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FAQ

Answers to common questions about screening, diagnosis, and support after diagnosis.

Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht pointing at a list of questions and answers. Embrace Autism | Assessments FAQ | post DrNatalieEngelbrecht QA1

Click on any of the questions below to see their respective answers

1. Who completes my assessment?

Who does my autism screening?

A licensed psychologist reviews your screening information and writes your report. They may be based outside your province, state, or country.

Who does my diagnostic assessment?

For a diagnostic assessment, we match you with a psychologist in your location. We have psychologists in:

  • USA
  • Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario
  • UK
  • Ireland
  • Australia

Embrace Autism works with 52 psychologists. Each has at least three years of training in assessing high-masking autistic adults.

What happens when you don’t have a psychologist in my location?

You can have an assessment with our autistic General Health Psychologist, who is based in Spain. She can diagnose worldwide.

Important: Choose this option only if you want to understand whether you are autistic and do not need the report to apply for disability benefits or accommodations at work or school.

2. How much does the assessment cost?

How much does the autism screening cost?

The screening assessment is CA$625—approximately US$439*

*You pay in Canadian dollars. The amount in US dollars depends on your payment provider’s exchange rate and any fees.

You can purchase the autism screening on our Autism Assessments page.

How much does the diagnostic assessment cost?

The diagnostic assessment is CA$1,895—approximately US$1,360*

*You pay in Canadian dollars. The amount in US dollars depends on your payment provider’s exchange rate and any fees.

You can purchase screening on our Autism Assessments page.

3. What will I receive after the assessment?

What will I receive after the autism screening?

You receive a detailed report written for you. It includes:

  • Your story: Why you asked for screening, your childhood, education, work, relationships, health, and current challenges.
  • A review of the autism criteria: How your experiences fit the signs used to assess autism. This covers communication, relationships, routines, repeated behaviours, strong interests, sensory needs, and daily life.
  • Examples in your own words: Parts of your answers that help explain your experiences. We explain what these examples show and where we need more information. We also consider masking and the effort behind things that may look easy to others.
  • Your questionnaire results: Your scores and what they mean. These cover autistic traits, masking, repeated behaviours, burnout, and your strengths.
  • A clear summary: What the results mean when considered together, what needs a closer look, and whether we recommend a full diagnostic assessment.
  • Advice for your next steps: Suggestions for support based on your needs, experiences, and strengths.
What will I receive after my diagnostic assessment?

You receive a formal report written by a registered psychologist. It explains whether you meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis and how the psychologist reached that decision.

The psychologist also assesses:

  • ADHD: Differences in attention, activity levels, and impulse control
  • Alexithymia: Difficulty noticing and describing your feelings
  • Autistic burnout: Deep exhaustion and difficulty managing daily life
  • Trauma: The effects of distressing or harmful experiences
  • OCD: Unwanted thoughts and urges to repeat actions to ease distress

Your report explains the findings, any diagnoses, and recommendations for support.

The assessment includes your history, questionnaire results, and an interview. The psychologist also reviews the autism criteria in the DSM-5-TR, a manual used to diagnose autism.

If you want to continue from the autism screening to a diagnostic assessment, please contact us. We will explain the next steps.

Before booking, tell us what you need the report for. You may need it for support at work or school, disability benefits, or other services. These may have different rules about the reports they accept. We can help you check whether our assessment meets your needs.

Does the autism screening give me a diagnosis?

No. The autism screening does not give you a formal autism diagnosis. It is the first step in our diagnostic assessment process.

You will be given a diagnosis after the second part of the process, the autism diagnostic assessment.

4. How long does the assessment take?

How long does the autism screening take?

Your screening report will be ready within 4 weeks after we receive all your information. The exact time depends on your clinician’s workload.

If you need your report sooner, rush screening is available for an extra CA$150.

How long does the diagnostic assessment take?

After we receive all your completed information (psychometric tests and questionnaires), you can expect the following timeline:

  • Within 8 weeks: We assign you to a clinician, who contacts you to book your appointment.
  • Within the following month: You attend your assessment appointment.

If you need an assessment sooner, a rush option is available for an extra CA$250.

5. Do I have to complete the entire assessment process?

After the screening, do I have to continue to the diagnostic assessment?

No. You can stop after the autism screening. Some people find that the screening answers their questions. Others continue because they want or need a formal diagnosis.

If you continue, we use the information you have already provided in the screening. You do not need to start again or repeat what you have shared.

6. Could I get further support once I’m diagnosed?

What support is available after diagnosis?

A diagnosis can bring new questions about your needs and what to do next. We offer the following services for extra support:

  • Accommodation letters: Letters to help you ask for changes or support at work or school.
  • Help with forms: Support with disability and other forms.
  • Sessions after diagnosis: Time to discuss your diagnosis, ask questions, and explore your next steps.
  • Therapy with autistic clinicians: Support from clinicians who are autistic themselves.

We want you to have support as you make sense of your diagnosis and decide what comes next.

You can find all our support services on the Post-diagnostic services page.

7. Can I claim your services through insurance?

Can I get the assessment or other services covered by my insurance?

Your insurance plan may—partially or completely—cover the assessment and our post-diagnostic services. Please check with your insurer before booking.

Embrace Autism does not bill your insurer or contact them on your behalf. You pay for the service, then submit your receipt to your insurer to ask for reimbursement.

8. What does a service receipt contain?

What information will be on my receipt after purchase?

You receive a payment receipt from Stripe. If you need a more detailed service receipt, please email us.

The service receipt includes:

  • Your clinician’s name, address, professional title, and registration number
  • Your name, address, and phone number
  • The date of service
  • A description of the service
  • The total cost, amount paid, and any balance owing

Example of a screening service receipt:

Psychologist service
Autism Spectrum Assessment – 2 hours, 50 minutes

Questionnaire scoring and interpretation, review of symptoms, and report preparation by [CLINICIAN NAME], General Health Psychologist. Registration number: [REGISTRATION NUMBER].

Total cost: CA$625.00
Paid: CA$625.00
Balance owing: CA$0.00

Your payment receipt may be included with your service receipt.

An illustration of a black autistic woman having questions. Embrace Autism | Assessments FAQ | AssessmentProcess ScreeningA1 02

If you have a question that has not been covered on this FAQ page, contact us
via the contact form at the end of the Autism assessments page.

Land acknowledgement

Embrace Autism recognizes and acknowledges the traditional lands of the Indigenous peoples across Ontario. From the lands of the Anishinaabe to the Attawandaron and Haudenosaunee, these lands surrounding the Great Lakes are steeped in First Nations history.

We are in solidarity with Indigenous brothers and sisters to honour and respect Mother Earth. We acknowledge and give gratitude for the wisdom of the Grandfathers and the four winds that carry the spirits of our ancestors that walked this land before us.

Embrace Autism is located on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation—the Treaty holders—for being stewards of this traditional territory.

A First Nations symbol, consisting of a Sun surrounded by four Eagle feathers.

Land acknowledgement

Embrace Autism recognizes and acknowledges the traditional lands of the Indigenous peoples across Ontario. From the lands of the Anishinaabe to the Attawandaron and Haudenosaunee, these lands surrounding the Great Lakes are steeped in First Nations history. We are in solidarity with Indigenous brothers and sisters to honour and respect Mother Earth. We acknowledge and give gratitude for the wisdom of the Grandfathers and the four winds that carry the spirits of our ancestors that walked this land before us. Embrace Autism is located on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation—the Treaty holders—for being stewards of this traditional territory.

A First Nations symbol, consisting of a Sun surrounded by four Eagle feathers.