Embedded Files
You are the expert and know when something is different. We are here to guide you through the diagnostic process and help identify the best treatment and next steps.
Evaluations for Adults and Children
The right diagnosis. The first time.
We are psychologists and behavior analysts treating ADHD, autism, and related conditions throughout the lifespan. We understand the nuances that other professionals miss.
While most other agencies have waitlists between 6 and 18 months, we complete most of our evaluations within 1-2 months from the time of referral.
We don't just evaluate - we understand.
Most diagnostic evaluations tell you what a person has. Ours tell you why - and what to do about it. Our team brings a rare combination of deep clinical training and real-world treatment experience that shapes every evaluation we conduct.
Our 5-Step Diagnostic Process is designed to provide answers as comprehensively and quickly as possible.
Our 5-Step Diagnostic Process is designed to provide answers as comprehensively and quickly as possible.
Step 1: Diagnostic Interview
A clinician will meet with you to discuss your concerns, review developmental and medical history, and current areas of concern. If assessment requires pre-authorization, this step occurs separately to decrease wait times associated with authorization approval.
Step 2: Assessment
Your clinician will conduct a comprehensive assessment that includes observation and specific testing. With the goal of providing diagnosis as quickly as possible, our assessments are designed to ensure they meet the requirements of insurance companies when requesting authorization for treatment services.
Step 3: Results & Recommendations
You will receive feedback regarding the outcomes of the assessment along with specific recommendations to address your concerns. Any questions you may have will be answered at this time.
Step 4: Comprehensive Report
Your clinician will create a comprehensive report that includes the three previous steps along with specific recommendations for future treatment and / or evaluation (if recommended). Our reports are written to ensure approval by insurance companies for future services.
Step 5: Follow Up
A clinician will work with you as you navigate next steps and long-term services. You will receive education on how to determine the right fit based on your needs, how to evaluate if treatment is effective, and how to ensure you are not simply passed to another waitlist. If you are a caregiver of a newly diagnosed child, you will also receive training on how to begin working with your child on the specific skills they need.
Recognizing the signs at every age
Neurodevelopmental conditions present differently across the lifespan. Many adults have gone a lifetime without the right answers. We evaluate both with equal depth and care.
Individuals with autism have significant strengths and diagnosis helps those strengths be supported along with the challenges. Below are a list of common areas that result in initial referrals:
Delayed speech development
Difficulties with or lack of interest in social interactions
Restricted interests (e.g., only interested in dinosaurs, trains, etc.)
Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand flapping, lining up toys, repeating words out of context)
Difficulty responding to social cues
Limited expression of interests, emotions, or affect
Differences in eye contact and body language
Difficulties developing relationships with others
Rigidity and adherence to routines and rituals
Have you noticed that you experience the world differently than those around you? If any of the symptoms below fit you, you may benefit from an evaluation.
Difficulty with sustained attention or focus
Chronic disorganization, missed deadlines, or difficulty prioritizing
Feeling "different" from others despite years of trying to fit in
Trouble making and maintaining friendships and romantic relationships
Over sensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, smells
Rigid or necessary routines
Intense emotional reactions or difficulty regulating emotions
Anxiety or depression that hasn't responded well to treatment
A lifelong sense that your brain just works differently
Getting it Right. Getting it Done.
Waiting for answers is more than frustrating. Every month without a diagnosis is a month without the right support. We believe in evaluations that are both accurate and timely. Most evaluations take 1-2 months from the moment you contact us until you receive the final diagnostic report.
Early intervention changes outcomes
Early intervention changes outcomes
Research consistently shows that early identification of ADHD, autism, and learning differences allows for interventions that improve long-term educational, social, and emotional outcomes - especially in children under the age of 7.
A wrong diagnosis does harm
A wrong diagnosis does harm
Misdiagnosing Level 1 autism as anxiety, or ADHD as behavioral issues, leads to years of ineffective treatment. Our 50+ years of treatment experience means we know how to get it right.
Answers give a clear path forward
Answers give a clear path forward
A diagnosis isn't a label; it's a map. It unlocks school accommodations, access to services, better treatment matching, and perhaps most importantly, the relief of finally understanding.
We move with purpose not haste
We move with purpose not haste
Thorough doesn't have to mean slow. We are committed to completing evaluations in a reasonable timeframe without cutting corners. You get both accuracy and answers you can act on now.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
You deserve clarity. Let's find it together.
Whether you're a parent with questions about your child, or an adult who has spent years searching for answers. We're here to help you find them. Our team is ready to listen.
Questions first? Email us as referrals@acceleratebx.com or call (314) 912-9336
Who are we?
Our owners, Dr. Natalie Parks and Beverly Kirby bring with them over 50 years of combined experience.
Natalie Parks, PhD, BCBA-D, LP, LBA
Natalie Parks, PhD, BCBA-D, LP, LBA
Dr. Natalie Parks is a licensed psychologist and doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her clinical career spans early-intervention programs, intensive day-treatment centers, inpatient facilities, and school-based services. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the renowned Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Marcus Autism Center, where she developed a parent-training program for families of children with speech delays and mild to moderate challenging behavior. Dr. Natalie was among the first BCBAs to work at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and helped lay the groundwork for what is now the center’s Annual Thompson Center Conference. Drawing on her dual training in school psychology and applied behavior analysis, she has conducted countless comprehensive diagnostic assessments and created individualized treatment plans that integrate evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of family and community needs.
A nationally recognized leader in both behavior analysis and social justice, Dr. Natalie’s life’s work is to dismantle systemic inequities and increase belonging. As the president-elect of the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis (MOABA) and former Program Director of a master’s-level Applied Behavior Analysis program, she has trained and mentored the next generation of clinicians while helping universities—including Truman State University—develop their own ABA graduate programs. She brings this commitment directly into her clinical work by using culturally responsive diagnostic methods—ensuring that each evaluation respects the unique cultural context, language, and lived experiences of every child and family. Dr. Natalie is also a prolific author whose publications include The Behavior of Social Justice (2024), Feedback F!@#ups, OBM Entrepreneur, and Leadership in Behavior Analysis, each reflecting her dedication to merging rigorous behavioral science with practical strategies for inclusive leadership and organizational change.
Beyond the field of autism and developmental disabilities, Dr. Natalie applies the science of behavior to organizational behavior management, helping organizations increase efficiency, streamline processes, expand strategically, and cultivate cultures of belonging. She also partners with first responders to foster inclusive workspaces and provides executive coaching to leaders seeking to drive meaningful, evidence-based change.
Beverly Kirby, MA, BCBA
Beverly Kirby, MA, BCBA
Beverly Kirby is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 25 years of experience supporting children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her entrepreneurial spirit flourished with the co-founding of The S.P.A.R.K.S. Group, an organization dedicated to providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to Black and Brown communities and to increasing the representation of Black and Brown clinicians in the field. She successfully sold this business, becoming the first Black woman to sell a thriving ABA practice, before exploring the application of ABA to enhance sports performance, health, and fitness. Beverly is currently completing her doctorate in school psychology at Temple University, where she completed multiple practicum and externships focused on comprehensive diagnosis and assessment.
Recognizing that accurate and timely diagnosis is the critical first step to receiving appropriate services, Beverly is committed to creating a model that reduces wait times and expands access to assessment for underserved populations. A co-author of The Behavior of Social Justice (2024), she is deeply involved in advancing the intersection of behavior analysis and social justice. Beverly has helped numerous ABA organizations launch and scale their services, mentoring leaders and shaping programs that broaden access and elevate standards of care. Through her clinical expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and tireless advocacy, she continues to merge rigorous behavioral science with a powerful commitment to equity—ensuring that both diagnosis and treatment become more accessible and inclusive for all.
Don't live in the St. Louis Area? We may be able to provide your diagnostic evaluation using telehealth. Contact us to learn what locations are covered.
Don't live in the St. Louis Area? We may be able to provide your diagnostic evaluation using telehealth. Contact us to learn what locations are covered.
Page updated
Report abuse