Is An Autism Assessment Right for You?
You may benefit from an autism assessment if you:
✔️ Have always felt “different” or like you’re masking to fit in socially.
✔️ Struggle with sensory sensitivities (e.g., lights, sounds, fabrics, smells) that others seem to ignore.
✔️ Feel emotionally drained after socializing or find it difficult to read social cues.
✔️ Prefer routines or structure and find unexpected changes overwhelming.
✔️ Experience intense interests or deep focus in specific topics, sometimes called “special interests.”
✔️ Often script conversations in your head or replay social interactions long after they happen.
✔️ Have been described as “too sensitive,” “too much,” or “too quiet” throughout your life.
✔️ Suspect traits of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) or identify with twice exceptionality (2e) — being both gifted and neurodivergent.
✔️ Want to understand yourself more fully, whether or not you're seeking a formal diagnosis.
Whether you're exploring neurodivergence for the first time, seeking validation for long-held feelings, or need a formal assessment for accommodations, you're in the right place.
🌿 Self-Discovery & Neurodivergence Clarity – $250 Flat Rate
Not everyone is seeking a formal diagnosis, but many individuals still need clarity about their neurodivergent traits. If you're an adult exploring ADHD, autism, PDA, or twice-exceptionality but don’t feel ready for a full diagnostic evaluation, this option is ideal.
What’s Included:
Intake Session: A 60-minute session to explore your history, current challenges, and neurodivergent traits.
Screening Sessions (1-2 sessions): Includes a combination of tools like the AQ (Autism Quotient), CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire), EDA (Extreme Demand Avoidance), BDEFS (Executive Functioning Assessment), and the DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults).
Personalized Summary Letter: A non-diagnostic summary of the results, highlighting your strengths, challenges, and suggestions for further self-exploration, support, and resources.
This service is great for individuals seeking clarity, self-awareness, and direction without committing to a formal diagnosis.
🌱 Autism Evaluation (with or without ADHD) – $800 Flat Rate
This comprehensive evaluation is ideal for individuals seeking clarity around autism, with or without ADHD, and for those looking for a clear, detailed report. The assessment provides deep insights into your strengths, challenges, and sensory profile.
What’s Included:
ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule): The gold standard in autism assessment.
MIGDAS (Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum): A tool focused on sensory-based, strength-oriented interviews.
Vineland-3: Measures adaptive functioning in daily life, assessing areas such as communication, socialization, and daily living skills.
Sensory Profile: Understand sensory preferences and sensitivities.
Autism Quotient (AQ): Assesses autism traits across different dimensions of life.
Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q): Identifies how much masking and camouflaging is happening, which is common in many individuals.
Collateral Input: Involvement of family members or others close to you to provide additional context (optional).
After the evaluation, I provide a comprehensive diagnostic report that explains the findings in detail, with practical recommendations for self-understanding, support, and accommodations.
🧠 Comprehensive Neurotype Profile (Including PDA & 2e) – $900 Flat Rate
For individuals who suspect they might have PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy/Pathological Demand Avoidance) or 2e (twice-exceptional) profiles, this expanded evaluation goes deeper. It includes all elements of the standard autism evaluation plus a thorough look at ADHD, executive functioning, and traits of PDA and twice-exceptionality.
What’s Included:
Autism + ADHD Evaluation: Understand the overlap between ADHD and autism traits.
Executive Functioning (BDEFS): Measures attention, organization, and memory to understand executive functioning skills.
Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire (EDA-A): To explore potential PDA traits and tendencies.
Coventry Grid: Differentiates attachment difficulties from ND traits.
Gifted Rating Scale–2 (GRS-2): Assesses traits of giftedness in individuals who may be 2e.
Additional 2e Traits: Tailored questions and tools to assess the intersection of giftedness and neurodivergence.
Comprehensive Report: A detailed profile with both diagnostic findings and suggestions for support, including educational, work, and personal accommodations.
💡 Why Choose Our Autism Assessment?
Neurodiversity-Affirming: My assessments are grounded in the neurodiversity paradigm, focusing on the strengths, challenges, and lived experience of individuals, not just their deficits.
Customized Approach: No “one-size-fits-all” here. Every assessment is tailored to your specific needs and life context.
Empathy and Respect: I prioritize making the process as comfortable as possible, whether you’re getting assessed for the first time or seeking answers later in life.
Comprehensive Reports: You will receive a thorough written report that not only includes your diagnosis (if applicable) but also actionable insights and accommodations for everyday life, work, and education.
Supportive Environment: I offer a safe space to explore your identity and challenges, and work with you to understand what the diagnosis means for your life moving forward.
💵 Payment & Insurance Information
Payment Plans Available: All of my assessment packages offer flexible payment options, including pay-as-you-go plans to make the process more manageable.
Insurance: Currently, I do not accept insurance for these assessments due to the individualized nature and in-depth process involved. However, HSA/FSA cards may be used for payment.
What Should I Consider Before Getting Diagnosed with Autism and Disclosing My Diagnosis?
Before pursuing an autism diagnosis, it's important to consider your goals. What do you hope the diagnosis will help you access, understand, or advocate for?
Depending on your specific needs (academic, medical, employment, etc.), the type of provider, the format of the report, and Kentucky laws and policies may affect how the diagnosis can be used.
Before scheduling, keep in mind that I am an LPCA, a master’s level clinician under supervision.
🏢 Work Accommodations (ADA)
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you are not required to disclose a diagnosis to your employer. Instead, you can describe the challenges you face and request accommodations based on your functional needs.
To access formal accommodations, you may need documentation from a qualified provider. In Kentucky, employers typically accept accommodation letters written by:
LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor)
LCSW
LMFT
Nurse Practitioners (NP)
Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)
Medical Doctors (MD)
⚠️ Note: As an LPCA, I can provide assessment services and a comprehensive diagnostic report, but any formal documentation (e.g., a workplace letter) may need to be co-signed. I work closely with my supervisor to support this process.
For ideas on workplace accommodations, visit askjan.org, a helpful resource through the Job Accommodation Network.
🎓 Academic Accommodations
College/University:
Most Kentucky colleges have a disability services office and will have specific requirements for documentation.
Some accept letters and documentation from LPCAs, LPCCs, LMFTs, or LCSWs.
Others may require assessments from a licensed psychologist (PhD/PsyD).
Comprehensive detail may be required, especially if accommodations are ongoing or high-impact (like alternative testing environments or modified coursework).
K-12 Schools (IEPs and 504s):
IEPs (Individualized Education Plans): Kentucky public schools only accept assessments from licensed psychologists (PhD or PsyD) for determining eligibility.
504 Plans: These are often more flexible. Schools may accept documentation from LPCAs, LPCCs, LMFTs, or LCSWs, though some still request a psychologist’s report.
💊 Medication & Psychiatric Care
Psychiatrists vary in whether they accept assessments from masters-level providers.
Some will honor diagnostic reports from LPCA, LPCCs, or LCSWs.
Others may require confirmation from a psychologist or MD.
If you already have a psychiatrist, it’s best to check with them directly. If you’re seeking a provider, I’m happy to offer referrals to affirming psychiatric professionals in Kentucky.
🧾 State Disability Benefits (e.g., SSI, SSDI)
To apply for state or federal disability benefits, Kentucky follows Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines, which do not accept diagnosis from masters-level clinicians alone.
For these purposes, documentation must come from a:
Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)
Medical Doctor (MD)
Psychiatrist (MD or DO)
If you're pursuing a diagnosis specifically for disability benefits, I recommend working directly with a psychologist who is familiar with the application process.