Frequently Asked Questions

No, we are not a medical organization. However, at PLACE we feel strongly about our services being accessible to all families. We offer a limited number of scholarships for evaluation services through our Non-Profit organization, as well as payment plans, and more. Please reach out with your questions.

We are highly trained individuals with specialized skills in the area of assessment. We like to partner with community, medical, and behavioral organizations to support individuals whose speciality is in instruction for specific targeted skills. 

No, we are not direct advocates at PLACE. Coming from the public school setting we understand sometimes things can become frustrating to a point of wanting or needing an advocate. However, at PLACE we like to operate from the understanding that people usually do the best they can with the information they have. That means school teams often times are trying to support your student and might be lacking additional information to make a better informed decision. We have advocate partners we can recommend should that be what you are looking for. We also have Professional Development opportunities for school staff and school divisions so that we can work with school teams to better meet the needs of students. As part of our services we will coach you on how to advocate for your student with the information provided during our assessments. Let us know what your needs are so we can point you in the right direction.

No, as Diagnosticians our impact is focussed on educational needs and learning opportunities not a medical diagnosis as we are not medical professionals. However, the testing services offered often times are the same that would be used in a clinical setting (such as the ADOS-2 for example) and as such can be submitted to your doctor's offices for review. We always recommend sharing our reports with medical providers, school teams, and community organizations so they have an understanding of your child's unique style of learning. 

Many parents seek evaluations for IEP purposes. However, testing does not guarantee an IEP. We can talk to you about your child's abilities and how that could translate in a classroom setting. We can discuss based on evaluation results whether pursuing an IEP, a 504, or a medical diagnosis might be beneficial.

Parents often choose a private evaluation because school-based assessments are frequently completed with the minimum testing required, and there is an inherent bias when school teams must determine eligibility based on their own systems, resources, and responsibilities. School teams are working under increasing constraints, including high caseloads, limited time, and staffing shortages, and many educators have minimal training in administering and interpreting nationally normed assessments. School psychologists, in particular, are balancing evaluations alongside counseling, crisis response, and other responsibilities. A private evaluation through PLACE provides an independent, unbiased perspective with more comprehensive testing, faster timelines, and clear, actionable recommendations that can be shared with schools, medical providers, and community supports. 

Yes, please have your child take whatever medications have been prescribed by their doctor. Letting the staff know at PLACE that your child is taking medication is helpful when we look at things like the time of day we work with your child, or when we are interpreting the testing data. If you're unsure make sure to communicate with PLACE staff as we understand every child's situation is uunique. 

The short answer is no. Because the assessments we use are nationally normed, they must be administered under specific testing conditions to ensure the results are accurate, valid, and free from outside influence. Having another person in the room can unintentionally impact how a child responds and may affect the reliability of the data.

That said, there are certain situations where a parent may be invited to join part of a session if it is in the best interest of the child. We take a thoughtful, individualized approach and are always happy to talk with you about what feels appropriate and supportive for your child before testing begins.

We understand that testing can feel stressful for children, and we are very mindful of that in everything we do. Our team takes a gentle, supportive approach and works intentionally to help each child feel safe, comfortable, and at ease throughout the testing process. When preparing your child, it can be helpful to simply let them know they’ll be meeting someone new, answering some questions, and playing a few games—nothing more than that. Our goal is to meet your child where they are and make the experience as positive and reassuring as possible.

At this time, we work with students in person, as this is considered best practice and allows us to provide the most accurate, supportive, and high-quality experience possible.

Because our assessment services are tailored to your child’s unique needs, timelines can vary. Some evaluations may be completed in a shorter time frame, while others benefit from multiple sessions, allowing us to truly get to know your child and gather the most accurate information.

We understand how eager families are to receive results once testing is complete. While the evaluation sessions may feel like the longest part, writing the report is often the most time-intensive step. Our diagnosticians carefully analyze patterns, compare multiple sources of data, and thoughtfully synthesize findings to ensure the report is accurate, meaningful, and useful. We work diligently to complete this process as efficiently as possible so we can review results with you and outline clear, actionable next steps.

Our assessments provide a rich understanding of how your child thinks and learns. We clearly explain these findings in our reports so they can be easily understood and effectively used by school teams.

Absolutely! At PLACE, our reports are written with clarity and purpose so teachers and school teams can quickly understand your child’s needs and implement supports. Each evaluation is aligned with school system requirements and includes clear, actionable recommendations to support IEPs or 504 Plans. 

At PLACE, we aim to schedule appointments during regular weekday business hours, but we understand that every family’s needs are different. We’re happy to discuss your availability and work with you to find a time that works best for your child.

At PLACE we use nationally normed tests widely recognized by school systems, medical providers, and community organizations such as the KTEA-3, the WIAT-4, the WISC-V, the KBAC-2, the ADOS-2, and more. We can discuss your goals for assessment services and talk about which evaluation tools would be best for your child. 

If parents are divorced or separated, the parent bringing the child must have legal custody or the authority to make decisions about the child’s healthcare or education. We may ask to see a copy of the divorce decree. Sometimes, we may need written consent from both parents, unless the custody agreement says otherwise. Our evaluations are for educational purposes only and are not meant to be used in custody or legal cases. Even if one parent has sole or tie-breaking decision-making authority, we may still notify the other parent about the evaluation. If you have any questions about our policies, please feel free to reach out to us.

While our testing and reports are designed to be useful for schools, we cannot require schools to cover the cost of testing. Parents are responsible for payment, as schools are not financially responsible for evaluations conducted outside their own programs.