About the practice
A practice built for adults who were never evaluated as children.
California Adult Autism Evaluations was founded on a simple belief: adults deserve access to thorough, affirming diagnostic assessments — conducted by clinicians who understand how autism actually presents in adulthood.
Our mission
We exist to close the diagnostic gap for autistic adults in California. Too many people spend decades without answers — misdiagnosed, dismissed, or simply never referred for evaluation. We offer a clear, accessible path to understanding, without the barriers that have historically made adult autism diagnosis so difficult to access.
Adult-focused
Our assessments are designed specifically for adult presentations of autism — not adapted from pediatric tools.
Affirming
We approach every evaluation from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. Autism is not a deficit to be corrected.
Accessible
Private pay, transparent pricing, and fully telehealth — because getting answers shouldn't require navigating a broken system.
Meet the clinical team
Every evaluation is conducted by a licensed clinician with specialized training in adult autism assessment. You will be heard, taken seriously, and given a thorough assessment that reflects who you actually are.
Denise Rockwell, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Licensed Developmental Psychologist & Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Dr. Denise Rockwell is a licensed developmental psychologist and board certified behavior analyst with over two decades of experience supporting neurodiverse individuals across the lifespan. She specializes in comprehensive diagnostic assessments for children, adolescents, and adults, offering clarity and guidance for concerns related to autism, ADHD, learning differences, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Rockwell is known for her collaborative, strengths-based approach and her commitment to delivering thorough, individualized evaluations that support accurate diagnoses and meaningful next steps for intervention and care.
Hector Serrato, Ed.S.
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
Hector Serrato, a Nationally Accredited School Psychologist (NCSP), is the Founder of Arizona Autism Diagnostic Center, bringing over a decade of dedicated experience in direct work with children affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other low-incidence conditions. His diverse professional background has cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges and individuality within the autism spectrum.
Why adult-focused evaluations matter
Adult autism often goes unrecognized — not because it isn't there, but because the diagnostic criteria and clinical tools were developed primarily with children in mind.
Masking changes the picture
Many autistic adults — particularly women, nonbinary people, and those who grew up without support — have spent years learning to mask their differences. Standard assessments may miss autism in people who have become skilled at appearing neurotypical.
Adult life brings new demands
The executive function, social, and sensory demands of adult life are different from childhood. Many people don't recognize their struggles as autism-related until they encounter the pressures of work, relationships, or independent living.
A diagnosis changes things
For many adults, a formal diagnosis is transformative — not because it changes who they are, but because it provides language, context, and access to accommodations and support that were never available before.
Why telehealth
Conducting evaluations via telehealth isn't a compromise — it's a deliberate choice. For many autistic adults, traveling to an unfamiliar clinical setting, navigating waiting rooms, and managing sensory demands can be exhausting before the evaluation even begins. Telehealth allows you to participate from an environment where you feel comfortable and regulated, which often produces a more accurate clinical picture.
All evaluations are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. California residents only.
Ready to get started?
Fill out our brief intake form and we'll be in touch within one to two business days.