Caravel Autism Health - Iowa City

ABA Therapy in Iowa City

Our Iowa City clinic is located just off Highway 1 and Interstate 80.

Our clinics offer one-to-one therapy and peer interaction in a welcoming, child-friendly environment designed especially for children on the autism spectrum. We have ample space for children to engage in activities that promote exercise as well as opportunities to improve communication and social skills.

Caravel Autism Health, a leader in the field, is devoted to helping families navigate the challenges of childhood autism. Our team of clinical experts specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of children on the autism spectrum. Caravel’s research-based and data-driven programs are designed to provide better outcomes that help children with autism reshape their development and embrace new ways of interacting with the world.

Call today to Speak with One of Our Expert Team Members:

Caravel Autism Health - Iowa City

2545 North Dodge Street
Suite A
Iowa City, IA 52245
US

Clinic Hours

Day of the WeekHours
Monday7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
Day of the WeekHours

Contact:

New Parents Start Here: 319-220-0816
Clients, Billing & General Inquiries: 319-727-8202
Professional Intake Fax: 800-513-7773

Serving Areas:

Iowa City, University Heights, Iowa River Landing, Twain, Midway, Downey, West Branch, Coralville, North Liberty, Newport, Morse, Oasis, Centerdale

Caravel Early Child Development Screener

Does your child display possible signs of autism?
To assist families in determining whether a child is exhibiting behaviors that may indicate that he or she is on the autism spectrum, we have developed a simple screening tool.

If your responses in the screener suggest that your child may be on the autism spectrum, know that a Caravel autism specialist will contact you to answer questions and talk through your options.

Our Expert Team in Iowa City

Tiffany E. | Clinic Director
Tiffany began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2015 as a behavior technician in the Chicagoland area. She received her bachelor’s degree in health promotion from the University of Iowa and her master’s degree in ABA with a certificate in Autism from Ball State University. After completing her master’s degree and relocating to Iowa City in 2018, Tiffany continued to work with children with autism in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. She has extensive experience with functional communication training, collaborating with school teams and other providers, and leading staff training and development. Her passions include providing parent training, identifying a child’s strength to accomplish treatment goals, and being up-to-date on evidence-based strategies for challenging behaviors.
Madison B., MA, LBA | BCBA
Madison started her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2021 working as a behavior technician. She graduated from University of Iowa in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in art and minoring in psychology, and went on to earn her master’s degree in ABA and a certificate in autism spectrum disability from Ball State University in 2023. Madison has a special interest in functional communication training and alternative communication methods, including sign language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), and PEAK (Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge) programming. She is also passionate about parent training, achieving and maintaining client assent, and collaborating with other professionals to ensure clients and their families meet their goals.
Olivia F., MA, LBA | BCBA
Olivia has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2022. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education, with an emphasis in special education, from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in 2020 and went on to earn her master's degree in teaching and learning with an ABA certificate from the University of Iowa in 2023. Olivia has worked and taught in a variety of school settings, including elementary, middle, high school, and higher education. Prior to working at Caravel, she began supervision hours at the University of Iowa Bio Behavior Clinics with a team of BCBA-Ds, completing functional analysis and providing families with strategies for challenging behavior support. Olivia is passionate and interested in skills based treatment (SBT), functional communication, parent training, and collaborating with other professionals to ensure clients and families meet their individual goals.

Caravel Service Offerings

Evaluation & Diagnosis

Obtaining the proper diagnosis is the first step to helping children with autism and related developmental disabilities and their families. Our diagnostic evaluation and results become the starting point for the development of a customized treatment plan for your child if they are on the autism spectrum.

ABA Therapy

The goal of ABA therapy is to help a child develop the verbal and social skills necessary so that he or she can move from being motivated primarily by sensory and motor stimuli in the environment to being motivated primarily by verbal and social interaction with other people.

Social Skills Training

Caravel Autism Health also offers social skills training. Designed as fun, interactive experiences, we teach social skills and encourage children to interact with their peers in a class setting or small group.

Caravel Autism Health Better Outcomes. Happier Lives.

Caravel Autism Health, a leader in the field, is devoted to helping families navigate the challenges of early childhood autism. Our team of clinical experts specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of young children on the autism spectrum. Caravel's research-based and data-driven programs are designed to provide better outcomes that help children with autism reshape their development and embrace new ways of interacting with the world.

Frequently Asked Questions & Blog Posts

How do I get started?

Give us a call at 319-220-0816 or complete this form.

What testing do you require initially?

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.

What are the out-of-pocket expenses that a parent/guardian must pay for to get started?

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.

Where does therapy treatment take place?

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.

What does ABA teach?

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.

Is there a reason so many hours are recommended?

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.

What are my responsibilities as a parent?

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.

How is my child's progress evaluated?

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.

How do you coordinate with private therapists that the family employs who are not a part of your organization?

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.