ADHD, Learning and Autism Evaluations for White Plains, NY

White Plains runs one of the larger school systems in Westchester — Church Street, George Washington, Mamaroneck Avenue, Post Road and Ridgeway elementary schools, Eastview and Highlands middle schools, and White Plains High School alongside Rochambeau. Scale brings real advantages in programming, and one predictable disadvantage: a large Committee on Special Education carries a large caseload, and families often find themselves waiting. 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 White Plains at her office in Mount Kisco.

Why families choose a private evaluation here

Three reasons come up repeatedly.

The first is timing. New York gives a district 60 days from receipt of parental consent to complete an initial evaluation, and 60 school days from that consent to arrange services where a student is found eligible. Those are outer limits, not targets, and a school year can pass while a child continues to struggle. A private evaluation runs on its own schedule — testing is usually scheduled within a few weeks, and the report follows one to two weeks after testing ends.

The second is scope. A school evaluation is built to answer whether a student qualifies for services. It is not designed to explain, in detail, why a specific child struggles with a specific task, or what will help.

The third is independence. The evaluator is not employed by the district whose provision is under discussion.

What usually prompts the call

• A referral request that has been sitting, or a district evaluation that came back inconclusive

• A student who is passing but plainly not learning at the level they are capable of

• Reading difficulties that were never formally assessed

• Attention concerns first raised by a teacher, or first noticed at home and not yet raised at school

• Executive functioning problems that surfaced at Eastview or Highlands when the organisational load increased

• A high schooler who needs current documentation for testing accommodations

• A young adult reassessing after a difficult first year of college

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 White Plains

The office is at 100 South Bedford Road, Suite 340, Mount Kisco, NY 10549 — roughly 20 to 25 minutes north of White Plains outside of rush hour, straight up I-684 or the Saw Mill River Parkway. Of the communities south of the office, White Plains is the easiest drive.

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

A free 15-minute call is the place to begin — a conversation about what you are seeing, not a booked appointment. Request a call → or call 914-200-2512.