Neurodivergent-Affirming Autism Evaluation Process for Adults
I strive to offer autism evaluations that are neurodivergent-affirming and non-pathologizing. Neurodiversity is a concept that recognizes the natural variation in the human brain and acknowledges that there is no one "right" way for someone to think, feel, or experience the world. However, many practitioners who conduct autism evaluations do so within the medical model, which has a tendency to conceptualize naturally occurring human differences as "abnormal" conditions to be solved or corrected. By contrast, my evaluations are designed to be affirming and accepting of brain differences, while not minimizing the struggles they might cause. Together we will explore who you are, how you think and process the world, and how you feel about this—including both what you find difficult, and what you find rewarding. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I'm also committed to providing all of my services, including the autism evaluation process, in a way that is grounded in an intersectional framework. This means I acknowledge that your lived experience is continuously impacted by a variety of identity categories such as gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic location, and many, many more. As a practitioner, I strive to be sensitive to these nuances and informed about them—but above all, I position myself as a learner when it comes to you. Each individual comes to me with a unique set of experiences, strengths, challenges, and needs—which they understand far better than I do—and I strive to provide evaluations that are comprehensive and accurate, while also honoring the unique qualities that make you you.
Evaluation Process
1 / Initial Consultation
We communicate by by phone or telehealth platform to help us determine whether pursuing an autism evaluation with me meets your needs at the current time. If we decide it doesn't, and you'd like to pursue alternate avenues, I provide referrals.
2 / Self-Assessment and Data Collection
I provide various written assessments you completely independently, and gather any additional information or written records you want to provide for consideration (e.g. past psychological evaluations, therapy records, information from childhood, and more).
3 / Structured Clinical Interview
We meet in person or over videochat and go through the MIGDAS structured clinical interview. I take notes on your responses and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions about the process in real time. This interview usually takes approximately 2-3 hours and may be broken up over two visits.
4 / Collateral Information and Perspectives
Together, we determine whether there are others whose perspectives may be useful in providing a comprehensive view of you (e.g. family members, close friends, romantic partners, et al.). If there are, with your permission, I elicit their perspectives via a questionnaire and/or brief interview.
5 / Report and Processing
I review all of the information gathered during the assessment process and compile it into a written report. We meet in person or via telehealth to review the report, address questions and concerns, and determine if you have additional needs. Depending on your preferences, I can provide the report either prior to, during, or after the meeting.
Pricing and Payment
The usual fee associated with the autism evaluation process is $1200, paid in 1-3 installments via my HIPAA compliant payment portal. This fees covers steps 1-5 of the evaluation; additional charges may arise if clients want additional services, such as multiple versions of a report, letters in support of accommodation, or brief therapy to process and debrief regarding evaluation results.
For more details on any of the above, please feel free to reach out.