FAQs

Dr. Mary Jones is a board-certified pediatrician, trained autism specialist, and certified life and leadership coach. She has advanced training in the ADOS-2 and MIGDAS-2, and she is currently pursuing board certification in lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Mary Holden Jones, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician, autism specialist, and trained life and leadership coach. She is also a mother of a child on the autism spectrum and children with ADHD, which gives her a deep, personal connection to the work she does. Her experience as both a clinician and a parent shapes her compassionate, strengths-based approach to neurodevelopmental care.
She founded Bright Starts Pediatrics to provide comprehensive autism and ADHD evaluations, developmental assessments, and neuro-affirming support for children, teens, adults, and families. Her mission is rooted in advocacy, early identification, health equity, and helping neurodivergent individuals thrive with clarity and confidence.

After moving to the area, Dr. Jones initially planned to focus on telehealth. But once she saw the significant need in Colorado Springs for timely autism and ADHD evaluations, she chose to open Bright Starts Pediatrics locally so families could access care without long waits.

Dr. Jones takes a holistic, neuro-affirming approach. She focuses on accurate diagnosis, but also on understanding the whole child and the needs of their family system. Her goal is to offer clarity, support, and practical next steps instead of just a label.

Dr. Jones has been a pediatrician for 20 years. She opened her own practice to provide families with more personalized, neuro-affirming care and to ensure they could access evaluations without long delays.

She primarily focuses on autism and ADHD. This work is deeply meaningful to her because of her clinical expertise and her lived experience as a parent. She understands the challenges families face and is committed to guiding them with empathy and clarity.

She has completed advanced training in the ADOS-2 and MIGDAS-2 diagnostic tools and earned her autism specialist certification. She is also a trained life and leadership coach and is currently pursuing board certification in lifestyle medicine.

She actively participates in conferences, engages in continuing medical education, and completes ongoing training to stay aligned with current standards and emerging research in neurodevelopmental care.

Dr. Jones leads with dignity, compassion, and deep listening. She believes in supporting the entire family system, not just the child. Her approach is to walk alongside families, guide them through the diagnostic process, and connect them with the best resources available.

Colorado and Colorado Springs are recognized nationally for strong support systems for children with special needs. Practicing in this community allows Dr. Jones to connect families with robust local resources and partner with a community that values early identification, access, and high-quality care.

Our evaluations are neuro-affirming and strengths-based. We look at the whole child — communication style, sensory needs, emotional patterns, developmental history, and lived experience — not just test scores. Families often tell us they feel seen, heard, and supported throughout the process.

You don’t need to decide that on your own. When you reach out, we help you determine whether an autism, ADHD, MIGDAS-2, or developmental evaluation is the best fit based on your child’s age, experiences, and the concerns you’re noticing at home or school.

Absolutely. Parents play an essential role. You know your child best, and your insight guides every step — from intake conversations to reviewing results and next steps. Many families say the feedback session brings the most clarity and relief.

You’ll leave with a clear written report, practical next steps, and recommendations for school, home, and community supports. We help families understand IEPs and 504 plans, local resources, and options for therapy or accommodations so you feel confident about what comes next.

Yes. Many autistic teens and young adults were missed early in life, especially if they masked or compensated. We provide neuro-affirming evaluations — including the MIGDAS-2 — that help older individuals understand their strengths, challenges, and lived experiences with clarity and respect.