Clinic for autistic children opens in Olathe, promising quicker diagnosis & care
A new clinic that provides diagnostic and therapy services for children on the autism spectrum opened in Olathe, the third of its kind to open in the Kansas City metro within the last nine months.
Caravel Autism Health, 13567 S. Mur Len Road, is filled with sensory-friendly spaces and bright-colored rooms that aim to help young children receive care in an environment that feels like play.
Inside, children and their families are immersed in an adventure-themed space that has an ocean room, a jungle room and a safari room.
Clinic director Enedelia Sanner said Caravel provides applied behavior analysis, or ABA services, to help children build skills. Research shows the earlier a child receives this kind of care, the better outcomes can be as they age, Sanner said.
“We work on everything from communication to social skills — but also things like practicing doctor visits and haircuts and how to sit for a family portrait — things that are important to each individual family,” Sanner said.
Sanner said her clinic opens at a time of high demand and as families struggle to get quick access to care.
In the Kansas City area, she said, it’s typical for families to face waitlists between 10–24 months for developmental evaluations.
Olathe’s new clinic can start evaluations within days, make a diagnosis, then start treatment within weeks.
The clinic held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, and its first child will walk through the doors next Monday.
Making work feel like play
Caravel employs certified behavioral analysts who create individualized plans to help children build new skills. The children spend anywhere between 25-40 hours a week with the analysts and technicians at the clinic.
Family members also participate, getting two hours a month to learn how to work with their children on skills.
But a big focus of the Olathe clinic is making the “work” feel more like play, Sanner said.
The clinic practices assent-based ABA, an approach to the therapy that prioritizes a client’s voluntary participation.
The clinic teaches children how to “say no” and “ask for more,” Sanner said. A child’s happiness and engagement are central goals.
“You’ll see tables and chairs in our building, but you’ll find that we spend most of our time on the floor playing,” Sanner said. “And our goal is that kids want to run in every morning to see their friends and see their technicians that are working with them,” Sanner said.
Olathe’s clinic comes with a brand-new outdoor playground with modern engagement features, a gross motor skills room and sensory space.
Caravel’s Regional Director Alyssa Wareham said the clinic tracks data throughout the care process to see how a child is progressing.
“(The data) helps families understand what we’re doing on a day-to-day basis and where their child is currently in services,” Wareham said.
Growing a regional footprint
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 31 children are on the autism spectrum.
Caravel is a large company that operates 74 clinics across the Midwest, and in Washington and Idaho.
Olathe is Caravel’s third clinic in the Kansas City area. The first opened in Shawnee at 6850 Hilltop Road and another opened in Liberty at 560 Rush Creek Parkway.
Another clinic is anticipated to open in south Kansas City on Aug. 17, Wareham said.
“Caravel’s main goal is to provide quality ABA that makes a true difference in the clients’ lives and the families that we serve,” Wareham said.
Sanner said families interested in receiving care or having their child evaluated can call the clinic at 913-990-7010 or visit caravelautism.com for a free online developmental screening.
