Getting Evaluated Through School

It’s August, so you’re probably starting to think that now is a good time to get evaluated. Here’s what you need to know about seeking it through your school. They’re all different, but this is usually how it goes.

If You’re In Middle or High School

1. When students show signs of struggling academically and/or socially, the first action is often for the school and family to schedule testing. Testing shows your strengths and weaknesses in several areas, such as attention span, memory, language, math, and visual-spatial abilities. You have two options for testing:

   You can get free psychoeducational testing through your school

   Your family can work with your insurance company to get neuropsychological testing.

   Both kinds of tests involve completing a series of simple tasks, like solving puzzles and answering written and oral questions. However, only neuropsychological testing results in a diagnosis. 

2. If you have difficulty in a specific area, like using language, sometimes a school will refer you to the school’s occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech/language therapist.

3. If you’re going through the school, your evaluation team will likely refer you to someone who can make a final diagnosis.

4. Once the team decides you qualify for services, your family and evaluation team determine if you need an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. 

If you're in college, it’ll look more like this:

1. Talk to your school guidance counselor

2. They will refer you to the school’s mental health professional

3. The mental health professional will refer you to a specialist to diagnose you

4. After getting diagnosed, you can get accommodations through disability services

References

1. Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Types of Mental Health Care Professionals. https://adaa.org/find-help/treatment-help/types-of-therapy/types-of-mental-health-care-professionals

2. Belsky, G. What is a neuropsychological evaluation? Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/neuropsychological-evaluations-what-you-need-to-know

3. MacKay, K. (n.d.). The story of my ADHD evaluation in college. Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-story-of-my-adhd-evaluation-in-college

4. Mental Health America. Types of Mental Health Professionals. https://mhanational.org/types-mental-health-professionals

5. Ross Kidder, K. Assessment for Adults with LD and/or ADHD. LD Online. https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/evaluation-ld-testing/assessment-adults-ld-andor-adhd

6. Seladi-Schulman, J. Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: What to Know. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/occupational-therapy-vs-physical-therapy#about-occupational-therapy

7. The Understood Team. What is an evaluation for special education? Understood. https://www.understood.org/articles/understanding-evaluations