A free, guided tool that walks you through exactly what a $3,000–5,000 autism evaluation looks for — explaining each thing as you answer — then hands you a printable summary to bring to a professional. So you walk in already holding half of it.
The truth almost no one tells you: a huge part of an autism evaluation isn’t a secret test only an expert can give — it’s what you already know about your own child, gathered over years, where they feel safe. The specialists are good at their jobs. But you’re the world’s expert on your kid. Below, we hand you everything they look for — in plain words, as you go — so you can see it too, spend less, and walk in ready.
Pick your child’s age, then answer gently. Under each question is exactly what the professionals look for. Take your time — over days is fine. At the end you get a clean, printable summary to hand your evaluator. Nothing you enter is saved or sent — not on our servers, not in your browser. Print it and it’s gone.
If you’re new to this, the whole thing is a fog. Let’s clear it before you spend a dollar.
Not one test — a battery, usually 4–8 hours over one to three visits. A specialist plays and talks with your child, interviews you about your child’s history, and gathers reports from school. At the end they tell you whether your child meets the criteria for autism, plus a detailed picture of strengths and needs.
You’re paying for a specialist’s hours — the testing, the scoring, and a long written report. A private evaluation is fast but expensive. Your public school must evaluate for free — slower, aimed at school services rather than a medical diagnosis, but a real legal right. Many families do both, or start with the free one. Here’s how to request the free school evaluation in writing.
The specialist gets on the floor and plays with your child using specific toys and “moments” — it looks casual, but they’re watching closely (we explain each moment as you go through the tool). Separately they interview you about your child’s history, send questionnaires to the teacher, and may order a hearing test. Your child isn’t being graded — they’re being watched, with care.
Of the picture an autism evaluation is built on comes from your history and what you and the teacher observe — not the one-day testing. The expensive room is where it gets confirmed. You already hold most of the file. Let’s gather it.