Autism assessments

Are you looking for an autism diagnosis?
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht RP ND can help!

Embrace Autism | Autism assessments | Team Executive NatalieEmbrace Autism | Autism assessments | Team Executive Natalie hover

Autistic herself, she is highly trained and qualified
to guide you through the assessment process

Dr. Engelbrecht’s assessment will help you gain
a deeper understanding and appreciation of yourself
or affirm who you have always known yourself to be

An assessment by Dr. Engelbrecht can result in a greater understanding of yourself. An assessment may also help you capitalize on your strengths and help you improve
challenging areas of your life.

It can also help your partner(s), colleagues, friends, and family better understand your strengths and unique qualities. And with
a formal diagnosis, you may be able to get accommodations or
access local resources.

This is a service
provided for adults
(18+)

Assessment service

As a courtesy, we offer the autism assessment in 3 parts:

It starts with the autism screening (1), which will indicate if
pursuing a formal diagnosis is warranted. If so, you can continue
with the diagnostic assessment (2), resulting in a formal diagnosis.
The assessment process concludes with an independent
medical review (3) if you so require or desire.

The 3-part system allows you to do the assessment at a speed
that is comfortable for you. It also allows you to divide the cost
over time. If your data indicates that continuing is not warranted,
or the screening is sufficient to satisfy your needs, you do not have
to spend additional time and money on the rest of the process.

Part 1

Screening

The screening consists of the following:

  • 13 questions regarding your traits,
    history, and challenges
  • 6 psychometrics (empirically validated)
  • A review of your information, based
    on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
  • A 10+ page report based on the findings

At the end of the screening process, Dr. Engelbrecht will advise whether continuing with the diagnostic assessment is warranted.

Waiting time

The waiting time for the screening report is
up to 12 weeks after submitting your documents.

Part 2

Diagnosis

The diagnostic assessment consists of:

  • An additional 6 psychometrics
    (empirically validated)
  • A 30–45 minute clinical interview via teleconference, based on the ADOS-2 Module 4
  • A review of your information, based
    on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
  • A comprehensive diagnostic report based on the data acquired during the assessment process
Waiting time

Interview invite: within 8 weeks from your file upload.
Interview appointment: up to 6 weeks from your date of invite.
Diagnostic report: within 12 weeks after your interview appointment.

Part 3

Medical review

The medical review consists of:

  • An independent review by our medical doctor of your information and the data collected in the screening and diagnostic portions of the assessment, based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
  • A comprehensive diagnostic report based on the data acquired during the assessment process
  • A second signature, by our medical doctor
Waiting time

The waiting time for the assessment report is up to
8 weeks after your diagnostic interview appointment.

Optional

Post-diagnosis

Once the assessment process is complete,
you can get the following post-diagnostic services:

  • A letter of accommodation (LOA), which provides
    a written statement of the academic or work accommodations recommended for you
  • Filled-in and signed medical forms, if you
    need any medical assistance with forms

The assessment team

We work as a multidisciplinary team with a diverse blend of practice, experience, and expertise. Our team includes a registered psychotherapist and a physician. Where necessary, we have access to external resources and can refer clients to appropriate practitioners or service providers that may compliment and build on our own expertise.

Our team is available to assess, interpret and apply individual test results in order to consider them in a broader clinical or medical context, including for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment, following the establishment of an appropriate clinical relationship.

Included as part of the multidisciplinary team is
Dr. Jagpreet Arora. Dr. Arora has practiced as a licensed medical physician in Ontario since 1985. Her practice has for years included the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. Jag Arora, looking through her magnifying glass.

The team also consists of multiple individuals on the autism spectrum who are available to provide support to clients. These include professionally designated health practitioners licensed and trained to service clients in the
autistic community.

About the screening

The online screening was developed to provide an easy to use but clinically validated means to screen and assess autistic traits and qualification for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

NB: No diagnosis is made based on application of the screening tool alone. A formal diagnosis will require formalized assessment by a qualified practitioner in the context of an established clinical relationship (part 2 of the assessment process).

The assessment tool we rely upon at Embrace Autism is a compilation of clinically validated and long used psychometric assessment tools that are broadly applied by practitioners in the field. Our tool also builds on more specialized screening tools that are specific to our practice, though they may also be applied by others.

Questions?

An illustrated portrait of our bot, Saga.

Hello, my name is Saga. I am eager to answer any
questions you may have regarding the assessment process;
I can probably answer your questions faster than
any human could!

To activate me, click on my avatar at the bottom right
of your screen, and then click on ‘Start chat’.

Contact

Would you like more information, or are you ready to start
the assessment process? Contact Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht’s
assistant via the contact form below!

    Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht’s assistant will respond to your inquiries within 3 days. If you haven’t heard back from her within that time, please send another email.

    Also have a look at our FAQ page to see
    if your questions are answered there

    Wonder who a person is,
    and they will amaze you!