Neurodiversity-Affirming
Telehealth Autism Assessments
for Adults
Welcome to
October Sun Autism Assessments
MY ASSESSMENT APPROACH
I approach autism assessment as a process of exploration and understanding. My goal is not to measure how well you fit a stereotype or how much support you appear to need from the outside. Instead, I work collaboratively to build a detailed picture of how your mind works, how you experience the world, and whether autism helps explain patterns that may have been present throughout your life. From our initial conversation through the written report and feedback session, my evaluations are grounded in current research, specialized training in adult autism assessment, and neurodiversity-affirming practice. My approach includes a focus on the identification of autistic adults who have spent years masking, compensating, or adapting in ways that can make autism harder to recognize, especially in women, LGBTQ+ people, and others whose presentations have often been overlooked or misunderstood.
Because no single test can capture the complexity of a person, I use a comprehensive assessment process that combines interviews, developmental history, standardized measures, and structured tools such as the MIGDAS-2. I also evaluate for experiences and conditions that commonly overlap with autism, including ADHD, OCD, anxiety, trauma, and burnout. Rather than treating these as separate checklists, I consider how different aspects of your experience fit together and what they may mean in the context of your life.
My assessment approach is trauma-informed. Many autistic people have spent years receiving messages that their authentic ways of communicating, relating, moving, or experiencing the world were wrong. For some, previous medical-model assessments have themselves been painful or invalidating experiences. This can be especially true for people who have spent years masking and performing expected social roles while privately struggling, and who may have been repeatedly told that they are "too social,""too capable," or otherwise "not autistic enough" for their questions about autism to be taken seriously.
I strive to create an assessment process that feels respectful and collaborative. You can expect to leave with a deeper understanding of yourself, practical insights, and a report that reflects your strengths, challenges, and lived experience with accuracy and dignity.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Seeking an autism assessment can bring up a lot of questions. My goal is to make the process as clear and low-stress as possible.
Step 1: Reach Out
The process begins when you send me a message through the CONTACT page of my website. Let me know you're interested in autism assessment, and I'll send you a short questionnaire so I can learn a little about your interest and make sure my services are a good fit for your needs. Before scheduling, you'll have an opportunity to ask questions about the assessment process, fees, timeline, or anything else that would help you decide whether you'd like to move forward.
Step 2: Schedule Your Assessment
If you decide to proceed, we'll schedule your assessment and you'll pay a deposit to reserve your appointment time. You'll then receive intake paperwork to complete before we meet. You'll also be given the option of sharing a form with a loved one to include their perspective, if that feels right to you. These forms help me begin understanding your experiences and allow us to spend our time together focusing on the areas that matter most to you.
Step 3: Assessment Session
Your assessment will take place entirely through a secure telehealth platform. The assessment session lasts approximately two to three hours and includes breaks. During the session, you'll be encouraged to make yourself comfortable and adapt the format in ways that support your well-being. You'll be welcome to move around, use fidgets, eat or drink, adjust lighting, or turn your camera off for portions of the session if that feels more comfortable. During this time, we'll talk in depth about your current experiences, developmental history, strengths, challenges, relationships, sensory experiences, interests, and other aspects of your life that may be relevant. Depending on your needs and goals, I may also evaluate for other experiences such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, trauma, or autistic burnout. Depending on our payment agreement, you'll either pay the remainder of the assessment fee at this juncture or you'll pay the first installment of your payment plan.
Step 4: Feedback Session
After I have reviewed and integrated all of the information gathered during the assessment process, we'll meet for a feedback session one or two weeks later. The feedback session typically lasts an hour. This is an opportunity to discuss the results, ask questions, and explore what the findings mean for you. My goal is not simply to deliver a diagnosis, but to help you make sense of the results in a way that feels useful and meaningful.
Step 5: Written Documentation
You may choose between a comprehensive written report or a brief diagnostic note, depending on your needs and goals. If needed, we can also discuss letters supporting requests for workplace or academic accommodations.
Optional Follow-Up Session
Many people find that learning they are autistic—or learning that autism is not the best explanation for their experiences—raises new questions. For that reason, you'll be welcome to schedule an optional, hour-long follow-up session after the feedback session. This provides additional space to discuss your results, process reactions, or talk through questions that emerge after you've had time to reflect on the assessment.
FEES
I believe strongly that financial barriers should not prevent people from accessing thoughtful, high-quality autism assessments. By minimizing administrative overhead, I am able to offer comprehensive assessments and flexible payment options at more accessible rates.
Package 1:
Assessment and Feedback Session
with Comprehensive Written Report
$940
Package 2:
Assessment and Feedback Session with Brief Diagnostic Note
$790
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For those who are unable or prefer not to pay the full cost up front, I offer monthly payment plans tailored to fit a range of budgets. No additional interest is charged for choosing a payment plan.
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Both package rates include up to 2 accommodations letters for work or academic settings requested at the time of the feedback session or within a reasonable period following the assessment.
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A $100 deposit at the time of scheduling holds your appointment time for you. The deposit will be applied toward the total cost of your assessment.
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After the feedback session, an optional hour-long follow-up session can be scheduled for an additional $160 fee. The follow-up session provides additional space to discuss questions and reflections that come up after the feedback session.
SCHEDULING
I'm currently scheduling for January 2027 and beyond.
To inquire about scheduling, submit the form on my CONTACT page. See the WHAT TO EXPECT section above for more information about the steps and time commitment you can expect.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes an assessment neurodiversity-affirming? A neurodiversity-affirming assessment recognizes autism as a naturally occurring form of human diversity rather than a disease to be cured or a collection of deficits to be eliminated. This perspective does not ignore the very real challenges that autistic people may experience, but it understands those challenges in context. Many difficulties arise not only from differences in how autistic people think, communicate, and process the world, but also from living in environments and cultures that are largely organized around non-autistic norms and expectations. Historically, the evaluation of autism was based on observations of narrow groups of people and often focused solely on behavior rather than a person's internal experience. This led many autistic people—particularly women, gender-diverse people, people of color, and those who mask—to be overlooked or misunderstood. As a neurodiversity-affirming assessor, I recognize autism as a neurotype, as well as something many people experience as an identity, community, and culture. A neurodiversity-affirming assessment places significant value on your lived experience, recognizing that outward behavior alone provides an incomplete picture. The goal is not simply to observe how you appear from the outside, but to understand how you experience and make sense of the world from the inside, while providing an accurate picture of your strengths, challenges, and what supports may help you thrive.
How can I prepare for my assessment session? The most important way to prepare is simply to show up as yourself. The intake materials you'll complete before our appointment will already guide you in reflecting on many of the experiences we'll discuss during the assessment. If there are old school records, evaluations, or personal materials that may be relevant, you're welcome to bring them, though they are not required. Because the assessment takes place by telehealth and lasts approximately two to three hours, I also encourage you to choose a comfortable, private space and have anything nearby that helps you feel at ease, such as water, snacks, fidgets, headphones, or comfort items.
Will the assessment involve tests? No. My assessments do not include IQ testing, cognitive testing, academic testing, or other performance-based “tests.” Many people expect autism assessments to involve formal testing or problem-solving tasks, but this is not typically how autism is identified in adults. Before the assessment, you’ll complete questionnaires and screening measures that help me get to know you and your history, but these are not tests. During the assessment session, we’ll spend our time in an in-depth conversation about your developmental history, current experiences, sensory profile, relationships, interests, strengths, and challenges. This approach reflects current best practice in adult autism assessment. There are currently no standardized, “gold standard” tests that can reliably determine whether an adult is autistic, so structured conversations and understanding your lived experience over time are far more informative than performance-based testing. If concerns arise that suggest additional cognitive, learning, or neuropsychological testing would be helpful, I can discuss appropriate referrals.
How long do assessments take? The assessment session will take two to three hours, with breaks included. Typically, one to two weeks pass between the assessment session and the feedback session, with some variability around holidays or other scheduling constraints.
What is the assessment process like? See the "What to Expect" section above for a step-by-step overview.
Can I use my insurance? I do not bill insurance directly and operate on a private-pay basis. I can provide superbills for you to submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage varies widely by plan, so it’s a good idea to contact your insurer in advance to ask about your benefits. If you plan to contact your insurer, I recommend reaching out to me first so I can tell you what billing codes to ask about. Some clients receive partial reimbursement, while others do not. You may choose to pay for the assessment upfront or use a payment plan spread over time. Insurance reimbursement (if available) is typically based on what you have already paid, which is something to keep in mind when deciding how to structure payment if you plan to submit a superbill to your insurer.
What forms of payment do you accept? I accept credit and debit cards as well as HSA/FSA cards. I also accept Zelle for the initial appointment reservation deposit and for clients paying the full fee upfront. Payments made via Zelle for these options are not subject to an additional processing fee. Payments made by credit, debit, or HSA/FSA (including deposits, full payments, and monthly payment plan installments) include a 3% fee to help cover card processing costs.
Can I get a letter to help with accommodations at school/work? If you need documentation for workplace or school accommodations, then depending on the results of your assessment I may be able to provide up to two standard accommodation letters as part of your assessment. If you think you may need this, please indicate that in your initial paperwork so I can make sure it is included in the assessment process. If your school or workplace requires a specific form or particular wording, you’ll need to obtain that information and share it with me in writing when making your request. That way I can ensure the documentation meets their requirements. If additional letters are requested after the assessment period has ended, if you request revisions to a letter after the fact, or if requests are made after a significant amount of time has passed, a fee may apply; this is outlined in your intake materials so everything is clear upfront.
Do you have to talk to my parent(s)/caregiver(s)? No. Some people choose to invite a parent, caregiver, or other loved one to share their perspective as part of the intake process, but this is entirely optional. There are many reasons someone may not wish to include a parent or family member in the process. It’s also common for parents or caregivers to have died by the time an adult is exploring autism assessment. Not involving a parent or family member does not pose a barrier to a meaningful or complete assessment.
Can I do therapy with you after my assessment? My practice is structured so that I provide autism assessments but do not offer ongoing therapy to assessment clients. If you're interested in therapy after your assessment, I'm happy to provide referrals. I maintain a current list of therapists who are autistic and/or have specialized experience supporting autistic adults, and I'll do my best to help connect you with someone who is a good fit for your needs.
What if I’m not autistic? Many people who seek an autism evaluation because they recognize autistic traits in themselves do meet criteria for autism. Research suggests that self-identification is often a meaningful and accurate starting point for assessment. However, not everyone who seeks an evaluation will ultimately find that autism is the best explanation for their experiences. If your results suggest that you are not autistic, it does not mean your curiosity was mistaken. You likely had very good reasons for wondering about autism, and we will explore other frameworks that may better explain your strengths and challenges. Regardless of the outcome, the goal of the assessment is to help you better understand yourself, and I’ll work with you to clarify what is going on in a way that feels meaningful, respectful, and useful moving forward.
Why did you name your assessment practice October Sun? My autistic dad loved poetry. He returned to his favorites again and again, writing notes in the margins as he sifted through images, emotions, and meanings. I named October Sun Autism Assessments in his honor. It’s a reference to one of his best-loved poems, "Poem in October" by Dylan Thomas.