UWAC Consultation

Clinical Consultation
Classroom/Program Consultation
Student Consultation

Clinical Consultation

Neurodiversity-Affirming Differential Diagnosis and Strengths-Based Assessment Consultation

Do you need help with differential diagnosis through a neurodiversity-affirming lens (e.g., how to differentiate autism, ADHD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder)? Do you need help with completing assessments and writing reports in a neurodiversity-affirming manner? Need advice about how to handle it when your client thinks they’re autistic and you don’t? Let’s consult! 

Consultation goals include: 

  • Learn to write strengths-based reports in a format that supports the neurodiversity paradigm while still describing your clients’ needs for accommodations 
  • Learn to differentiate autism from commonly co-occurring issues like ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and mood disorders 
  • Learn to provide feedback to clients and families by sharing information that is both accurate and affirming 

Ideal participants: 

  • Psychologists who may be newer to diagnosing autism or to the neurodiversity paradigm 
  • Medical professionals who may have less time for assessment and need greater support with differential diagnosis in a busy practice 

UW Autism Center consultants available for this service: 

  • Dr. Sara Woods, Ph.D.: Dr. Woods is a clinical psychologist at the UW Autism Center and has been specializing in autism diagnosis for 10 years. She sees people from all walks of life across the lifespan from toddlerhood to later adulthood. Dr. Woods has knowledge regarding the latest research literature and regularly consults with other neurodiversity-affirming professionals. Dr. Woods has published research on autistic strengths, and she has provided training to hundreds of professionals on strength-based assessment and report writing. In addition, she spends much of her time doing direct clinical assessment, so she is familiar with the challenges of writing reports in a neurodiversity-affirming way while meeting real-world demands like opening doors to services and support in a timely manner. She also keeps up to date on the wants and needs of the autistic and neurodivergent communities and can help you navigate competing needs.

To request a clinical consultation, please complete our Clinical Consultation Request Form (PDF). (73 KB)

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Classroom/Program Consultation

The UW Autism Center specialists provide classroom observations and consultations to help teachers and other school personnel implement evidence-based practices to maximize the learning of autistic students. Classroom or program consultations may include all or some of the following components:

  • Brief interview
  • Direct observation of classroom or program
  • Live demonstration of teaching strategies
  • Coaching/feedback to staff personnel in the classroom
  • Written report summarizing observation and recommendations
  • Feedback meeting to review consultation and recommendations
  • On-going consultation to increase staff comfort with strategies and ensure fidelity of implementation

To request a classroom consultation, please complete our Classroom Consultation Request Form (PDF) (635 KB).

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Student Consultation

The UW Autism Center specialists offer student-focused consultations to assist with IEP development and offer recommendations for improving learning and behavior for individual students. Areas of consultation may include:

  • IEP goal development
  • Assistance in identifying student’s skill levels
  • Conducting functional behavior assessments (FBAs)
  • Developing behavior intervention plans (BIPs) to decrease problem behaviors and increase appropriate behaviors/skills

Consultations may include all or some of the following components:

  • Brief interview
  • Request for information (behavior interview, Motivational Assessment Scale – MAS, A-B-C data collection, current IEP, current evaluation, current BIP)
  • Conduct observation
  • Written report summarizing observations, behavioral hypothesis, and recommendations
  • Feedback meeting with team to determine fit for recommendations and finalize behavior intervention plan
  • On-going consultation to increase staff comfort with strategies and ensure fidelity of implementation

To request a student consultation, please complete our Student Consultation Request Form (PDF) (524 KB).

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