238 | telehealth autism evaluations: why I built my practice this way

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇

can an autism evaluation really be comprehensive and accurate when it's done over telehealth?

dr. tay takes you behind the scenes of her clinical practice to share why she built a telehealth-based autism evaluation model, what the research tells us about its accuracy, and how she determines whether this approach is a good fit for each child and family.

whether you're a parent considering an evaluation for your child or a clinician curious about offering telehealth assessments, this episode explores the benefits, limitations, and clinical considerations that go into making this model work. dr. tay also shares how her evaluation process has evolved to provide more personalized, ongoing support for families beyond the diagnosis itself.

you’ll hear about:

• why dr. tay chose to build a telehealth autism evaluation practice and how the model developed
• how telehealth can improve access to specialized, neurodiversity-affirming evaluations
• the research on telehealth evaluation accuracy, including where the evidence is limited
• why evaluating children in their own homes can offer valuable clinical information
• when telehealth may not be the right fit and why informed consent matters
• how dr. tay's evaluation process has evolved to include more personalized post-diagnosis support
• opportunities for clinicians interested in learning how to conduct comprehensive telehealth evaluations

timestamps

00:00 who this episode is for and why dr. tay chose telehealth

04:00 how telehealth autism evaluations developed during the pandemic

05:17 interstate licensure and reaching families across the country

07:53 accessibility, shorter wait times, and reducing evaluation-related anxiety

10:50 evaluating children in their natural environment and recognizing masking

14:08 what the research says about telehealth evaluation accuracy

17:35 limitations, informed consent, and when telehealth isn't the right fit

25:37 what a comprehensive telehealth autism evaluation involves

29:33 how dr. tay has expanded her model to support families after diagnosis

31:16 evaluation availability and what comes next for the practice

33:31 continuing education opportunities for clinicians

35:08 expanding access through clinician training and collaboration

resources

FOR CLINICIANS

⚡️ conducting comprehensive telehealth evaluations for autism and co-occurring conditions — dr. tay's 1.5-credit continuing education training through Neurodiversity University. live November 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET, with a recording available for on-demand learning

⚡️ on-demand: interpreting autism assessment data in high-masking and under-identified presentations — dr. tay's previous continuing education training on integrating assessment data through a neurodiversity-affirming lens

⚡️ The Testing Psychologist, episode 607: how to build a virtual testing practice with dr. taylor day — a deeper conversation for clinicians about the clinical and business considerations of building a virtual evaluation practice

FOR PARENTS

⚡️ episode 46 | telehealth evaluations: a new era in autism diagnosis — revisit dr. tay's earlier conversation about virtual autism evaluations

⚡️ episode 180 | complex emotions in autism parenting: the path from grief to acceptance — a related conversation about the emotional experiences families may navigate following an autism diagnosis

⚡️ episode 186: do you really need the ADOS-2 to diagnose autism? — learn more about autism assessment tools and why no single measure determines a diagnosis

⚡️ book a free consult call to the remaining 2 slots for dr. tay's virtual autism evaluations.

⚡️ explore dr. tay's clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com

FOR ALL

⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights