Neuropsychological & Psychoeducational Evaluations for Rye, NY

Rye parents tend to arrive at this question late rather than early. In a district where most children are doing well, a child who is quietly struggling can go a long way before anyone names it — and by the time someone does, the gap has usually widened. 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 Rye at her office in Mount Kisco.

First, confirm which district your child is actually in

A Rye mailing address does not always mean the Rye City School District. That district runs five schools — Midland, Milton and Osborn elementary schools, Rye Middle School and Rye High School. But the Rye Neck Union Free School District also serves students from the City of Rye alongside the Village of Mamaroneck, and neighbouring districts cover parts of the surrounding town.

This matters because the Committee on Special Education that will read a private report belongs to whichever district your child attends, not to your zip code. It is worth being certain before a meeting is requested.

What usually prompts the call

• A capable student whose written output never matches what they clearly know

• Reading that is accurate but effortful, where the cost only shows up under time pressure

• Attention concerns that look very different at school than they do at home

• Anxiety that may be driving the academic difficulty, or may be the result of it — a distinction that is hard to make from the outside

• Documentation needed for extended time on College Board or ACT testing, usually with a deadline

• A young adult whose first year away from home 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 Rye

The office is at 100 South Bedford Road, Suite 340, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. From Rye it is roughly a 30 to 35 minute drive outside of rush hour: the Hutchinson River Parkway north, which runs directly into I-684, then off at Mount Kisco. 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 Rye parent trying to decide whether testing is the right next step, the free 15-minute call is the place to start — describe what you are seeing and ask whatever you want to ask. Request a call → or call 914-200-2512.