NHS England specifies that autism assessments must be conducted by a multi-disciplinary team, with diagnosis provided by a health professional trained in differential diagnosis, such as a psychiatrist, paediatrician, or clinical psychologist. In practice, however, other professionals frequently play key roles in the assessment process, including conducting the ADOS-2 or ADI-R evaluations. Best clinical practice recommends involving at least two professionals in the diagnostic process to ensure comprehensive evaluation and minimise bias.

The health professional who delivers the diagnosis must be properly trained to determine whether the clinical presentation may be better explained by another condition, such as intellectual disability, ADHD, OCD, Conduct Disorder, or trauma and stress-related disorders. This careful differential diagnosis is crucial for accurate assessment and effective treatment planning. NHS England has published detailed guidelines (2023) offering further information on this process.

Professionals involved in the autism assessment process should be aware of these guidelines to ensure they are following best practices and maintaining the highest standards of care. These guidelines not only set the benchmark for multi-disciplinary team assessments but also underscore the importance of accurate differential diagnosis in autism-related evaluations.

Certain research projects require additional reliability certification for the ADOS-2. This separate process involves recording a video of you administering an ADOS-2 assessment, along with your coding data. A qualified trainer will review this video to evaluate your performance and offer targeted feedback on both the administration and coding aspects. If you need this certification, please get in touch with us for more details on how to proceed.

Obtaining this additional reliability certification can be crucial for researchers seeking to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their ADOS-2 assessments, as well as to meet specific research project requirements. By undergoing this evaluation, you can improve your skills and ensure your coding aligns with established standards, thereby enhancing the validity of your research outcomes.

Absolutely. If you notify us what adaptations you need, she will do everything that she can to make sure that training is inclusive and accessible. Please contact us to discuss support.

We offer training sessions in various group sizes to accommodate different learning preferences. Our groups range from smaller ones with 6 participants to larger ones with up to 20. We understand that some people absorb information better in smaller settings, while others enjoy the energy and interaction of larger groups.

The advantage of our face-to-face training is the opportunity for direct interaction. Participants can engage with each other, ask questions, collaborate in partner or group discussions, and share their experiences