Before You Book

Bring with you

• List of current medications, doses, and times
• A 1–2 line summary of your top concern (write it before you go)
• Recent sleep, eating, and bathroom patterns (rough notes are fine)
• Any school/daycare notes or report cards mentioning concerns
• Insurance card and a notebook or phone for notes

Questions to ask

• Is what we're seeing within typical range for their age?
• Could anything medical be driving the behavior (ears, sleep, GI, vision)?
• What screening tools do you use for autism, ADHD, anxiety?
• What would you watch for that would change your answer?
• Who do you refer to for evaluations — and how long is the wait?
• Can you put your recommendations in writing (after-visit summary)?

Bring with you

• All prior reports (school, OT, speech, prior evaluations)
• Video clips (1–2 minutes) of behaviors you want them to see
• A timeline: pregnancy → milestones → concerns by age
• Day-in-the-life notes: morning, school, after-school, bedtime
• Your child's strengths and what lights them up

Questions to ask

• What exactly are you evaluating for, and what tools will you use?
• How long will testing take and how many visits?
• Will my child be observed at school or only in your office?
• Will you interview teachers, therapists, or just parents?
• When do we get results, and is there a feedback session to walk through them?
• Will the written report include specific recommendations for school and home?
• Do you accept my insurance, and what's the out-of-pocket estimate?
• How current is your training on autism in girls / PDA / twice-exceptional kids?

Bring with you

• Goals in your words: 'I want my child to ___'
• What's already been tried (and what didn't work)
• Sensory profile notes: textures, sounds, food, clothing
• Triggers and what helps your child calm down
• Your child's interests — therapy works better when it's playful

Questions to ask

• What's your approach — is it child-led and play-based?
• How do you handle a child who says no or shuts down?
• Do you use rewards, and what happens when my child refuses?
• How do you involve parents — do I sit in, get coaching, or stay out?
• How will we measure progress, and how often will we review goals?
• What's your stance on stimming, eye contact, and 'compliance'?
• Are you trained in trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care?
• What does a typical session look like minute-by-minute?
• Cost per session, cancellation policy, and insurance billing?

Bring with you

• Your child's current IEP/504 (with sticky-notes on parts you want to discuss)
• Recent work samples — both struggles and wins
• Outside evaluations and provider letters
• A short written parent statement of strengths, concerns, and goals
• A support person (partner, friend, or advocate) — you don't have to go alone

Questions to ask

• What data are you using to measure each goal — and can I see it?
• How is each accommodation actually being implemented day to day?
• What's the plan when my child is dysregulated — and is it written down?
• What's working? (Start meetings here — it changes the tone.)
• If we disagree today, what's the process — and may I have Prior Written Notice?
• Can I have a draft of the IEP in advance to review?
• How will we communicate between meetings (email, log, weekly note)?