Autism Evaluations in NYC

What Is an Autism Evaluation?

An autism evaluation, also called autism testing or an autism assessment, is a structured clinical process used to determine whether an individual meets criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. It examines patterns related to social communication, behavioral and sensory differences, and developmental history to support diagnostic clarity and meaningful recommendations. In New York City, autism evaluations at YCDI are conducted in person and include a clinical interview, behavioral observation, developmental history, and evidence-based tools such as the ADOS-2 when clinically appropriate. A comprehensive written report is provided following the evaluation.

Who May Benefit From an Autism Evaluation?

An autism evaluation may be helpful for individuals of any age who are seeking clarity, understanding, or formal documentation related to autism spectrum traits.

This evaluation may be appropriate for:

• Adults who have long suspected they may be on the autism spectrum and are seeking diagnostic clarity later in life, including those exploring whether an adult autism diagnosis may apply.
• Adolescents experiencing social, academic, or emotional challenges, or sensory-related challenges, who may benefit from a comprehensive assessment
• Children whose parents or caregivers have concerns about development, communication, behavior, sensory differences, or social interaction
• Individuals seeking formal documentation for school accommodations, workplace supports, or treatment planning, or access to services
• Those referred by healthcare providers, schools, or other professionals for a structured autism evaluation

Many individuals also benefit from ongoing support through individual therapy or other services after the evaluation process, particularly when support is needed around emotional regulation, self-understanding, school functioning, or daily life.

An autism evaluation is not only about receiving a diagnosis. It can also provide insight into strengths, support needs, and areas where additional guidance may be helpful.

Considering Overlap With ADHD and Other Concerns

Autism evaluations are designed to look at the full picture. In some individuals, difficulties with attention, impulsivity, executive functioning, emotional regulation, or sensory experiences may overlap with traits associated with ADHD or other concerns.

Because of this, a thorough autism evaluation does not look at autism in isolation. It also considers whether ADHD, anxiety, learning-related challenges, or other factors may be contributing to the overall presentation. This helps support a more accurate diagnostic understanding and more meaningful recommendations for treatment, school support, workplace needs, and daily life.

For children and adolescents, this may also help guide collaboration with schools around appropriate services, accommodations, and supports, including IEPs and 504 plans when relevant.

Schedule an Autism Evaluation

If you or your child may benefit from a comprehensive autism evaluation, we are here to guide you through the process with clarity, care, and thoughtful clinical support.

Evaluations are available for children, adolescents, and adults and are conducted in person, by appointment only, in New York City.

What the Autism Evaluation Involves

Autism evaluations at You Can Do It, PLLC are designed to be thorough, structured, and individualized. While the specific components may vary depending on age and presentation, each evaluation follows a clear clinical framework.

The evaluation process may include:

• A detailed clinical interview
• Developmental, educational, and psychosocial history
• Behavioral observations
• Standardized assessment tools, when appropriate
• Review of collateral information (such as input from caregivers, teachers, or other professionals, when applicable)

For adolescents and adults, assessment activities are adapted to be age-appropriate and relevant to daily functioning, relationships, work, and social environments.

Our goal is to understand the individual as a whole, not just to look at isolated symptoms.

Evidence-Based Assessment Tools

When clinically appropriate, our clinicians may utilize standardized, evidence-based tools as part of a comprehensive autism evaluation. This may include the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), a widely recognized instrument used in autism assessment.

The ADOS-2 is used as one component of a broader evaluation process and is interpreted within the context of clinical judgment, history, and observational findings. Our clinicians are trained in the use of these tools to support accurate, thoughtful assessment.

Who Conducts Autism Evaluations at YCDI?

Autism evaluations at You Can Do It, PLLC are conducted by Berenice Rosales-Nadel, LMHC-D, Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privileges and Founder of YCDI. Berenice is trained in autism diagnostic assessment protocols including the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, with diagnostic conclusions aligned to DSM-5-TR criteria. She has more than a decade of clinical experience, with several years focused specifically on psychological evaluations across the lifespan.

Berenice is licensed in both New York and New Jersey and offers services in English and Spanish.

Learn more about Berenice

What to Expect on Evaluation Day

Autism evaluations at YCDI are conducted in person, by appointment only, at our New York City office location. This helps support the accuracy and thoroughness of the evaluation process.

On the day of the evaluation, individuals can expect a calm, professional environment focused on gathering meaningful information. Depending on age and individual needs, the evaluation may involve structured activities, conversation, observation, and discussion of relevant history.

For children and adolescents, parents or caregivers may be involved in portions of the evaluation. For autism evaluations for adults, the process focuses more directly on personal history, current functioning, lived experience, and areas where greater clarity may be helpful.

The Step-by-Step Autism Evaluation Process at YCDI

An autism evaluation at YCDI follows a structured, evidence-based clinical process conducted in person at our New York City offices. While specific components vary by age and presentation, each evaluation follows a clear sequential framework.

Step 1: Clinical Interview and Developmental History. The evaluation begins with a structured clinical interview in which the clinician gathers detailed information about the individual’s developmental history, early milestones, social and communication patterns, sensory experiences, behavioral history, and current functioning. For children, parents or caregivers are an essential part of this step. For adults, the focus is on lived experience, long-standing patterns, and the specific questions that prompted the evaluation.

Step 2: Behavioral Observation and Standardized Assessment. The clinician conducts structured behavioral observation and, when clinically appropriate, administers the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) — a gold-standard assessment tool used in autism evaluations worldwide. This involves structured activities and naturalistic interactions designed to elicit and observe social communication, interaction patterns, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Additional tools may be used based on age and presenting concerns.

Step 3: Diagnostic Integration. After the session, the clinician reviews and integrates all findings — interview data, behavioral observations, assessment results, and developmental history — against DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. This step also considers whether ADHD, anxiety, learning-related concerns, or other factors may be contributing to or co-occurring alongside the presenting profile.

Step 4: Written Report and Delivery. A comprehensive written report is prepared following the evaluation, including diagnostic impressions, a summary of findings and observations, clinical recommendations, and documentation that may support next steps — including school accommodations such as IEPs or 504 plans, therapeutic referrals, or workplace supports.

What Happens After the Evaluation?

After the evaluation is complete, our clinicians review all findings carefully and prepare a comprehensive written report.

This report may include:

• a summary of findings
• diagnostic impressions, when appropriate
• recommendations for next steps
• treatment planning considerations
• documentation that may support school or workplace accommodations when applicable

When appropriate, results and feedback are reviewed directly with the individual and/or caregivers to support clarity and understanding.

For some individuals, the evaluation process also helps guide conversations with schools, outside providers, or support systems around recommendations, services, or accommodations such as IEPs or 504 plans.

Autism Evaluations for Children, Teens, and Adults

Autism can look different across the lifespan, and evaluations need to reflect that.

For children, concerns may show up around developmental milestones, communication, behavior, play, sensory responses, or social interaction.

For adolescents, families may be noticing challenges related to school, friendships, emotional regulation, identity, independence, or increasing social demands.

For adults, questions often arise later in life around long-standing social differences, sensory experiences, routines, burnout, masking, or the feeling that certain challenges have never been fully explained.

Because of this, autism evaluations are approached in a developmentally informed way, with attention to the person’s age, lived experience, and day-to-day functioning.

In-Person Autism Evaluations in New York City

You Can Do It, PLLC provides in-person autism evaluations and autism testing in New York City at two locations: our Midtown Manhattan office near Grand Central Station (18 E 41st Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017) and our NoMad office (245 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016). All autism evaluations are conducted in person, by appointment only. Evaluations are conducted by Berenice Rosales-Nadel, LMHC-D, who is trained in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R and is licensed in both New York and New Jersey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Autism Evaluations in New York

What is autism testing in NYC, and what does it involve?

Autism testing in New York City — also called an autism evaluation or autism assessment — is a structured clinical process used to determine whether an individual meets criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. At YCDI, the process includes a clinical interview, developmental and behavioral history, structured observation, and standardized assessment tools such as the ADOS-2 when clinically appropriate. The goal is not just a diagnosis — it’s a thorough understanding of the individual’s strengths, challenges, and support needs, with findings documented in a comprehensive written report.

What is the difference between autism testing, an autism evaluation, and an autism assessment?

These terms are used interchangeably and refer to the same clinical process. Autism testing, autism evaluation, and autism assessment all describe a structured clinical process designed to determine whether an individual meets criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The terminology varies by provider, region, and context — a pediatrician might say “autism testing,” a school might request an “autism assessment,” and a clinical practice might use “autism evaluation” — but the underlying purpose is the same. At YCDI, we use these terms interchangeably, and the process is the same regardless of how you refer to it when you reach out.

How do I know if I or my child needs an autism evaluation?

An autism evaluation may be worth pursuing if persistent challenges haven’t been fully explained by other diagnoses or interventions. For children, common signs include delayed speech or language development, difficulty with social interactions, sensory sensitivities, repetitive behaviors, or challenges with transitions and routines. For adolescents, families often notice increasing difficulty with social demands, emotional regulation, or academic performance. For adults, common reasons include long-standing feelings of being socially different, sensory sensitivities, difficulty with unwritten social rules, burnout, or wanting clearer understanding of lifelong experiences. A referral is common but not required — you can contact YCDI directly if you have questions about whether an evaluation is the right fit.

Can adults be diagnosed with autism?

Yes. Autism can be diagnosed at any age, including adulthood. Many adults — particularly women, individuals who learned to mask their traits, and those with average or above-average cognitive abilities — were not identified in childhood. This is increasingly recognized, and a late autism diagnosis in adulthood is both valid and valuable. It can provide meaningful clarity about lifelong social differences, sensory experiences, burnout, and patterns that were never fully explained. At YCDI, adult evaluations are approached with attention to the individual’s specific history and lived experience, not filtered through a childhood-focused lens.

Do you evaluate adults for autism?

Yes. YCDI provides autism evaluations for adults of all ages. An adult autism evaluation focuses on personal history, current functioning, lived experience, and the specific questions the individual wants answered. The process uses the same clinical rigor as evaluations for children and adolescents, adapted to be relevant to adult life, relationships, and work. No referral is required, and many adults self-refer after years of seeking clarity about long-standing challenges.

How is an autism evaluation different from therapy?

An autism evaluation is a one-time, structured clinical assessment — not ongoing treatment. It involves clinical interviews, behavioral observation, developmental history, and standardized tools such as the ADOS-2 when appropriate, and produces a comprehensive written report with diagnostic impressions and recommendations. Therapy, by contrast, is an ongoing relationship focused on support, growth, and treatment. Some individuals choose to pursue individual therapy after an evaluation, particularly when support is needed around emotional regulation or daily functioning, but the evaluation itself is a distinct, time-limited process.

Do I need a referral to schedule an autism evaluation?

No referral is required. Individuals, parents, and caregivers can contact YCDI directly to schedule. Many people do come through referrals from pediatricians, therapists, psychiatrists, or schools — but a referral is not a requirement. If you have questions about whether an autism evaluation is the right fit before scheduling, YCDI offers a free 15-minute consultation to help you determine the most appropriate next step.

Are autism evaluations done online?

No. Autism evaluations at You Can Do It, PLLC are conducted in person, by appointment only, at our New York City offices. In-person assessment is necessary to support the accuracy and thoroughness of the evaluation process, including behavioral observation and structured assessment activities that cannot be replicated virtually.

Can an autism evaluation also look at ADHD or overlapping concerns?

Yes. Autism and ADHD can share surface-level presentations — difficulties with attention, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and sensory experiences can appear in both. A thorough autism evaluation at YCDI considers overlapping or co-occurring concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, and executive functioning challenges. This supports a more accurate diagnostic picture and more meaningful recommendations for treatment, school support, workplace accommodations, and daily life.

What is the ADOS-2, and is it used in your evaluations?

The ADOS-2, or Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, is a structured, standardized assessment tool widely used in autism evaluations. It involves a series of activities and conversations designed to elicit and observe behaviors related to social communication, interaction, and restricted or repetitive patterns. At YCDI, the ADOS-2 may be used as one component of a broader evaluation when clinically appropriate. It is never used in isolation — findings are interpreted alongside clinical interview, developmental history, and behavioral observation to support a comprehensive and accurate assessment.

Can an autism evaluation help with school accommodations?

In many cases, yes. An autism evaluation at YCDI may produce documentation that supports access to school-based services and accommodations, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans, when findings are appropriate. The written report includes diagnostic impressions, a summary of findings, and recommendations that can be shared with schools and support systems. Whether a specific school or district accepts the evaluation as sufficient documentation depends on their individual requirements — we recommend checking with your school’s special education team before scheduling if accommodations are the primary purpose of the evaluation.

Does insurance cover an autism evaluation?

You Can Do It, PLLC currently accepts Cigna for autism evaluations. Coverage and benefits vary depending on your specific plan and the type of documentation being requested. Self-pay options are also available. If you have questions about your coverage or payment options before scheduling, YCDI is happy to help clarify what to expect.

How much does an autism evaluation cost?

An autism evaluation at You Can Do It, PLLC, is $895, paid out of pocket. We accept Cigna, and many clients use out-of-network benefits with a superbill provided on request. A free 15-minute consultation is available first to confirm the evaluation is the right fit.

How do I prepare for an autism evaluation?

The most important thing is to come as you are — the evaluation is designed to understand you or your child accurately, not to assess performance. It helps to think in advance about the specific challenges or questions that prompted you to seek an evaluation, as well as relevant history such as developmental milestones, school experiences, past diagnoses, and any previous evaluations. For children, parents or caregivers are typically involved in portions of the process and may be asked to provide background information. For adults, being prepared to discuss your history honestly — including what has and hasn’t worked in different settings — helps support a more complete and useful assessment.

How long does the evaluation take?

Autism evaluation length varies depending on age, presentation, and the specific questions being addressed. Evaluations for children and adolescents may take longer than autism evaluations for adults due to the broader range of developmental history and assessment components involved. Timing is discussed during scheduling so you know what to expect before your appointment. Following the evaluation, a written report is prepared and shared with the individual and/or caregivers, along with an opportunity to review findings and ask questions.

What happens if the evaluation doesn’t result in an autism diagnosis?

If an autism evaluation does not result in a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, the process is still clinically valuable. The evaluation may identify other contributing factors — such as ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences, or learning-related concerns — and the written report will include findings and recommendations regardless of diagnostic outcome. For many individuals, understanding what is and isn’t present can be just as clarifying as a formal diagnosis. The goal at YCDI is always to provide an honest, thorough picture of strengths and challenges — not to confirm a predetermined outcome.

Where are your autism evaluation offices located in NYC?

Autism evaluations at YCDI are conducted in person, by appointment only, at our two New York City offices — one in Midtown Manhattan near Grand Central Station and one in NoMad. Both locations provide a calm, professional environment for evaluation appointments.

Request an Autism Evaluation Consultation

If you are seeking a comprehensive, in-person autism evaluation for yourself or a family member, we are here to help guide you through the process with clarity and care.

Questions about whether an autism evaluation is the right fit? Visit our contact page or call us directly. We’re happy to help clarify before you schedule.

Our goal is to provide a thoughtful evaluation experience that supports understanding, diagnostic clarity, and meaningful next steps.