We carry out multidisciplinary autism assessments holding your child at the heart of our neuro-affirmative approach
Multi-disciplinary Autism Assessments
We carry out multi-disciplinary autism assessments where we embrace best practice guidelines and hold your child at the heart of our neuro-affirmative approach.
Being Autistic is a way of being in the world that is imbued with so many strengths (hyper-focus, ‘mono-tropism’, clear and direct ways of expression, memory, systematic ways of thinking, intuition, rich emotional experiences, empathy and so so much more) as well as challenges navigating a world that may not embrace the Autistic way to be.
When we embark on the assessment/discovery process with you and your child, we see your child in their wholeness: we are always working towards creating a better understanding of all of their amazing qualities and strengths as well their specific needs and the particular challenges they meet in their life
The assessment has four parts:
A play based assessment with younger children (ADOS-2) OR a conversation about experiences relating to the Autistic way of being with older children/young people based on the ADOS-2). This part of the assessment is delivered by a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Educational) and a Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist. This takes place in person in our Sligo Clinic.
Parent Interview based on the ADI-R (Autistic Diagnostic Interview Revised). This takes place in person or online.
An Outcome Exploration meeting with parents and your child (should they wish to attend). This takes place in person or online.
A post-discovery support session with our service partners Thriving Autistic, should your child be confirmed as Autistic.
A report describing your child’s profile of strengths and needs in terms of how they meet the DSM 5 criteria for Autism (if this in indicated) and detailed recommendations is issued.
This report is accepted by HSE Services and the Department of Education.
Cost: € 2,200*
For enquiries or bookings made on or after 30.04.2024. If your child’s name has been placed on the confirmed waiting list before this date, the fees quoted at the time of enquiry will still apply.
Cognitive Assessment
If your child requires a cognitive assessment as part of their overall assessment, there is an additional fee of €450. We will discuss this with you during the initial stage of the assessment process.
Step by Step Guide to the Autism Assessment Process
Whilst there are four main stages to the Autism assessment process, it can be really helpful for you and your child to know about all the steps from start to finish:
Step 1:
Book online – go to Book an Assessment and fill in the contact form. You will be asked to sign a GDPR form so that we can legally hold your family’s information.
Step 2:
We will contact you via email and you will be invited to fill out consent forms and a form about your child’s strengths, needs and development. We send you a form for your child’s pre-school/school to fill out. Your name will go on a waiting list.
Step 3:
When your name is near the top of the waiting list, we will email you with dates for the assessment that suit you and you will be asked to pay a €550 deposit to secure the assessment dates.
Step 4: The assessment/discovery process:
There are 3 appointments in all:
We meet your child for the Play-based/Conversation Based Assessment in person. This takes approximately 1 hour.
We meet you for the standardised parent interview (ADI-R) online or in person. This takes approximately 2 hours.
We meet you (and your child if they would like to attend) to explore the outcome of the assessment (we may also meet your child for an additional cognitive assessment session if this is required, which takes up to 2 hours) online or in person. This takes approximately 1 hour.
Step 5:
Following our outcome exploration meeting with you (approximately 4-6 weeks later), we send you a draft PDF copy of the report (whether your child is confirmed as autistic or not) and we invite revisions. We then send you a PDF of the final report which is accepted by HSE and Dept. of Education
Step 6:
If your child is confirmed as Autistic, we invite you to join a 90 minute Post Assessment Group Workshop with our colleagues at Thriving Autistic which is funded by us and where you can receive specific support.
Autism Assessment Payment
We recognise that it is a big financial undertaking to pay for a private autism assessment for your child. The cost is based on the amount of clinical time it takes to carry out a thorough assessment that captures the richness of your child’s experiences, as well as the provision of a detailed and child-centred report that includes a wide array of recommendations.
We spread the payment for the assessment over 3 time points that are paid via our secure online system:
€550 deposit to secure the assessment
€550 due on the day of your child’s play-based/conversation based assessment
€550 on the day of the assessment outcome exploration session
€550 on issuing of the MDT Report (4-6 weeks following the outcome exploration session).
If your child is attending for a cognitive assessment, an additional €450 will be due on the day of this assessment.
Not sure whether your child needs a full Autism Assessment?
No problem!
We offer a 90 minute Explore Together Parent Consultation Session where we can explore your child’s way of being in more detail and discuss whether a full assessment would be helpful. We can make other recommendations as to the next steps to take if we don’t think an autism assessment is indicated. Please note that this session does not constitute a diagnostic assessment.
Fee: € 230
If you decide to go ahead with the full Autism assessment, this amount is taken off the Autism Assessment Fee.
Learn more about Consultations here.
Post-Assessment Support
When we have finished the assessment process with you and your child, we really want you and your family to be well-supported afterwards. If we have confirmed that your child is Autistic, you will be invited to a small group workshop facilitated by our colleagues at Thriving Autistic and funded by us here at The Butterfly Practice.
Thriving Autistic is a non-profit multidisciplinary team of Autistic and neurodivergent psychologists, therapists and coaches who provide a strengths-based support service for the neuro-divergent community.
The workshop provides a welcoming and safe space to explore what a confirmation of autism means for your child and your family. Areas range from: supporting your child in building a positive identity, working collaboratively with their school/educational setting, sensory needs, understanding and respecting communication differences, friendships with neurodivergent peers and supporting the development of your child’s strengths.
Further support beyond the workshop in navigating life post-assessment is available from the team at Thriving Autistic if you would like to explore more.
Contact hello@thrivingautistic.org
