Accepting new patients
Most major insurance — not Kaiser only
RCEB vendorized
Scholarship support available
● Coming soon to Happy Talkers
Clinical services · Happy Talkers
Autism diagnostic evaluation (ADOS-2)
Waiting months for an autism evaluation shouldn’t be the norm. Happy Talkers is launching ADOS-2 diagnostic evaluations — the gold standard assessment for autism spectrum disorder — for children ages 18 months through 8 years. When a diagnosis is needed to access services, we’ll help families get answers without the typical wait.
Diagnostics at a glance
ADOS-2 gold standard assessment
Comprehensive diagnostic report
Parent & caregiver interview
Developmental history review
Results meeting with family
Treatment recommendations
🕑 Coming soon · Ages: 18 months – 8 years
✓ Most major insurance accepted
✓ RCEB accepted
✓ Scholarship support available
✓ RCEB accepted
✓ Scholarship support available
About this service
What the diagnostic evaluation will include
A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) opens doors. It provides access to insurance-funded therapy, Regional Center services, school-based IEPs, and other critical support. But in many regions, wait times for evaluations stretch to 12–18 months or longer.
Happy Talkers is launching ADOS-2 evaluations — the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition — the most widely used and validated tool for autism diagnosis. Evaluations will be conducted by trained clinicians and result in a comprehensive diagnostic report accepted by your pediatrician, Regional Center, school district, and insurance company.
“A diagnosis doesn’t change who your child is. It opens a door. Getting that answer sooner means access to support sooner — and earlier intervention produces the best outcomes.”
When to consider an evaluation
Your pediatrician recommended an autism evaluation
Your child has delays in communication, social connection, or behavior
Your child has been receiving therapy but lacks a formal diagnosis for insurance access
Your child’s school has recommended evaluation for an IEP
RCEB has indicated a diagnosis is needed to continue services
You’ve been on a waitlist elsewhere and need faster access
Something feels different and you want answers, not just a wait-and-see
What to expect
How the evaluation will work
A complete ADOS-2 evaluation at Happy Talkers will typically take place over one or two appointments and result in a full diagnostic report within 2–3 weeks.
1
Intake & records review
You submit your child’s developmental history, any prior evaluations, and relevant school or medical records. Our team reviews everything before the evaluation appointment to ensure we have full context.
2
Parent interview
A structured parent interview gathers detailed developmental history — pregnancy, early milestones, current concerns, family history, and your observations of your child across settings. This is a critical part of the diagnostic picture.
3
ADOS-2 assessment
The clinician administers the ADOS-2 directly with your child — a structured series of activities and interactions designed to observe social communication, play, and behavior in a standardized way. This typically takes 45–90 minutes depending on your child’s age and module.
4
Report & results meeting
A comprehensive written report is completed within 2–3 weeks. We then meet with you to review findings, answer questions, explain what the diagnosis means (or doesn’t mean) for your child, and provide recommendations for next steps and services.
Understanding the ADOS-2
What the assessment actually is
Parents often come in not knowing what to expect from the ADOS-2 itself. Here’s what it is and isn’t.
What does ADOS-2 stand for?
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition. It is the most widely used, standardized tool for diagnosing autism across the world.
Is it a test my child can fail?
No. It is an observation — not a test of intelligence or ability. The clinician creates activities and situations that allow them to observe how your child communicates and interacts socially.
Will my child know they’re being evaluated?
For young children, the ADOS-2 looks and feels like play. The clinician is engaging and warm — not clinical or cold. Most young children enjoy the session.
What does the report include?
A full diagnostic report including background, behavioral observations, ADOS-2 results, diagnostic impression, and recommendations for services, supports, and next steps.
After the evaluation
What a diagnosis makes possible
A Happy Talkers diagnostic report will be accepted by:
Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB)
Access to Early Start, behavioral services, and other vendorized supports
Major commercial insurance
Authorization for ABA, speech, and OT under mental health parity laws
Local school districts
Input for IEP evaluations and eligibility determinations
Pediatricians & specialists
Medical record documentation and referrals for additional support
Direct pathway to Happy Talkers services
Children evaluated here can begin speech, OT, or ABA therapy here — without starting over at another provider
A diagnosis is the beginning, not the end.
Children evaluated at Happy Talkers will have direct access to our full clinical team — speech therapy, OT, ABA, infant development, and social skills. No starting over. No new waitlists. One integrated system from evaluation to ongoing care.
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Behavioral therapy (ABA)
Infant development
Social skills
Diagnostics (ADOS) — coming soon
Parent questions
Frequently asked questions
We are actively preparing to launch ADOS-2 evaluations and will begin scheduling as soon as we are ready. Families who contact our intake team now will be added to the waitlist and contacted first when appointments open. We will give you an honest picture of timing when you reach out.
Call us at (925) 829-9555 or use the Get Started form on this page. Let our intake team know you’re interested in the diagnostic evaluation — they’ll add you to the list and follow up when appointments become available.
Coverage varies by plan. Many commercial insurance plans cover diagnostic evaluations — particularly when there is a documented referral from your pediatrician. We will verify your coverage before scheduling and give you a clear picture of what to expect financially. RCEB also funds evaluations for eligible children. If coverage is a barrier, ask our intake team about scholarship support.
Possibly. For insurance-funded ABA therapy specifically, most plans require an ASD diagnosis. For Regional Center services beyond age 3, a diagnosis is often required to establish eligibility. If your child is in speech or OT but has not yet been formally evaluated for autism — and you or their clinicians have concerns — an ADOS-2 evaluation may open additional doors for support.
A result that doesn’t meet criteria for ASD is still meaningful clinical information. The report will include findings about your child’s communication, social, and behavioral profile — and recommendations for appropriate support regardless of the diagnostic outcome. Many children who don’t meet ASD criteria still benefit significantly from speech therapy, OT, or social skills programs.
Yes — and this is one of the most important advantages of being evaluated here. Children who are evaluated at Happy Talkers will have a direct pathway to our clinical services. We use the evaluation findings to inform an individualized care plan, coordinate across disciplines, and begin services without the delays of starting over at a new provider. One team, one system, from evaluation to ongoing care.
ADOS-2 evaluations at Happy Talkers will be conducted by licensed clinicians who have completed ADOS-2 training and reliability certification. Our evaluators will have clinical backgrounds in speech-language pathology, psychology, or related developmental fields. Contact our intake team for more information as the launch date approaches.
For families
Get on the waitlist
ADOS-2 evaluations are launching soon. Contact our intake team now to be added to the waitlist — families who register early will be contacted first when appointments open.
Join the waitlist →
For providers
Referring for evaluation?
Submit a referral now and we will contact the family when scheduling opens. Fax to (925) 236-9712 or call (925) 829-9555. A pediatrician referral strengthens insurance authorization.
Submit referral →