Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment Team

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has established Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnostic Hubs to help families access a diagnosis for their child. Children's Treatment Network (CTN) is the lead for the ASD Central Region working with KidsAbility as the local provider to provide ASD assessments in Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington. To access this service, a referral by a physician must be made to KidsAbility by completing the form below.
Referrals

Unlike the majority of KidsAbility's services, referrals to KidsAbility's Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment Team must be made by a doctor.

Parents/caregivers: You as parents/caregivers will play a vital role in helping us learn about your child and determine together a differential diagnosis.
Teacher: Your child’s teacher or child care provider can offer insightful descriptions about your child participating in a group environment.
Doctor: A local pediatrician will interact with your child, completing formal testing to better define your child’s needs.
KidsAbility's Team: KidsAbility Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Occupational Therapy (OT) will complete the assessment team. Together they will learn by observing your child and completing some standard measures on their development. KidsAbility Social Work (SW) will provide support and help you through next steps following the feedback session.

Two weekly sessions will be conducted at our Cambridge site.

A Client Support Assistant will provide parents/caregivers, the teacher and/or child care providers checklists to complete and return, in order to book your appointments.
Most appointments will be on Thursday or Friday.
Assessments are completed both in person or virtually.
At the first appointment, you will participate in an interview with the team while your child participates and is observed in an open play activity. Then your child will be formally assessed for one hour by the pediatrician and team.
At the second appointment, parents/caregivers will return without the child for a 45-minute feedback session with the team; a chance to discuss the assessment results.
Please note: Some children may receive their assessment and feedback in one appointment.

The Pediatrician will provide you with a diagnostic letter and support any service funding and applications that require her input.
You will meet with a Social Worker and together plan next steps, exploring services and helpful resources for both you and your family, and your child.

The ASD assessment team will determine whether your child has Autism, by:

Completing interviews with you, the parents/ caregivers who know your child best;
Reviewing checklists from you and others who interact with your child (child care, teachers);
Considering learning, academic and behavioural descriptions;
Learning about overall functioning in home and child care/school environments;
Considering psychosocial factors such as parental stress and coping, child participation and emotional responses;
Observing interactions with people, relating to the environment (the five senses, emotions), language and communication, thinking and reasoning; and
Completing standardized assessment tools.