The Neurodiversity Affirmative Child Autism Assessment Handbook - by Kavanagh & Day & Davida Hartman & Tara O'Donnell-Killen & Jessica K Doyle

About the Book

"A neuro affirmative guide to child autism assessment"--

Book Synopsis

Based on new and emerging clinical research, this book is here to guide you through creating a neuro-affirmative child autism assessment process for your practice.

Moving away from a deficit-based medical approach to child autism assessment (identification), this comprehensive and detailed handbook covers the most up to date research and best practice. Created to encourage and empower clinicians to make a paradigm shift to a more neurodiversity-affirmative approach, this book acknowledges the challenges of working within a system that is inherently deficit based and provides practice points and clinical reflections on how to embed neurodiversity-affirmative principles in their individual practice. This handbook is essential reading for those involved in assessing, as well as for those working with Autistic children more generally.

Including helpful tips and methods that can be used during the identification process, this handbook also includes lived experiences of Autistic children and case studies, and perspectives from an OT and SLT, so clinicians can gain a much deeper understanding of the young people they are working with. It also includes guidance for post-identification support and provides a clear roadmap for what happens next.

Review Quotes

With tears in my eyes as I read, finally an assessment guide that is child worthy! That highlights children's experience and echoes the humanity, strengths and challenges of being autistic. Affirming Autistic 'difference' as part of human neurodiversity and seeing autism via the neuro affirming lens is the only true path to assessment and understanding of our autistic kids. Invaluable!!--A/Prof. Wenn B. Lawson, Curtin University, WA.

About the Author

Dr Maeve Kavanagh is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist who has worked with the Autistic community in both public and private services in Ireland since 2008. Maeve has worked as a Principal Clinical Psychologist with The Adult Autism Practice since its foundation in 2020, and is Co-Director of Childversity, specialising in Neuro-Affirmative Autistic identification for children and adolescents.

Dr Anna Day is Co-Principal Clinical Psychologist with The Adult Autism Practice and is registered with the UK Health and Care Professionals Council. Anna has previously worked in the UK's NHS. Anna is Autistic and ADHD, and is passionate about advocating for Autistic rights and Neuro-Affirmative approaches within mental health care and education. Anna has a particular interest in gender, sexuality, and relational diversity, and neuroqueering. She has an Autistic young person.

Davida Hartman is an Adjunct Professor, as well as founder and Clinical Director at The Adult Autism Practice and co founder and Chartered Principal Psychologist at The Children's Clinic, both specialising in Neuro-Affirmative Autistic identification. She is a Board Member and has actively led the initiative of bringing non-profit Gig Buddies to Ireland (supporting the human rights of an active night life and meaningful friendships for disabled adults). She is also an author, having written many previous books with Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Davida is late identified ADHD.

Tara O'Donnell-Killen is the founder and Principal Psychologist of Thriving Autistic, which partners with multiple clinical services globally to provide neurodivergent-led support for Autistic individuals and their families. She has served as Support Lead for The Adult Autism Practice since its inception and co-authored the Neurodiversity Affirmative Adult Autism Assessment Handbook. A sought-after international lecturer on Neuro-Affirmative Practice, she founded the Neurodivergent Practitioners Directory, now connecting over 600 practitioners worldwide. Tara is Autistic and a parent to three Autistic children. She is also founder and CEO of Luminosity Labs, advancing ethical technology solutions for neurodivergent communities. Her work innovates at the intersection of ethical technology and psychology, advancing human rights-based approaches to neurodivergent wellbeing globally.

Jessica K Doyle is an Autistic Perception, Sensory Analysis and NeuroAffirmative Consultant for the Muíríosa Foundation, a researcher at DCU, a director at Thriving Autistic, and a former Assistant Psychologist at the Adult Autism Practice. An Autistic author, speaker, and poet, she is currently undertaking an M.Sc in Applied Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. She is passionate about exploring perceptions and repositioning the lens away from thwarting authenticity to designing for diversity, fostering growth, and committing to universal design