Question 1

Can you make adjustments for my child’s needs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can adapt the assessment to help your child feel comfortable. This might include taking breaks, using flexible timing, bringing familiar toys, or choosing a setting that suits them.

We also understand that the assessment can feel worrying for parents. Some parents are also autistic or neurodivergent: we will take your needs into account and can adapt the process to support you as well.

Question 2

What if my child doesn’t speak/ can’t sit still?

Accepted Answer

Our assessments will be adapted to suit you and your child.  We have a range of activities we can do that are not dependent on people having to speak out loud.

For younger children, we can simply watch them as they explore the room or play with their favourite toys, and see how they respond as we share their space, bring in new toys and play alongside them.

With older children, teenagers and young adults, we will provide other ways of communicating – drawing, writing, pointing at choice cards, texting etc.  There’s no pressure to talk.

We will try to help your child feel comfortable and encourage them to bring anything from home that helps them to relax (e.g. a favourite blanket, toy or fidgets).

We encourage people to do whatever feels most comfortable when meeting with us. There is no pressure to sit still and look at us.  We can still do our assessments with people who move around, sit on the floor, fidget, stim or make whatever sounds feel right.

Lots of people have learned to hide parts of who they are (or to mask) and we want our assessments to be a space where your family can be comfortable and free to express themselves.

Question 3

What support is available after the assessment?

Accepted Answer

Included in the assessment price is a detailed feedback call to talk through the results of the assessment and explain our guidance. Everything we discuss is also written in your report, so you can look back at it whenever you need to. The guidance may include:
Educational adjustments to help them thrive in nursery, school, college or work
How they learn best and ways to build on their learning style
Communication, including their preferences and how to support their skills
Daily living skills, for example ideas to help your child become more independent with things like dressing or hygiene
Emotional wellbeing, including ways to help them feel safe and calm
Physical wellbeing, such as routines that support health
Sensory needs and strategies to help with sensory differences
Social participation, friendships and taking part in ways that feel right for them
Identity, helping them understand and celebrate who they are
Safety planning to support their independence and confidence
The guidance we give will always be specific to your child. It is based on their age, stage of development, strengths, and the things they find harder. Everything is tailored to what will help them. If you need more support, we can also signpost you to other services.
We will also provide you with a one page “To whom it may concern” letter that just says the outcome of the assessment without any of the detail. This can be useful if you need proof of assessment/ diagnosis.