It can be tough to get an adult autism assessment for an adult in BC. There is no public funding (ie. MSP coverage) for adult autism assessments. Many people who have felt a bit different or struggled at work and in relationships are left without an explanation for why they feel the way they do. Others have gotten explanations - a series of diagnoses that don’t seem to fit quite right. They may experience sensory differences that interfere with their quality of life, struggle to make small talk with coworkers, or frequent misunderstandings as the result of differences in social communication. They might try CBT, DBT, SSRIs, and nothing seems to help. As the conversation about neurodiversity has broadened in recent years, many people who have felt like outsiders their whole lives are left wondering if autism (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be a better explanation than the ones they’ve been given.
Try a Self Assessment
There is an increasing body of research suggesting self-assessment may be a valid way of predicting who is most likely to meet criteria for ASD. This doesn’t mean any old online quiz - there are a couple of empirically validated (that means scientifically studied and most likely to be accurate) online tools for self assessment. One such tool is the RAADS-R, which asks about common symptoms and experiences of autistic people.
Find an Assessor
When you start looking for an autism assessment, it can be hard to know where to look or what to look for. At Stillwaters Counselling, we offer autism assessments in Vancouver that are Neurodivergent affirming. That means that we don’t see autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions and differences as things that need to be fixed, but rather a natural part of human diversity. We understand that you have strengths and challenges in your life just like any other person, and take the approach that many of the challenges autistic people face are based on an environment that assumes everyone is the same.
We also take a strengths-based approach to care. Simply put, we are as interested in what you are good at and what is going well as what is challenging. When you receive your assessment report it will also talk about your unique strengths.
For LGBTQ+ people, it may be important to find an assessor who understanding other parts of their identity. Living in the LGBTQ+ community with a neurodivergent brain is a really specific, nuanced experience for an assessor to understand. For genderdiverse or trans* people, there is also an element how gender intersects with neurodivergence. Depending on how you were socialized into gender, you may have had more pressure to mask certain parts of your identity. Our assessments measure and take into account masking behaviour.
For some autistic people, gender has intersected with neurodivergence and led to masking behaviour. For others, the institution of gender itself feels like a tag scratching on your sweater, and you have never been able to relate to the concept at all. We understand that autism shows up differently for people with different gender identities, as well as the unique intersections of trans* and autistic experience.
Show up for the assessment
The assessment itself may take place over several appointments, often a blend of in-person and online. At Stillwaters Counselling, we do adult autism assessments in Vancouver and West Vancouver, with some parts conducted online.
We use an assessment called the ADOS-2, which is a scientifically supported tool for autism assessment and diagnosis. The assessment is broken down into several parts. It consists of an interview and several activities. The activities are not hard or stressful for most people - some people may feel anxious about them, but it’s not a test of abilities; it’s just a way for your clinician to understand more about how you think and communicate. There is an interview to understand your strengths and areas of challenge, and what your experience of day-to-day life is like.
The clinician will collect a developmental history - this could involve asking you questions, looking at old report cards or previous assessments, or talking to a parent. Because we do autism assessments with the LGBTQ+ community, we’re sensitive to the fact that relationships with family of origin can be complicated, and we’ll work with you to find the best way to understand your developmental history. If you are comfortable with your clinician speaking to your parents, they may use another scientifically supported tool called the A-DIR. The A-DIR asks about how and when you met developmental milestones.
The clinician will ask you about your vocational history - that means your history at work and school. They will try to understand what your experience has been like, and what’s been a challenge. You may be asked to fill out several questionnaires to get more information about what life is like for you.
Get Support
If you complete an assessment at Stillwaters, your assessment will also include recommendations for how you can receive support. This may include recommendations for community organizations, other healthcare providers such as occupational therapists, and books and other media. All of these recommendations are based on the goal of helping you find ways to live that feel good, not “fixing” anything about you. We also offer neurodivergent affirming counselling that addresses a variety of issues that may intersect with autism, including counselling for ADHD, depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria. Some people find that the ASD assessment process and diagnosis itself is affirming and validating - they finally have a name for what’s going on.
Get Started
If you are interested in taking the first steps towards your autism assessment, book a phone consultation with Imogen on our online calendar, or reach out through our contact form.
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