Adult Seeking Diagnosis
How does someone over the age 18 get evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Ways to obtain an Autism evaluation as an adult (age 18 or older) include:
Through a paid private practitioner, who may or may not be covered by your insurance, or potentially by a free evaluation with Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Voc Rehab or VR), or through Developmental Disability Services, if you meet their requirements.
More information is below:
How do I find a private provider for an Autism evaluation?
There is a list of providers who do adult Autism evaluations on the ASO website at: https://autismsocietyoregon.org/directory/. Scroll to the middle of the page and under Browse Subcategories and Adult Resources click on Adults-Diagnosis.
You will need to contact the providers directly to find out if they are accepting new clients and what insurance, if any, they take. Please note our disclaimer as we do not charge for the listings and do not vet them. DISCLAIMER: This Directory is being provided as a courtesy to the public only. The Autism Society of Oregon (ASO) makes NO warranty or representation as to the qualifications, character, training or expertise of the listed individual or agencies. A listing here is NOT a substitute for your own inquiry.
If you have health insurance, you can contact your insurance customer service. Usually, the customer services phone number can be found on the back of your insurance card or sometimes the front. Contact your insurance company and ask them if they can give you a list of providers who can diagnosis adults for autism. You may also want to ask your insurance company if they have a patient advocate.
Another suggestion is looking on the Psychology Today website, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us. Click on therapist. Type in your city. Click on show issues. Click on more show more issues. Click on Autism. Then search for providers who do evaluations.
What is the cost for a private evaluation?
Autism evaluations can cost several hundred dollars to thousands without insurance. Even with insurance, there may be a co-pay or deductible to be satisfied, depending on your insurance coverage. Some providers may be able to work with you on the fees if you don’t have insurance, but that is up to the individual provider.
How does a free evaluation work?
If you are unemployed or are underemployed and want to use Vocational Rehabilitation Services (“Voc Rehab”), to find appropriate employment, contact them to see if you qualify for their help. They are a state agency with the goal of helping individuals with disabilities find and keep appropriate employment. They are not Autism evaluators and that’s not their role, but in some cases can arrange for an Autism evaluation if you otherwise qualify for their services and want their services.
As part of determining whether you qualify for their services, they may be able to provide an evaluation for disability. If you let them know that you think you may be on the Autism spectrum, they may be able to include an Autism evaluation. The downsides are that you don’t get to choose the evaluator and Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab, VR) is entitled to access the report since they are paying for it and are using it to determine if you qualify for services.
More information about Voc Rehab is here: oregon.gov/odhs/vr
Contact information for Voc Rehab offices is here: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/Office-Finder.aspx?serviceid=27
Similarly, in some cases, your county Department of Disability Services (“DD Services”) may be able provide an Autism evaluation to determine if you qualify for their services. Contact information for DD Services offices by county is here: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Pages/county-programs.aspx
Can I access any services or supports even without a diagnosis of Autism?
It can be a time-consuming process to obtain an autism diagnosis. Accordingly, you don’t need an official diagnosis to go to support groups for adults on the autism spectrum. Most of these groups are free or have a minimal cost. Meeting other people who are on spectrum or think they may be, can be very helpful.
We have a list of all the support and social groups that ASO sponsors which are currently meeting online (by Zoom) at https://autismsocietyoregon.org/support-groups-virtual-meetings/. We also have a list of support and social groups for adults on the ASO website by region at https://autismsocietyoregon.org/support/support-groups-by-region/. Click on each region for the listings in that area. We list the groups we sponsor first in each region, then list all of the groups we know about in the area. If you don’t see a group listed that would meet your needs, please contact ASO about starting one. We would be happy to provide help.
Websites featuring information by, or about autistic adults can also be very helpful. A list of some sites by or about autistic adults to consider are below, but it is by no means exhaustive:
- Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism – Autism news and resources: from autistic people, professionals, and parents
- Autism Asperger.net – website of Stephen Shore with a goal of helping “people appreciate those on the autism spectrum for who they are and participate with them to develop strengths and make accommodations for challenges.”
- Autistic Not Weird – insights from Chris Bonnello, an autistic adult, who is a teacher, author and speaker
- Unstrange Mind – website of Maxfield Sparrow, who is an autistic trans masculine author, artist, advocate and speaker.
- Karla’s ASD Page – on Facebook. This page by a late-diagnosed autistic adult in Oregon is about “Not Fighting Autism, working with it.”
- Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN) – their mission to provide community, support and resources for Autistic women, girls, transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary and genderqueer people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all others of marginalized genders.
- Twainbow: People Living Under a Double Rainbow – Providing education and peer support for Autistic individuals who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Led exclusively by Autistic individuals.
- Autism 101 – Providing resources for newly diagnosed Autistic people, and those who think they might be Autistic. Developed by a recently diagnosed Autistic person.