What to Expect at an Autism Evaluation (CDE) in Florida: A Guide for Lake County Parents

Your pediatrician has suggested an autism evaluation, and now you have a lot of questions. What will they do with my child? What happens after? If you're feeling nervous, that's normal. Many parents in Leesburg, Eustis, Clermont, and across Lake County have sat exactly where you are.

The good news is that an evaluation isn't a test your child can pass or fail. It's a careful, friendly look at how your child plays, talks, and learns, so the adults in their life know what support will help them thrive. This guide explains the Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE), what usually happens, how to prepare, and what comes next.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Every child and every clinic is different, so please talk with your child's pediatrician or evaluating provider about your child's specific needs.

What Is a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE)?

A CDE is an in-depth evaluation of a child's development and behavior. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) calls it "the national practice standard necessary to diagnose autism as well as other developmental or behavioral disorders and indicate the most appropriate treatment(s)" (Florida AHCA).

If your child has Florida Medicaid, the CDE matters for another reason: it is required before ABA therapy (which Medicaid calls behavior analysis services) can be authorized. We covered the Medicaid side of ABA in our earlier guide to Florida Medicaid ABA coverage. Many commercial plans ask for similar documentation; see insurance & coverage.

Screening Is Not the Same as Diagnosis

If you read our article on early signs of autism in toddlers, you may already know the M-CHAT-R/F, a two-stage parent questionnaire that checks the likelihood of autism (M-CHAT; Robins et al., 2014). According to the CDC, a brief screening "does not provide a diagnosis"; it shows whether a closer look is needed (CDC).

Who Can Perform a CDE in Florida?

Under Florida Medicaid's Behavior Analysis Services Coverage Policy (Rule 59G-4.125, F.A.C.), a CDE may be done by one practitioner or a multidisciplinary team, but it must be led by a licensed practitioner working within their medical, developmental, or psychological scope of practice. It must use evidence-based methods, and the report must include findings and treatment recommendations (AHCA Coverage Policy).

In practice, the CDC lists specialists such as developmental-behavioral pediatricians, neurodevelopmental pediatricians, child neurologists, and child psychologists, sometimes working with speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists (CDC). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that some general pediatricians and child psychologists who are comfortable applying the diagnostic criteria also make the diagnosis (Hyman et al., 2020).

What Happens During the Evaluation

No single test can diagnose autism. There's no blood test for it, either. The CDC explains that diagnosis relies on two main sources of information: your description of your child's development and a professional's observation of your child's behavior (CDC). Here's what that usually looks like.

1. Talking About Your Child's History

Expect detailed questions about health, milestones, how your child communicates and plays, and family history. Some clinicians use a structured caregiver interview called the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised (ADI-R). Others use questionnaires or rating scales. You may also be asked for input from teachers or caregivers (Florida AHCA).

2. Watching Your Child Play and Interact

This part often looks like play. A common tool is the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition), a standardized, play-based observation of communication, social interaction, play, and repetitive behaviors. Its publisher says it can be used from 12 months through adulthood, with five modules matched to a person's age and language level, and that each module takes about 40 to 60 minutes (WPS). For toddlers, the Toddler Module gives "ranges of concern" rather than a label.

AHCA lists other tools a CDE may use, such as the CARS-2 and the Battelle Developmental Inventory.

3. Checking Hearing and Health

The AAP recommends that children with language delays have their hearing checked as part of the initial evaluation, because hearing loss can look like, or occur alongside, autism (Hyman et al., 2020). The AAP also recommends offering families genetic testing, such as chromosomal microarray testing. Other tests, like an EEG or MRI, are ordered only when your child's history or exam points to a need (HealthyChildren.org).

4. Comparing Findings to DSM-5-TR Criteria

Clinicians compare everything they've learned to the criteria in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5-TR, the current edition of its diagnostic manual (APA). To meet the criteria, a child must show ongoing differences in all three areas of social communication (back-and-forth social connection, nonverbal communication like gestures and eye contact, and relationships) plus at least two of four types of restricted or repetitive behaviors, such as repeated movements, strong need for sameness, very intense interests, or sensory differences (CDC).

Understanding Levels of Support

If your child is diagnosed, the report may include a level for each area:

• Level 1: requires support
• Level 2: requires substantial support
• Level 3: requires very substantial support

These levels describe the support your child needs now, not who your child will become.

How Long Does It Take?

It varies. The AAP's parent site says some evaluations happen in one day, while other professionals divide the evaluation across several days (HealthyChildren.org). Wait times for an appointment also vary by provider and insurance, so ask about them when you call, and ask to be placed on a cancellation list.

While you wait, the AAP suggests asking about early intervention or school services, speech or occupational therapy, and a hearing screen.

How to Prepare for the Appointment

• Gather paperwork: your insurance or Medicaid card, the referral, past screening results (like the M-CHAT-R/F), and any Early Steps, school, or therapy reports.
• Write down examples: what you see at home, at the park, or at the store.
• Ask others what they see: grandparents, teachers, and child care providers may notice different things.
• Plan for comfort: bring snacks, water, and a favorite toy. Keep it simple: "We're going to meet a new helper and play with toys."
• Bring your questions: jot them down ahead of time.

What the Report Includes

After the evaluation, you'll usually get a feedback meeting and a written report. Florida Medicaid requires the CDE report to include assessment findings and treatment recommendations. The AAP encourages parents to ask for a copy, read it closely, and talk through the recommendations with their pediatrician (HealthyChildren.org).

Keep extra copies to share with your child's doctor, insurance plan, ABA provider, and school.

Next Steps After the Evaluation

If ABA Is Recommended

1. Get a physician's order for ABA. Florida Medicaid requires a referral that includes a physician's order for behavior analysis services, along with the CDE (AHCA Coverage Policy). Commercial plans may have their own referral rules.
2. Choose an ABA provider. Your provider checks your benefits and gathers documents.
3. Behavior assessment and authorization. A behavior analyst assesses your child, writes a plan, and requests prior authorization from your plan.

Early Intervention and School Supports

• Under age 3: Florida's Early Steps program serves children from birth to 36 months with developmental delays or at-risk conditions, at no cost to families (Florida Early Steps).
• 34 months to 5 years, not in public school: FDLRS Action, which serves Lake County, offers free Child Find screenings with no insurance or doctor's referral needed (FDLRS Action).
• School-age children: send a written request for an evaluation to your child's school ESE contact or to the Lake County Schools Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department (Lake County Schools ESE). School services and medical ABA are separate, and your child can have both.
• More help: Help Me Grow Florida offers free developmental screenings and care coordination for young children (Help Me Grow Florida). UCF CARD provides free support to Lake County families and, if you're still seeking a diagnosis, can recommend local evaluators (UCF CARD).

How Blaze ABA Can Help After the Evaluation

Blaze ABA doesn't perform diagnostic evaluations. We're the next step after one. At Blaze ABA (formerly Thrive ABA), based in Leesburg, our clinicians have seen families thrive when they have the right care and a caring community behind them. We serve families in Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, and Clermont, with therapy at home, at school, and in the community.

Our plan is simple. First, a targeted Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) helps us understand what your child's behavior is telling us. Then we build an individualized plan around your child and your family's goals, with data you can see. Don't have a diagnosis yet? Call us anyway. We can explain the steps to a CDE and stay in touch while you wait.

We're in-network with Aetna (commercial plans), Cigna, Florida Blue, Florida Medicaid, Sunshine Health and Curative. Molina Healthcare is coming soon (contract pending). Have a different plan? Call us and we'll check. See insurance & coverage for what each plan needs. Questions? Call us at (239) 465-8663 or email Connect@blazeaba.com.

Ready for the next step? Start your intake: call or email us.

This article is general information, not medical advice. It is not a substitute for an evaluation by a qualified professional. Please talk with your child's pediatrician or provider about any questions about your child's development.

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Behavior Analysis Services Information. https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/medicaid-policy-quality-and-operations/medicaid-policy-and-quality/medicaid-policy/medical-and-behavioral-health-coverage-policy/behavioral-health-and-health-facilities/behavior-analysis-services-information.html
2. Florida AHCA. Florida Medicaid Behavior Analysis Services Coverage Policy (December 2024; Rule 59G-4.125, F.A.C., effective February 10, 2025). https://ahca.myflorida.com/content/download/25728/file/Florida%20Medicaid%20Behavior%20Analysis%20Services%20Coverage%20Policy.pdf
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (May 8, 2025). https://www.cdc.gov/autism/hcp/diagnosis/index.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (reviewed October 1, 2026). https://www.cdc.gov/autism/diagnosis/index.html
5. Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM; AAP Council on Children with Disabilities, Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3447
6. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. If Autism Is Suspected, What's Next? (updated April 3, 2025). https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/Autism/Pages/If-Autism-is-Suspected-Whats-Next.aspx
7. American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5-TR. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
8. WPS. ADOS-2: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition. https://www.wpspublish.com/ados-2-autism-diagnostic-observation-schedule-second-edition
9. Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, Chen CM, Dumont-Mathieu T, Fein D. Validation of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised With Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):37–45. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3876182/
10. M-CHAT-R/F official website. https://www.mchatscreen.com/
11. Florida Department of Health. Early Steps. https://floridaearlysteps.com/
12. FDLRS Action. Child Find. https://action.fdlrs.org/child-find
13. Lake County Schools. Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Parent Resources. https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/page/ese-parent-resources
14. Help Me Grow Florida. https://www.helpmegrowfl.org/
15. UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UCF CARD). https://ucf-card.org/