Affirming Autism & ADHD Assessments for Adults

Affirming Autism Assessment for Adults

I am trained to offer the MIGDAS-2, the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, second edition. This is an affirming interview process to assess for Autism in adults. This approach doesn’t identify only signs of Autistic distress, but can also validate Autistic traits that are present during times of wellbeing, and can allow us to recognize Autistic brain styles beneath masking. (Unlike the common ADOS-2’s supposedly “gold standard” assessment process, with the MIGDAS, you won’t be subjected to childish, confusing activities, nor be left wondering about “how it went” until much later.)

In addition to the MIGDAS-2 interview, I will also incorporate data from several self-report assessments, which result in individual reports to help you understand your results:

• CAT-Q, the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire, a validated measure of masking, which then influences how I interpret the rest of your data.

• RAADS-R, the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised, a validated measure of how your experiences compare to other adults who are and aren’t Autistic.

• AQ, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, another measure of how your experiences compare with those of Autistic adults.

• CATI, the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory, a new measure created by researchers in collaboration with Autistic community members to identify masking and other Autistic traits.

I do NOT require, but am willing to facilitate or accept collateral informant input from people like your partner/s, friends, coworkers, family members, etc.

I also am interested in reviewing any other supplemental materials you wish to provide, such as childhood documentation or records of your own self-observations while questioning your neurotype.

Affirming ADHD Assessment for Adults

I use the DIVA-5 interview in a supportive, understanding environment, to help you express your experiences that may align with ADHD—including inattentive, hyperactive, and combined types. We will account for how masking may affect your presentation, as many late-identified ADHDers rely on systems to avert their most common challenges.

In addition to this interview, I will also incorporate data from following self-report assessments, which result in individual reports to help you understand your results:

• ASRS, the Adult Self-Report Scale v. 1.1, which identifies how your experiences of ADHD traits compared to other adults.

• ESQ-R, the Executive Skills Questionnaire-Revised, a measure that can illuminate your experiences of various areas of executive functioning.

I do NOT require, but am willing to facilitate or accept collateral informant input from people like your partner/s, friends, coworkers, family members, etc.

I also am interested in reviewing any other supplemental materials you wish to provide, such as childhood documentation or records of your own self-observations while questioning your neurotype

My Approach to Assessments

I am a late-identified AuDHD practitioner and a part of the Autistic and ADHD communities, so I know the importance of recognizing and affirming Autistic and ADHD identity in adulthood.

Unfortunately, far too many providers rely on outdated and limited understandings of Autistic and ADHD traits that lead them to tell us, “you don’t seem autistic” or “you don’t seem ADHD,” because they only see our masks, coping systems, or strengths. This can be a painful thing to hear after we have done the deep-dives of research and extensive self-reflection that may have us convinced—or at least still constantly questioning—if we are Autistic/ADHD.

I create an empathic, interactive space that recognizes the nuances or neurodivergence, so that together we can recognize your hidden experiences of difference and disability—while also creating room for a positive re-interpretation of how your brain and nervous system guide you through the world.

My assessment process allows for a wide range of accommodations to enable you to express yourself best. All appointments are virtual, meaning we have options to use chat, captioning, video-off, stimming on or off-camera, etc. I am also happy to accept input via email.

I view assessment as a collaborative process: although I am the one who will compare your experiences with the diagnostic (and community-acknowledged) traits, I deeply respect that YOU are the one who knows your inner experiences best. My goal is to avoid a “big reveal” at the end, and instead to allow this process to be therapeutic and organic in nature. I hope that by the time a result is confirmed, you are familiar with and in agreement with the logic of that outcome.

I believe that your deepened self-understanding of your neurotype—not just a professional’s opinion—is what will truly help formal assessment make a real difference in your life.