The first step to creating an autism support plan for your child is assessment and consultation. These critical first steps will help you have a better understanding of your child’s abilities and limitations, as well as how best to navigate certain challenges while encouraging naturally developing skills and behaviors. The thing is, there are many assessments available for children on the autism spectrum today, and it can be overwhelming to know what to expect from each one. Below is an overview of possible assessments your child may take in the quest to paint a complete picture of their diagnosis and develop a plan with their support team.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
A CDE is typically the very first step you will take in receiving an autism diagnosis for your child. This evaluation is designed to determine whether a child is on the autism spectrum, and if so, what behaviors reflect this diagnosis and what limitations may be expected. A CDE assesses many of the behaviors covered in the assessments below, but in a diagnostic way rather than a functional way.
Direct Observation Assessment
This assessment can be done over time by an autism professional such as a Behavior Analyst, a child’s teacher or even their parents. As the name suggests, this assessment involves observing the child in a series of real-world settings and assessing how they manage skills, tasks, stimuli, communication and other factors present in these environments. Direct observation is an ongoing assessment that helps to gauge where a child is at in terms of reaching specific goals.
Functional Behavioral Assessment
Also known as an FBA, this assessment attempts to connect meaning between a certain behavior and the function it is serving for the child. This assessment is meant to help reduce behavioral excesses and interfering and stereotypic behaviors that may cause a child distress or harm, or impede their progress at adopting certain skills.
Developmental Assessment
This assessment compares a child’s developmental levels in a range of skills to that of their peers. These skills may include communication, social interactions, adaptive skills, intellectual abilities and more. The idea is to figure out what areas may require intervention, and which may only require encouragement or support.
Independent Educational Evaluation
This is a type of functional behavioral assessment that focuses on a child’s educational abilities and can be used to develop an in-school IEP or Individualized Education Program. It may be done independently by the school or in conjunction with your child’s behavioral therapist.
How to Find an Autism Clinic Near You
In order to start on the journey of diagnosis, assessment and support, you must first find a professional near you that can help. The easiest way to do this is by searching for what you need online. For instance, families in Seattle can search “autism therapy in Seattle,” or “autism diagnosis Seattle,” to find clinics that offer different kinds of autism therapy in Seattle. To further narrow your search results, you can try more specific search terms such as “ABA in home Seattle,” “CDE autism Seattle,” or even “online autism therapy Seattle,” to find clinics that offer assessments online or in-school and ABA in home Seattle services that you can contact.
Source: Aba Therapy Clinic Seattle
