Caravel Autism Health now operates four clinics across the metro
Original Article By Jordan Fremstad, KCTV5, September 23, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Caravel Autism Health opened a new clinic in the Red Bridge neighborhood of south Kansas City at the end of August, bringing its total to four locations across the Kansas City metro. The clinic provides therapy and education for children on the autism spectrum.
Clinic offers individualized treatment
Allison Wyatt, a behavioral analyst who works with families of children on the autism spectrum, said staff help children build coping, social and communication skills. Wyatt said the clinic creates individualized treatment plans for each family.
“We do individualized treatment plan goals to really support the family with things that are really important to them and their family values as well,” Wyatt said.
Clinic director Megan Belew said every plan is tailored to the child.
“Everything is individualized,” Belew said.
Addressing wait times
Wyatt said long wait lists have been a challenge for families seeking these services. Belew said early treatment is important because of the stage of development children are in when they start care.
“Because we really are working with a child at a point in development, that is so crucial,” Belew said.
Leadership at the clinic said the addition of more locations has eliminated wait times for services. Caravel Autism Health also operates clinics in Liberty, Missouri, Shawnee, Kansas, and Olathe, Kansas.
Belew said the Red Bridge clinic has capacity for more families with a capacity of about 30 children at that location.
“We have lots of room,” Belew said.
Families describe isolation
Wyatt said many families feel isolated before coming to the clinic.
“A lot of our families, sometimes, they come in and they feel really isolated,” Wyatt said.
Belew said the work is personally meaningful to her.
“This work is very meaningful to me and very close to my heart just because I’ve had so many great interactions with families and their children. And I’m just really passionate about the work that I do from the children to the families to my teammates. Everyone really has an intentional heart in the way that they provide the service,” Belew said.
Belew said opening more clinics is a starting point.
“I think this is a great start, opening more clinics to provide this service,” Belew said.
Wyatt said the expansion is giving families hope. Belew said connection is what matters most to families.
“I think that is what’s most important,” Belew said.
Wyatt said an autism diagnosis does not limit a child’s future.
“Just because they have an autism diagnosis doesn’t mean that they can’t go out and be a part of their community, or make friends, or reach their dreams and achievements,” Wyatt said.
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