Strengths-Based and Neurodiversity Affirming Approach to Autism Assessment: A Practitioner’s Guide

Assessment and Screening Through a Neurodiversity Lens 

• Why Assessment is important 
• Understanding language (autism, support needs, Autistic developmental trajectory) 
• Age of receiving diagnosis and acceptance 
• Cost of masking & social camouflage 
• Benefits of community and a sense of belonging 
• What is neurodiversity, ablism and disability 
• Profile and information processing differences 
• Identifying strengths and passions 
• Needed supports to promote independence & valued living 
• Types of Assessment 

Behaviors that Challenge Assessment 

• Diagnosis isn’t the main issue  
• How to encourage more helpful behaviors, regardless of diagnoses and environment 
• Current behavior is important to address 
• Once function of behavior is identified, what next? 
• Assessing mismatch between expectations and skills needed to meet that demand. 
• Case Example 

When Screening Shows Autism... Now What? 

• Screenings Everyone can use  
• Types of referrals to make and why they are so important 
• Psychoeducation resources  
• Understanding elements of an appropriate evaluation 

Discussing of Autism with Clients (and their Families) 

• Earlier diagnosis -> earlier intervention -> better trajectory 
• Educational identification vs medical diagnoses 
• Thinking beyond the medical model 
• System challenges: Time to get to a proper evaluation 
• Racial and economic disparities: Social justice and equity lens 
• Gender differences and LCBTQA+ diversities 
• Help clients and caregivers process acceptance and address ambivalence 
• Discomfort/ambivalence in relaying diagnosis 

Assessment as a Therapeutic Process 

• Why assessment can be therapeutic 
• Goals and elements of a neurodivergent affirming assessment 

Risk and Limitations