An autism assessment is intended to explore the social, developmental, and behavioral profile of a child to best inform appropriate supports and intervention. An autism assessment may include assessment of cognition, social-emotional development, Adaptive skills, and behavioral patterns. It involves participation of the parent as a key and expert source of understanding, alongside direct assessment of the child.

The outcomes of an autism assessment can be used to rule in or out Autism Spectrum Disorder as one component of understanding your child and their needs. For some children, confirmation of an autism diagnosis can open doors to accessing supports and related funding. Sometimes an autism assessment is combined with a psychoeducational assessment. Click here to learn more about our Psychoeducational assessments.

We are pleased to offer our holistic approach to autism assessment for any child age 6 years and older. We are unable to assess a child younger than age 6 years.

An autism assessment is not a mental health assessment. While our clinicians often screen for potential mental health issues as contributors to a child’s presentation, the diagnosis of things such as anxiety and depression necessarily involves an assessment focused entirely on those challenges, completed by a Psychologist or other appropriately licensed professional. This is a service available through our psychologists and can be discussed with one of them by booking an intake/consultation appointment.

An autism assessment is not a Psychoeducational assessment. Psychoeducational assessments are an entirely different kind of assessment which explores the learning profile of a student (cognitive, academic, etc.). Our clinicians are expertly skilled at Psychoeducational assessments, and are able to complete a combined autism/ Psychoeducational assessment if desired.

An Autism assessment is not a developmental assessment. A developmental assessment is typically completed in a medical setting by a multidisciplinary team.

1. The Intake appointment – Virtual (online) appointment


A 1-hour virtual session between just the clinician and the parents to review developmental history, referral reason, and ask any questions you may have prior to the assessment. At this session we call upon your expertise as parent to your child to let us know your child’s specific needs. Afterall, you are their “North Star”. This provides a starting point for our assessment process.


2. Assessment appointments – one parent appointment (virtual) and one child appointment (in-person), each up to approximately 2 hours in length
(*If you elect for combined Autism/ Psychoeducational assessment, or combined Autism and cognitive assessment, additional time will be required. Our administrative specialists can provide further guidance at the time of booking).

The parent completes a standardized interview that will be up to approximately 2 hours in length (depending). This occurs virtually through our specialized system. The child participates in an assessment session onsite that will also last up to 2 hours in length (depending). These sessions are child-lead in terms of work-load, frequency and length of breaks, etc. It is important to us that your child is functioning at their best during their session. We are experts at being very encouraging and keeping things comfortable for your child, including giving the child rest, and also having parents sit in on the session if it helps the child to feel more at ease. 


3. The debrief appointment – Virtual (online) appointment


A 1-hour virtual session between just the clinician and the parents during which all results, diagnoses, and key recommendations are reviewed in a prepared presentation. You will be provided with copies of this presentation.

4. The final report


The final report will be available approximately 4 weeks following the date of your child’s debrief appointment. This is an approximate time frame as sometimes it takes a little longer to make sure everything is perfectly compiled. 

Many parents wonder what to tell their child about the assessment. We encourage an honest response that includes discussion of the purpose of the assessment, which is to make sure that all of the “big people” (parents, caregivers, educators, other professionals) are doing their jobs in the best way possible for your child to go and grow exactly as nature intended.

Tips:
1. Make it normal – like a checkup that many children go for;

2. Give them a concrete expectation – You can stay in the assessment appointments with your child if they would prefer that or for however long they love. Let them know they will be doing lots of different kinds of activities. Some of it might feel like playing and some of it might feel like brain work. Some of it will be very easy and other parts will feel hard, but never too hard that it becomes too much;

3. Bridge the connection – link your child’s assessment clinician to familiar people, such as yourself or preferred teachers (e.g. Did you know Dr. Vanessa knows your teacher Mr. Brown?), or maybe a shared interest with your child (did you know Dr. Vanessa also LOVES baseball just like you?)

*These sessions are child-lead in terms of work-load, frequency and length of breaks, etc. It is important to us that your child is functioning their best and we work hard to be very encouraging and to keep things comfortable for your child, including giving their brain the rest required be attentive and engaged.

Please make the following documents available to the clinic (which you can do via our client portal, Jane.app) prior to your intake appointment:

1. Consent to Autism Assessment

2. Autism Assessment Fee Agreement

3. Authorization for Release of Information – please complete this with your child’s teacher’s name and contact information

4. Client Intake Form

5. Electronic Communication Form

6. Background Information Form (BIF)
* This document is designed to provide a thorough history which is required for correct conceptualization of your child’s assessment. If you will have your child’s teacher complete rating scale forms (see below), it is very important that you provide their name and email address in the BIF where requested as well as completed a Release of Information Form (see #3 above). This form is completed in Jane.app and will be sent to you via Jane.app at the time of booking the assessment.

Once the assessment begins, we will be helped in our assessment process if you are able to provide copies of past report cards prior to the debrief appointment. If possible, it is helpful to have these even by the intake appointment.

We love to have copies of the final report card for each grade, as well as the most recent report for current grade. If you prefer, you may also scan and email these documents, keeping in mind secure electronic transfers of confidential information.

Previous Assessment Reports or Other such Documentation: We will need copies of previous assessment reports or other such documentation. If you prefer, you may also scan and email these documents, keeping in mind secure electronic transfers of confidential information.

Please Note: Our office is not able to make photocopies or provide scanning services on site of your original documents.

Your clinician may decide to collect additional information from you via rating scale questionnaires that are sent directly to you from the corresponding assessment company. Your clinician will discuss this with you if they decide to pursue this, and our office will provide additional instructions if/when the time comes

If you are looking for something to pass the time during your child’s assessment session, we are close in proximity to the following:
 

The Indigo Café (right around the corner in our building)

Shops at Morgan Crossing (5 minutes)

Grandview Corners Shopping Centre (5 minutes)

Starbucks (5 minutes)

White Rock Beach (10 minutes)

Crescent Beach (10 minutes)
 


We are happy to provide you with directions if you are new to the area. Just ask! Of course you are welcome to make yourself comfortable in our waiting room. We do have wifi available to parents who wish to make use of that.

This depends on whether or not your child has had a previous assessment within the past 6 months, whether or not that assessment was with North Star or somewhere else, and a number of other factors. Depending on what is applicable to your specific situation, the cost of the assessment varies significantly. Please contact our office to get corresponding costing information and to understand how the billing process works.