How can I get a diagnosis for my child if I think they have autism or Asperger's Disorder?
Diagnostic services are provided both by the government through programs at facilities such as Children's Hospital, and through private practitioners. Usually licensed or registered psychologists trained in administering specialized tools to help in the diagnostic process. These include the ADOS and ADI-R. Not all psychologists have these tools available. With many children a psychoeducational assessment is also necessary, in order to provide information necessary to develop an Individualized Education Plan in his or her school.
Do you provide these diagnostic services? And is there a long wait?
I provide these services for children from the age of 5 up, including services for teens and adults as well. The process is very time consuming, however I am usually able to see children on the weekend, and complete the parent portions in the evenings. There is usually a 3-4 week wait, sometimes less, and the full report is completed in about 10-14 days after the assessment. This includes a psychoeducational assessment so your child can be "coded" by the school and receive appropriate support there.
How much does a diagnosis cost?
A full diagnostic battery costs approximately $3,400.00 This can vary, as some children need additional assessments to rule out speech and language disorders (auditory processing for instance) and others may need less. The battery of tests are designed to meet your child's needs.
What experience do you have with children with autism spectrum disorder?
I have been working in this field for over twenty years, including working with Michelle Winner (Social Thinking) in California, serving as a SELPA (several school districts combined) behaviour management specialist, a classroom teacher, school psychologist and BC provincial consultant on autism and related disorders through POPARD. For the past 5 years my work has been in private practice and consulting with various government agencies here and in the US. Additionally I have been focusing on working with adults with high functioning autism and Aspergers in both the college/university setting and workplace for several years. Being familiar with autism over the lifespan has greatly increased my understanding of both the assessment process and interventions.
What supports are available for children in BC who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder?
The BC Ministry of Children and Family Services provides a list of services that are available. Primarily the Ministry provides funding which parents are able to direct to appropriate services for their child with autism. You can click here to see what expenses are covered: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/pdf/eligible_expenses.pdf
A more comprehensive Handbook for Parents of Children with Autism can be found at this webpage:
http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/pdf/autism_handbook_web.pdf
For children under 6 years of age the Ministry provides $22,000 of services. For children over 6 they provide $6,000.00 per year.
In addition to these services (which can include family therapy, parent training and in home consultations) your child should also be eligible for "coding" in the school which provides for school based funding leading to appropriate supports, and often parents are additionally eligible for tax benefits.
How can we arrange an assessment?
Assessments provided by the government are arranged by calling the appropriate agencies. There are often waiting lists. If you are interested in a private assessments please feel free to contact me for an appointment. Appointments for autism assessments usually start with a one hour interview where we meet and develop a plan together. I can be contacted through my web page at www.relatedminds.com, or by phone at 778.998-7975 emails are sent to relatedminds@gmail.com
My autism specific webpage is found at: http://www.relatedminds.com/autism/
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