We are designed to expedite access to quality evaluations and care intervention.
Early intervention is known to result in better short and long-term outcomes for children with autism--which is why our innovative model aligning technology with best-in-class diagnosticians and caregivers differentiates us from the rest. We’ve done the homework so parents can simply focus on their child. Unique customized care navigation around the individualized needs of each child and the family is why we exist.
Our Team
We know there is a better way. We are tenacious advocates for those we serve.
Axis for Autism is an Arizona-based organization, locally owned and operated by a dynamic team committed to making a difference for families struggling to secure professional evaluations by leading experts when time matters most. The leadership group has a successful track record in network development achieving superior clinical outcomes efficiently and effectively. We spent many months listening and learning about the barriers even the most resourceful parents experience trying to gain access to an overburdened system. Recognizing that the current system was not working, we immediately began innovating to streamline processes, intake and access. The leadership team will never settle for the status quo but will continue to advance their services and offerings with the support of the Axis for Autism Advisory Board--made up by affected families and professional experts in autism diagnostics, social, behavioral and therapy services as well as technology.
Our Founder — Christine Ehrich, CEO
As CEO of Axis for Autism, Christine Ehrich has set out to slash the exorbitant wait times for Arizona families seeking an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Under her leadership, Axis for Autism uses groundbreaking technology and a network of psychologists to provide families with the answers they need and deserve.
Christine leverages the skills and relationships she honed over 20+ years at the helm of Industrial Solutions Network, where she revolutionized how injured workers in Arizona receive the therapy they need and grew the company to 600 clinics in three states.
Christine is a visionary who developed a network of outpatient therapy providers dedicated to meeting the needs of employers including major hospital systems, municipalities and government entities as well as the injured worker. Now, she has amassed a network of specialized psychologists to deliver gold-standard ASD evaluations. As a result, patients receiving life-changing autism intervention and therapies faster.
With a son whose health issues required multiple surgeries, Christine understands the stress a complicated diagnosis puts on individuals and families. Knowing the difference early intervention makes, she works with Medicaid and commercial insurance plans to make evaluations available with little to no out-of-pocket cost.
Christine’s leadership and entrepreneurial success garnered her the Innovator of the Year Award from the Arizona Million Dollar Club, as well as recognition from the Phoenix Business Journal as a Top 25 Dynamic Women in Business.
A graduate of the University of Dayton with a degree in communications and management, Christine served in marketing and sales roles for HEALTHSOUTH and NeuroCare before founding Industrial Solutions Network.
Chief Operating Officer — Andrea Stevens
Bringing more than 20 years of operational management experience to the Axis for Autism team, COO Andrea Stevens leads the processes and procedures that deliver timely, accurate autism evaluations to children and adults across Arizona.
With a highly regarded reputation for exceptional communication, as well as financial, technological and leadership skills, Andrea keeps Axis for Autism’s workflow, patient flow and administrative structure on track to help more families on the evaluation wait list find much-needed answers sooner.
Andrea held several COO and Director of Operations positions prior to joining Axis for Autism, most recently managing all daily operations, inventory, payroll, customer service and other critical administrative duties for Phoenix-based wellness company Simply Pure Markets and residential property manager Cottontail Rentals.
She also served as interim Chief Executive Officer for I-ology, a digital product company in Scottsdale, where she provided strategic leadership in account management, sales, finance, mentoring, performance reviews and hiring new personnel.
Andrea also honed her operational management talents in 15 years with Industrial Solutions Network, leading a team of 20 employees in referrals, scheduling, authorization, credentialing, business development and RFP responses as COO.
Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree in Global Business from Arizona State University and has been involved in several community outreach initiatives with Vistage, Women’s Leadership Development Forum and other organizations.
Clinical Director — Morgan Hall, Ph.D.
An expert in lifespan neuropsychology, Clinical Director Morgan Hall, Ph.D., spearheads Axis for Autism’s program development, gold-standard evaluation processes and care coordination to help Arizona children and adults receive the highest quality autism diagnoses quickly and efficiently.
Prior to joining Axis for Autism, Morgan oversaw neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental evaluations for a range of disorders and disabilities as Chief Executive Officer and Clinical Director of the Pinnacle Center in Phoenix. Additionally, working as a school psychologist for the Washington Elementary School District and psychometrician for the Maricopa Juvenile Court System provided invaluable experience in diagnosing developmental and behavioral issues in children.
Morgan has also worked as a Clinical Neuropsychology Assistant and Supervisor at the St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center Barrow Neurological Institute, and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Baker Neuropsychology & Rehabilitation.
A member of the Children’s Development Network, American Psychological Association and the Arizona Neuropsychological Society, Morgan has presented at more than a dozen national conferences to educate peers on advancements in autism evaluation technology and child behavior and development.
Morgan earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Family and Human Development, and both a master’s degree and doctorate in Educational Psychology from Arizona State University. She also taught ASU courses on Human Development, Learning, and Behavior and supervised doctoral student research on topics such as access to neuropsychological care, assessment performance validity and gender patterns in autism assessment. She continues to mentor students in ASU’s Psychology Department.
Clinical Operations Manager — Marleigh Bowers
A dedicated psychometrist with exceptional leadership skills, Clinical Operations Manager Marleigh Bowers leads Axis for Autism’s team of Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) evaluators to help patients receive diagnoses that connect them to life-changing interventions and therapies faster.
Spearheading training for post-doctoral residents, doctoral practicum students, undergraduate interns and fellow psychometrists in ADOS-2 — an accurate and standardized autism evaluation model — she ensures the gold-standard evaluation process runs smoothly and seamlessly across all three Axis for Autism locations.
Marleigh has been integral to the Axis for Autism team since its founding, serving as the Lead Psychometrist before moving into her current management role. In addition to assisting neuropsychologists in delivering feedback and results to families, she cultivated relationships with behavioral therapy clinics to promote the organization’s leading-edge diagnostic technologies.
Before joining Axis for Autism, Marleigh was a Senior Registered Behavioral Technician at a Phoenix-based Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) agency, providing therapy to patients and coordinating treatment plans among speech services, occupational services and ABA teams.
Marleigh earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences from Northern Arizona University, where she also served as a teaching apprentice and research assistant. Additionally, she earned credentials as a Registered Behavioral Technician from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and an ADOS-2 Certification from Western Psychological Services.
Community Manager — Amanda Lindsay
With a strong background in mental health and social issues, Amanda Lindsay understands the challenges parents of children with autism face. As Axis for Autism’s Community Manager, she leads the Axis Parent Alliance, which provides critical resources and community events that parents need to not only help their children thrive, but also feel less overwhelmed themselves.
Passionate about helping people accomplish their goals and reach their maximum potential, Amanda has worked with diverse populations throughout her career. She gives members of the Axis Parent Alliance an empathetic facilitator they can approach with concerns while introducing them to others facing similar challenges.
In addition to her work at Axis for Autism, Amanda is a faculty Instructor at Arizona State University where she focuses on growing the university’s top online programs for culturally sensitive academic settings. She builds important relationships with students of diverse backgrounds and disabilities. Before moving into a faculty position, she managed the development of online bachelor’s and master’s programs in Criminal Justice as an online course coordinator and served as a student liaison and resource.
Amanda earned a master’s of science degree in Applied Criminology and Criminal Justice, a bachelor’s of art degree in Sociology and a bachelor’s of science in criminal justice at Northern Arizona University.
Advisory Board
Ghafran Abbas
Tech
IT
Tom Betlach
Ex-Director of AHCCCS
Public Health
Danny Kessler, M.D, FAAP
Developmental Pediatrician
Marc Leib, M.D, J.D
Ex-CMO of AHCCCS
Medical
Alan Pitt, MD
Co-founder/Chief Science Officer, Vitalchat
Technology