The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook
A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach
Davida Hartman author Tara O'Donnell-Killen author Dr Anna Day author Jessica K Doyle author Dr Maeve Kavanagh author Dr Juliana Azevedo author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published:21st Feb '23
Should be back in stock very soon
The first handbook on the fast-growing area of adult autism assessment for professionals, for which the authors take a neurodiversity-affirmative approach.
This comprehensive and easily digestible guide is an ideal reference for psychologists, psychiatrists and allied professionals working in the field of adult autism assessment. It draws upon lived experience of Autistic people and presents the most up-to-date research in adult autism assessment.
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. It centers 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.
In this brilliant book all the aspects for understanding autistic neurology and giving an appropriate assessment are clearly framed. 41% of the population remain undiagnosed and over 40% commit suicide. This handbook is an essential tool in understanding and assessing for autism. Want to get it right? You need this book! -- Dr. Wenn B. Lawson (PhD) AFBPsS MAPS.AASW
Whilst the book focuses specifically on autism assessments in adults, the essential principles of the neuroaffirmative approach apply across the lifespan. In addition to promoting a more respectful and collaborative approach to assessment, this text covers the broader social context in which those assessments take place and introduce the reader to the neurodiversity movement with its contemporary challenges as well as rich history. Autistic voices and perspectives are centred throughout. It's a worthwhile read for anyone working with autistic people and not just those tasked specifically with conducting diagnostic assessments. -- Dr Anna Rebowska, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
With clarity, practicality and humanity, this ground-breaking book exemplifies the paradigm shift to a neurodiversity affirmative perspective, the only one we should aim for today'. If you care for autistic people, this is THE book you want to read whatever your prior level of knowledge. -- Bernadette Grosjean MD Associate Professor of Psychiatry (retired) Harbor UCLA. USA.
This necessary book provides a valuable contribution to professional discourse regarding neuroaffirmative adult-appropriate autism assessments. Hartman and her colleagues have provided a clear, reasoned and practical set of steps that professionals can take towards providing high-quality person centred assessments founded on respect for the strengths and preferences of the individual. This will be an important resource for anyone working with autistic adults. -- Dr. Lorraine Seery, Principal Clinical Psychologist
The Neuro-Affirmative approach to autism described in this comprehensive and beautifully written book is vital for all psychiatrists and diagnostic clinicians.
Up-to-date research, thought provoking reflection points, and the autistic experience is central throughout.
ISBN: 9781839971662
Dimensions: 244mm x 174mm x 30mm
Weight: 533g
368 pages