Neuropsychological & Learning Evaluations for Pound Ridge, NY
Pound Ridge is a small town with a single elementary school, and that shapes how learning difficulties tend to show up here. Dr. Nicole Crispinelli is a licensed psychologist and a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology (American Board of School Neuropsychology). She evaluates children, adolescents and young adults from Pound Ridge at her office in Mount Kisco.
One small school, then a very large one
Pound Ridge children attend Pound Ridge Elementary School, part of the Bedford Central School District, and then join students from Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, Mount Kisco and West Patent at Fox Lane Middle School and Fox Lane High School.
A small elementary school is a genuine advantage. Teachers know every child, families know each other, and support is often given informally before anyone writes anything down. The flip side is that informal support leaves no record — so when a student reaches Fox Lane and the informal scaffolding disappears, there is frequently no documented history to point to, and the difficulty looks new when it is not.
A comprehensive evaluation is one way to establish that record properly, with data rather than recollection behind it.
What usually prompts the call
A child who has always needed a bit more from the teacher, where nothing was ever formally identified
A transition to Fox Lane that went worse than anyone expected
Reading or writing that has never matched the child's obvious verbal ability
Attention or organisation difficulties that were absorbed at home for years
Social difficulties in a verbally strong child where autism has not been considered
A teenager who needs current documentation for testing accommodations
A young adult whose first year of college did not go as planned
What the evaluation involves
A free 15-minute call first — a conversation, not a booked appointment
A one-hour intake with parents, without the child present. Any previous testing is reviewed as part of that intake
Six to eight hours of direct testing with the child, usually across more than one session
A one-hour feedback meeting with parents to go through the findings before the report is finalized
The written report, typically one to two weeks after testing is complete
Attendance at a CSE or 504 meeting, by request, is included
Appointments can usually be scheduled within a few weeks. Sessions are not recorded. Office hours are 9:00 to 4:00, Monday through Friday.
How the report is used at school
Two routes exist. A 504 Plan provides accommodations — extended time, a separate testing location, assistive technology, reduced written output — for a student whose disability substantially limits a major life activity. An IEP provides specially designed instruction and related services, and requires classification under one of New York's disability categories. A private evaluation can support either, and part of the feedback meeting is spent on which route actually fits your child.
New York State regulations set the timelines once a district evaluation is requested: an initial individual evaluation must be completed within 60 days of the district receiving parental consent, and where a student is found eligible, the district must arrange programs and services within 60 school days of that consent.
Dr. Crispinelli spent more than ten years working inside New York public schools, and chaired both CSE and 504 committees. She has sat on the district side of these meetings, which is why the reports are written the way they are.
This is general information about how the process works in New York. It is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a special education attorney or advocate.
Getting here from Pound Ridge
The office is at 100 South Bedford Road, Suite 340, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 — roughly 20 minutes from Pound Ridge, most directly on Route 172. Testing is scheduled in longer blocks rather than many short visits, so the drive is made a small number of times.
Fees, payment and insurance
This is a private-pay practice. A superbill is provided so you can pursue out-of-network reimbursement with your insurer if your plan allows it; reimbursement is never guaranteed and depends entirely on your individual plan. The codes that typically appear on a superbill for this work are 90791, 96132, 96133, 96136 and 96137.
Payment is accepted by check, Zelle, or credit card (credit card payments carry a 3.5% processing fee). Half is due when testing begins, and the balance is due upon receipt of the final report.
Start with a call
If you are a Pound Ridge parent weighing whether an evaluation is worth doing, the free 15-minute call is the place to start. Request a call → or call 914-200-2512.
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