In this episode, I’m continuing our autism evaluation series and moving into the meeting itself, specifically how we explain results to families when autism is part of the conversation.

Because yes, the data matters, but the family did not come to hear a performance review of your rating scales. They came to understand their child.

I’m sharing three practical ways to make these conversations clearer, kinder, and more useful: talk more about the student than the test results, connect your findings to what the student needs at school, and leave the jargon behind whenever you can.

This is how an evaluation meeting becomes less of a presentation and more of a real conversation.

Highlights:

(02:10) - Talk about the child, not just the stack of test scores

(04:26) - What your findings actually mean for Monday morning support

(06:15) - Turning transition data into something families can picture

(07:35) - Why unstructured time can be the hardest part of the day

(08:20) - Jargon swaps that make parents feel included, not overwhelmed

(10:32) - The emotional weight of an autism eligibility meeting

The Prepared School Psychologist - https://jennyponzuric.com/solutions/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

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In this episode, I’m talking about what happens after an autism evaluation, the report. More specifically, why so many school psych reports technically include the right information, but still do not always land with the people who need them most.

Parents, teachers and service providers are not ignoring reports because they do not care. Often, the report just does not feel useful yet.

We’ll look at how to write more clearly, more succinctly and more meaningfully, without losing the integrity of the data.

Because our value is not in listing every score twice. It is in connecting the dots, grounding findings in the educational setting, and making sure the team can actually use the report to support the student.

Highlights:

(01:30) - Why important reports still go unread

(03:02) - The mindset shift that changes who you write for

(04:16) - What succinct report writing actually means

(05:02) - Why your interpretation matters more than another list of scores

(09:39) - Autism rating scales do not make eligibility decisions

(11:10) - What autism looks like on a Monday morning at school

The Prepared School Psychologist - https://jennyponzuric.com/solutions/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

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In this episode, I’m talking about a question that comes up all the time in school psychology: how do we choose the right tools when evaluating a student for suspected autism?

Do we need the ADOS? Should we add cognitive testing? Which rating scales actually help, and when are we just creating more paperwork for everyone?

I walk through why autism evaluations need to start with district expectations, but they cannot stop there. We also have to think carefully about the student in front of us, the questions we are trying to answer, and what information the team actually needs.

This is your reminder that more tools do not always mean a better evaluation, and thoughtful, individualized decision-making matters.

Highlights:

(01:30) - I’m starting with why autism evaluation questions deserve more than a one-size-fits-all answer

(02:24) - I’m explaining why district guidelines should be your first stop before choosing tools

(04:05) - I’m breaking down when cognitive testing might actually be needed

(06:05) - I’m talking through how to choose rating scales without piling on unnecessary forms

(08:25) - I’m reminding you that rating scales are useful, but they do not decide eligibility

(10:28) - I’m sharing when I do, and do not, reach for the ADOS

The Prepared School Psychologist - https://jennyponzuric.com/solutions/

The information and advice provided are for guidance purposes only, and all listeners are required to follow federal and state law, as well as their school district guidelines and policies.

Connect with Jenny:

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

WEBSITE