Dr. Ashley de Marchena

Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Language and Communication Specialist

Providing clinical and forensic assessments of autism and related conditions and expert opinions on language and communication in special populations.

I am a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience conducting complex diagnostic assessments. I have worked in hospital, academic, private practice, and forensic settings. I have specialized training in the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism, intellectual disability, and ADHD) in people of all ages.

I am also an academic researcher specializing in language in communication in autistic children and adults. I have published clinical guidance on how to support communication with autistic patients, and have worked with autistic scholars to understand how it feels to communicate in a world that often fails to accommodate communication differences.

I have offered expert opinions on legal cases related to communication and miscommunication involving defendants on the autism spectrum. I conduct trainings for personnel within the criminal justice system on how to improve their interactions with autistic people.

I am licensed in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and can provide services via telehealth to clients in PSYPACT states.

Download a copy of my CV.

  • My career has been dedicated to improving the lives of autistic children and adults - and their families - through clinical practice, research, training, and advocacy. My clinical focus is on assessing and diagnosing autism in people of all ages. I have advanced training and years of experience with very young children (under 36 months). Over the past 15 years, I have diagnosed hundreds of children in this age range. I am committed to helping families move forward, both practically and emotionally, following an autism diagnosis. My goal is to help you navigate a path for your child that is neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based, and that fits with your family’s needs and values.

    As a parent myself, I am passionate about supporting parents through the diagnostic and early intervention journey, both emotionally and practically.

    As a disability justice advocate, I am committed to neurodiversity-affirming approaches to assessment, parent feedback, and treatment evaluation at all ages.

  • I received my bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and my PhD in Clinical Psychology (concentrations in Neuropsychology and Clinical Child Psychology) from the University of Connecticut. I completed an APA-accredited clinical internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Autism Research and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at CHOP.

  • I am currently an Associate Research Professor in the Early Detection and Intervention Program at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. I have published over 25 peer-reviewed scholarly articles, with the majority focused on autism diagnosis or communication skills.

    My research on young children focuses on improving processes for autism diagnosis so that children can enter interventions as early as possible.

    My research on adults focuses on improving communication experiences for autistic people. I use participatory methods, which means that autistic and intellectually disabled community members work with me to help make important decisions about our projects.

    Finally, I am committed to educating the broader public about autism and disability justice, so I make an active effort to publish articles written for non-scientists as well.