions into therapy.