Caravel Autism Health opens in former Red Bridge Library building 

By Kristina Light

When the Mid-Continent Public Library moved its Red Bridge Branch to its current location in August 2019, it left its former home at 11140 Locust Street vacant. The building sat empty for seven years as community members hoped it would find new purpose.

That hope materialized on August 26, when Caravel Autism Health opened its fourth Kansas City metro location as one of two new tenants in the former library building. The second tenant is a pet sitting and boarding facility, expected to open this fall.

The building’s spacious layout and proximity to Wonderscope and the new library location made it an ideal spot for the clinic’s therapeutic services. Clinic Director Megan Belew, who took on the role in January 2026, said Caravel is committed to serving South Kansas City families with evidence-based early intervention autism therapy.

Caravel held an official grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting on September 10. The clinic currently has openings for new students.

Comprehensive Services and Facilities

The location offers room for multiple classrooms including an art room for creativity, playground areas, physical therapy space, tactile and early learning spaces, and designated break rooms for families. The clinic operates on a collaborative model where clinicians work directly with families and coordinate with schools and outside providers like speech therapists.

Caravel offers three core services: diagnostic evaluations to confirm autism and inform therapy planning, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy tailored to each child’s needs, and ongoing caregiver collaboration. Children receive 25 to 35 hours per week of individualized treatment focused on communication, social skills, early learning, hygiene, and daily living skills. The clinic’s team includes a master’s level analyst as supervisor overseeing clinical work and quality standards.

“We work directly with families, and a child’s network of doctors, teachers, and therapists to meet each child’s individual needs,” Belew said. “When a child comes in and isn’t able to communicate, and the parents need help, we collaborate with speech therapists so the child can communicate their wants and needs. Seeing that transformation is powerful, and that’s why we’re here.”

Parent Involvement and Assessment

Caravel integrates parents directly into the therapeutic process. Parents participate in collaborative sessions at least twice monthly to learn and practice techniques their child is developing at the clinic. The organization conducts baseline assessments combined with doctors’ diagnoses to match children with the best treatment approach for their individual needs and circumstances.

She emphasized the importance of consistency. “Ensuring progress continues between the clinic and home is essential to long-term success,” Belew said. “Parents appreciate that we love and care for their children, and that empathy is key to the program’s success.”

The Red Bridge clinic operates from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and currently has openings for new students. Caravel plans to serve up to 30 students at this location. The clinic accepts Medicaid and all major insurance providers.

“I love that Caravel invests in their clinicians so they can produce high-quality therapy,” Belew said. “We have resources, and we’re very focused on the families, meeting them where they are.”