Who founded Pivot Assessment Services and what is your approach?
Pivot was founded in 2025 by me (Dr. Ashley Whittington-Barnish).
I created Pivot as a place for all individuals to feel welcome and operate from a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based perspective, striving to make the assessment process feel approachable, personal, and empowering rather than cold or strictly clinical.
How do I get started, and is there a waitlist?
No waitlist! You can get started by booking a free, 15-minute online consultation through our website or digital scheduling portal to ask initial questions and outline your specific needs. I welcome the opportunity to connect and hear if Pivot is the right next step for you or your family.
What core services do you offer?
Pivot specializes in three main pillars of support:
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Comprehensive Evaluations: Individualized psychological and neurodevelopmental assessments for all ages
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Training: Customized workshops to build capacity and enhance neurodiversity understanding for families, schools, BCBAs, therapists, and communities
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Caregiver Coaching: Short-term, strengths-based, individual sessions (for parent and child) navigating everyday behavioral, emotional, or relational challenges. No diagnosis needed!
What types of psychological and neurodevelopmental evaluations does Pivot offer?
We provide diagnostic and academic testing tailored to all ages, including:
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) evaluations (our core specialty, emphasizing early identification)
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ADHD assessments (attention, impulse control, and executive functioning)
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Learning differences (identifying dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia)
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Neuropsychological and cognitive functioning assessments
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Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) evaluations
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Psychological evaluations
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Re-evaluations for ongoing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services
What are the steps in Pivot’s evaluation process?
The comprehensive evaluation process moves through four structured phases:
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Intake Session: An initial meeting to detail developmental history, home/school context, current concerns, and goals
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Testing/Assessment: approach-focused, standardized activities (such as play-based tasks, memory exercises, problem-solving, rating scales, and diagnostic tools like the ADOS-2), and individualized plan to answer your questions and meet your needs
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Feedback Session: A dedicated conversation where I (Dr. AWB) meet to explain the results clearly, discuss any applicable diagnoses, and map out next steps with clear recommendations
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Written Report: A thorough, practical document highlighting results, interpretations, and official recommendations for home, school, or community accommodations.
Can Pivot help my child get accommodations at school?
Yes. With a background in school psychology, school team input and application is a highly valued part of the process. Specifically, I tailor educational evaluations to support school placement and eligibility. Written reports provide the formal documentation (if relevant) and specific, actionable recommendations needed to advocate for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 accommodations in both public and private schools.
Is caregiver coaching the same as traditional therapy?
Yes and no. These sessions are short-term, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based strategies to target specific behavioral or relational issues. Although it is similar to therapy, it’s generally viewed as more structured and focused because of the 7-week format. It is billed like therapy, and therefore reimbursable for out-of-network benefits.
Do you offer testing accommodations for standardized exams for college/higher education?
Yes. We conduct formal testing assessments designed to fulfill the documentation criteria for standardized testing accommodations (e.g., for the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT) or provide recommendations for accommodations in the classroom setting.
Do you accept insurance?
Not directly. We are completely out-of-network for all insurance plans. We intentionally choose this model so we can focus entirely on what is best for you and maintain smaller caseloads, without being restricted by insurance company care limitations. We will provide a Superbill upon request.
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For example, we will add additional measures, if needed, and interview teachers or therapists to get a fuller understanding of you/your child’s needs.
How can I get reimbursed if I have out-of-network benefits?
Following your appointments, we can provide a comprehensive Superbill. This is a detailed itemized receipt containing all the medical codes and clinician information your insurance company requires. You can submit this document directly to your insurance provider to file for out-of-network mental health reimbursement.
The school just finished evaluating my child for an IEP, but I really don’t agree with their results and recommendations. What can I do?
First, we recommend talking to the school to share your concerns and work on a path forward. As a parent, you do have the legal right under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Illinois state educational regulations to disagree with a school district's evaluation. If you believe the school’s assessment didn't capture the full picture of your child’s learning differences, autism, ADHD, or neurodevelopmental profile, you can request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). An IEE is an evaluation conducted by a qualified, outside examiner who is not employed by the school district. In many cases, if certain criteria are met, parents can request that the school district pay for this independent assessment.
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​I (Dr. Whittington-Barnish) provide independent psychological, neuropsychological, and educational evaluations. With specialized credentials in both clinical psychology and school psychology, I understand both the clinical diagnostic criteria and the specific rules governing Illinois special education eligibility (IEPs and 504 Plans).