The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook : A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hartman, Davida, author.

Azevedo, Juliana, author.

Day, Anna, author.

Doyle, Jessica K, author.

Kavanagh, Maeve, author.

O'Donnell-Killen, Tara, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Autism spectrum disorders.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (370 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), 2024.

Place of Publication:

London : Jessica Kingsley Publishers Library , 2023.

System Details:

text file HTML

Summary:

Adult autism assessment is a new and fast-growing clinical area, for which professionals often feel ill-equipped. Autistic adults are often misdiagnosed which has enormous implications for their mental health. This accessible and comprehensive adult autism assessment handbook covers the most up to date research and best practice around adult autism assessment, centering the person's internal experiences and sense-making in clinical assessment, rather than subjective observation, thus providing the clinician with a truly paradigm shifting Neuro-Affirmative approach to autism assessment. Traditional clinical assessment tools are comprehensively explored and unpacked to enable the clinician to have full confidence in aligning traditional criteria to the Autistic person's subjective experiences. Full of additional resources like language guidelines and an exploration of the common intersections between Autistic experience and the effects of trauma, mental health and more, this book supplies a breadth of knowledge on key areas that affect Autistic adults in everyday life. The mixed team of neurotypical and neurodivergent authors describe lived experience of Autistic adults, a how-to for conducting Neuro-Affirmative assessments and post-assessment support, alongside reflections from practice. This book also has a directory of further resources including downloadable forms that you can use to prepare for your own assessments and a downloadable deep dive into Autistic perception. This guide will also support professionals through every step of the assessment process.

Contents:

Intro

The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook

Cover

Of related interest

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Contents

1. Introduction

Who We Are and Why We Are Writing This Book

An Introduction to Autism Assessment

Declaration of Privilege

2. Language Guide

Key Neuro-Affirmative Terminology (with a Focus on Autistic Neurology)

Introduction

Use 'Autistic Person', Not 'Person with Autism'

Just Call It 'Autism', Not 'Autism Spectrum Disorder', 'ASD', 'Autism Spectrum Condition' or 'ASC'

Use 'Disabled Person', Not 'Person with a Disability'

Talk about 'High' or 'Low' Support Needs in Specific Areas, Not 'High' or 'Low Functioning'

Other Ableist Language to Avoid

Further Recommended Reading

3. A Brief History of Autistic People and the Neurodiversity Movement

The 1940s, 'Bad Parenting'

The 1960s and 1970s, Genetics and a Spectrum

The 1980s, and Applied Behaviour Analysis

The 1980s and 1990s, Self-Advocating and the Internet

The 1990s and 2000s, and the Neurodiversity Movement

Controversy

The 2000s to Today, Steps Forward and Back

Common Criticisms of the Neurodiversity Movement

4. Understanding Autistic People

Ableism and Why It Is the Core Issue in Need of Addressing

Ableism and Autistic People

The Medical, Social and Biopsychosocial Models of Disability

Is Being Autistic Disabling?

Morality, Empathy and Compassion

Current Diagnostic Criteria for Autism

What Does It Mean to Be Autistic?

Why Is It So Important for Autistic People to Recognize That They are Autistic?

Self-Identification

5. Theories of Autistic Neurology

A Brief Overview of Some of the Theories of Autistic Neurology

6. Autistic Perception

The Eight Senses

Sensory Processing Systems.

The Process of All-Human Perception

Practice-Based Recommendations

7. What Does It Mean to Be Neuro-Affirmative?

Ways to Be Neuro-Affirmative

8. Current Adult Autism Assessment Guidelines

American and Canadian Guidelines

UK NICE Guidelines

Australian Guidelines

Scottish SIGN Guidelines

9. Medical Model Assessments

Screeners

Tests

Reports

Power Dynamics

Involving Caregivers and Early History

Cognitive Assessments

10. Important Considerations

Intersectionality

Cultural Competence

Women

Masking or Camouflaging

Later Years of Life

LGBTQIA+/Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversities

Gender Variance

Trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

'Borderline Personality Disorder'

Intellectual Disability

Anxiety

Co-Occurring Mood Disorders

Eating Disorders

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Alexithymia

Assisting Communication/Non-Speaking Autistic People

Medical Issues

Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyslexia

Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyscalculia

Specific Learning Difficulties: Developmental Co-Ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)

11. How to Make Your Assessment Accessible

Barriers to Accessing Assessment

How to Make Your Assessment Accessible

12. How to Conduct a Neuro-Affirmative Assessment

The Importance of Autistic and Neurodivergent Professionals Being an Integral Part of the Team

Assessment as a Therapeutic Process

People are Collaborative Partners within the Assessment Process

Consent

Screening Questionnaires

Session Amount, Length and Content

Pre-Assessment Consultation

Session One

Session Two

Final Assessment Session

Post-Assessment Support

Gathering and Interpreting Information.

Involving Family Members and/or Others in the Assessment Process

Reports, Letters and Documents

Applying for Welfare Payments (e.g., Disability Allowance, Personal Independence Payment)

Considering Previous Diagnoses

Support When Being Autistic Is Not Identified

Reflections for Clinicians within the Process

13. Post-Assessment Support and Recommendations

How Best to Signpost and Support People Post Assessment

Recommendations for Adapting the Journey

Recommendations for First Contact

Recommendations for Co-Creating Therapeutic Goals

Recommendations for Measuring Outcomes

Appendix 1: The Neuro-Affirmative Language Guide

Appendix 2: Making Zoom More Comfortable for You

Appendix 3: Looking After Myself Plan

Appendix 4: Workplace Accommodations Self-Reflection Exercise

Appendix 5: Neuro-Affirmative Autistic Criteria Mapping Document

Appendix 6: Healthcare Passport for Autistic Adults

Appendix 7: Autism COVID-19 Individual Health Action Plan, Universal Format

References

About the Authors

Subject Index

Author Index.

ISBN:

9781805016694

1805016695

9781839971679

1839971673

OCLC:

1458356382