The Bylund Clinic

The Bylund Clinic The Bylund Clinic provides neuroeducational testing, educational therapy, and mental health services.

We now have offices in Sunnyvale, Walnut Creek, and Brentwood and are accepting new clients. The Bylund Clinic provides psycho-educational and neuropsychological assessment and intervention services to support children and youth with learning differences.

💡 Eligibility isn’t about grades aloneA child does not need to be failing academically to qualify for special education ...
01/03/2026

💡 Eligibility isn’t about grades alone

A child does not need to be failing academically to qualify for special education services.

Educational impact includes social skills, behavior, participation, and access to learning—not just test scores. A student can be bright, verbal, and meeting academic expectations while still struggling to engage, connect with peers, or participate fully at school.

Access matters. Functioning matters. Not just grades.

Grades alone do not define FAPE.

At The Bylund Clinic, we approach Independent Educational Evaluations with the rigor and sensitivity. Our IEEs are groun...
12/22/2025

At The Bylund Clinic, we approach Independent Educational Evaluations with the rigor and sensitivity.

Our IEEs are grounded in established research, psychometric integrity, and ecological validity. The goal is not simply to identify eligibility, but to clearly articulate needs and diagnoses, support recommendations, and clearly spell out next steps.

Feedback like this underscores why thorough, evidence-based evaluation matters—providing families with actionable insight and helping educational teams move forward with clarity and precision.

More testing doesn’t always mean better answers.When children are given multiple comprehensive academic batteries, score...
12/15/2025

More testing doesn’t always mean better answers.

When children are given multiple comprehensive academic batteries, scores are sometimes averaged or compared as if all tests measure the same thing. They don’t. Different assessments use different norms, constructs, and task designs—and combining them can unintentionally erase meaningful learning differences.

High-quality evaluation isn’t about how many tests are administered. It’s about whether the data makes sense alongside developmental history, parent observations, teacher records, and real-world functioning.

When testing already shows reasonable evidence and ecological validity, adding more batteries doesn’t increase clarity—and can increase the risk of missing a child’s true needs.

Parents—you get to choose who completes your child’s Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). Two recent California dec...
12/05/2025

Parents—you get to choose who completes your child’s Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE).

Two recent California decisions made this even clearer:
✨ You—not the district—pick the evaluator
✨ Districts cannot block your choice with insurance rules or limited lists
✨ Once you choose, the district must contract quickly

Your child deserves the right evaluator, not just the one the district prefers. These rulings help protect that choice.

If you ever need help understanding your IEE rights or choosing the right assessor, The Bylund Clinic is here to support you.

Answers shouldn’t take months. Help shouldn’t feel out of reach.At The Bylund Clinic, we’ve expanded our assessment team...
12/03/2025

Answers shouldn’t take months. Help shouldn’t feel out of reach.

At The Bylund Clinic, we’ve expanded our assessment team to offer parents:

-More choices in evaluators and specialties

-Shorter report timelines without sacrificing quality

-Clinicians with diverse expertise in childhood learning, neurodevelopment, and mental health

-A range of price points to meet families where they are

Clear guidance. Thoughtful care. Faster pathways to support.

Contact us today to get started at info@drjamesbylund.com

Ever been in an IEP meeting where the team says things like “that score is an outlier” or “those results don’t count bec...
11/21/2025

Ever been in an IEP meeting where the team says things like “that score is an outlier” or “those results don’t count because they’re divergent”… and it just doesn’t make sense?

You’re not alone — and you’re not imagining it.

Score “scatter” is common, but it should never be used as a quick reason to dismiss lower scores or minimize genuine learning needs. Different tests measure different skills, use different formats, and rely on different norm groups. That means variation is expected, and the why behind the variation is what actually matters.

A thoughtful evaluation looks at the full picture: history, observations, CBMs, report cards, teacher/parent input, and standardized testing — not isolated scores in a vacuum.

If your child’s district report feels confusing, inconsistent, or reaches conclusions that don’t align with what you’re seeing at home, we can help clarify the data and offer a second opinion. You deserve clear answers, and your child deserves support that matches their real needs.

✨ Strong language skills do not rule out Autism eligibility under IDEA. ✨Many parents are told (or assume) that if a chi...
11/20/2025

✨ Strong language skills do not rule out Autism eligibility under IDEA. ✨

Many parents are told (or assume) that if a child has vocabulary, speaks in sentences, or understands language well, they can’t qualify under Autism. But that’s not true.

Under IDEA, eligibility should be based on how a child uses communication socially, how they interact with others, and whether these challenges impact their learning and daily functioning at school—not whether they have a language delay.

Kids with strong language can still experience:
– Difficulty using communication functionally
– Challenges with back-and-forth interaction
– Social misunderstandings
– Trouble generalizing communication across settings

💡 If you’re ever unsure whether your child’s profile fits under Autism eligibility, it’s absolutely okay to ask questions or seek further evaluation. You’re not alone in this. 💛

You don’t have to choose an IEE assessor from the district’s list — and many parents are never told this.When families r...
11/13/2025

You don’t have to choose an IEE assessor from the district’s list — and many parents are never told this.

When families request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), districts or SELPAs often provide a list of assessors. But legally, you are not required to choose from that list. You may select any assessor who meets the district’s general criteria (correct license, acceptable cost range, and local availability).

A fully independent assessor—one not employed by the district in any form—can focus solely on your child’s needs and provide recommendations without pressure or constraints.

If you’re considering an IEE, remember:
➡️ You can choose your own assessor
➡️ You don’t have to explain your disagreement with the district’s assessment
➡️ Your child deserves a thorough, neutral second opinion

If you want help navigating the IEE process, we’re here to support you. Learn more at www.thebylundclinic.com

Parents often ask whether to pursue a school-based assessment or a private psycho-educational evaluation.School assessme...
11/04/2025

Parents often ask whether to pursue a school-based assessment or a private psycho-educational evaluation.

School assessments are designed to determine eligibility for IEP or 504 services. Private assessments, on the other hand, focus on diagnosis and detailed recommendations to guide both educational and clinical care.

Some families choose to start privately and share results with the school, others begin with the district, and some do both simultaneously. The right choice depends on your child’s needs and your goals for support.

Have questions about your child's assessment needs? Reach out at www.thebylundclinic.com to book a consultation call.

Is my child actually making progress?It’s a question we hear often from parents—and it’s not always straightforward to a...
10/27/2025

Is my child actually making progress?

It’s a question we hear often from parents—and it’s not always straightforward to answer. When schools use different assessments, scales, or unclear data points, it can be nearly impossible to tell what those numbers really mean for a child’s growth.

What helps teams and families see true progress:

âś… Use the same or similar assessments across time to make data comparable.

âś… Align results to a common metric or grade-level framework rather than relying on raw or vague scores.

✅ Report progress in percentiles, standard scores, or grade-level equivalency—metrics that reflect how a student is performing relative to peers and over time.

When data is consistent and measurable, parents and educators can work from a shared understanding—making it easier to identify what’s working, what’s not, and how to adjust supports meaningfully.

It’s that time of year again — conferences and first report cards. These meetings can offer important insight into how y...
10/26/2025

It’s that time of year again — conferences and first report cards. These meetings can offer important insight into how your child is doing, both academically and emotionally.

If you’ve noticed struggles or mixed feedback, try asking your child’s teacher these three questions to open up a more meaningful conversation:

(1) How does my child’s progress compare to what’s typical for their grade level?

(2) What types of supports or interventions are available if my child continues to struggle?

(3) At what point does the school consider a formal IEP evaluation or psycho-educational testing?

At The Bylund Clinic, we offer private neuro-educational assessments and educational consulting to help parents navigate these discussions with clarity and confidence.

We hear a lot of questions from parents about how to prepare their young adult for life after high school.Which path is ...
10/25/2025

We hear a lot of questions from parents about how to prepare their young adult for life after high school.

Which path is right?

What supports are needed?

Our Post-Secondary Transition Assessments help families:

• Identify the most appropriate high school completion option (certificate of completion, alternative path to diploma, or diploma)

• Clarify which goals should be included in a transition program

• Begin planning for next steps such as special needs trusts, conservatorships, DOR, and RCEB services

At The Bylund Clinic, we help parents understand their child’s options and create a clear plan for adulthood.

Address

1407 Oakland Boulevard, Suite 102
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+19254184661

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