Adult Autism Assessment

Welcome to Bartles Foundry, where understanding is forged through collaboration between a clinical psychologist and an education specialist. Our mission is to guide individuals through the intricate process of autism assessment, empowering them with insights and clarity.

In today's digital age, numerous online resources claim to offer insights into autism through self-administered tests. However, it's essential to recognise the limitations of these tools, which cannot guarantee accuracy or replace the expertise of trained professionals.

At Bartles Foundry, we uphold the highest standards of accuracy and precision in our assessments. Our thorough evaluation process transcends simplistic online quizzes, providing a nuanced understanding of individual strengths, challenges, and needs.

Lots of people who come for assessments have already been thinking about whether they might be autistic. But for others, it might be the first time they've thought about it. It's important for everyone to feel like they're part of the process, no matter how much they know already.

We recognise that In many medical assessments, the person being assessed feels like they have less power. They answer lots of questions and might do tasks, and then they're told if they're autistic or not. This can make people feel uncomfortable and like they don't have control. 

At Bartles Foundry, we like to work together with our clients and our hope is to be as open as possible about the process and make it as comfortable as we can. Our assessments are all about helping you understand yourself better in a friendly and open way. We like to think of this as an exploration with you as to whether or not you might be autistic. 

Our assessments are all about being kind, respectful, and making sure everyone feels included. We're here to help you every step of the way.

At Bartles Foundry, once we've mutually agreed that an individual is autistic, we provide them with a tailored set of documents to meet their specific needs. These documents cover various requirements, including confirming their autistic identity, outlining necessary accommodations, assisting with welfare applications, and informing other services about their autism. Most individuals find that a comprehensive clinical report isn't necessary. Instead, they prefer concise documentation that grants access to essential services, with letters detailing required accommodations being particularly useful. However, on occasions, someone may request or require a detailed clinical report, and we are happy to provide one. This could be to aid their understanding of their identity or to access additional services, such as mental health support, where a more comprehensive report is beneficial.

We understand that reports after medical assessments often focus on problems and use terms like "disorder" and "disease." Unfortunately, these reports are usually written for professionals and can be challenging for the person being assessed to understand. Reading them can be very upsetting, and many people don't want to look at them again after the first time. This is also true for parents reading reports about their children, as societal structures and services often necessitate a focus on 'problems'.

In our reports, we strive to maintain a more balanced approach. However, we also recognise that some local authorities and NHS services have a history of rejecting reports from privately commissioned providers that don't meet their expectations in terms of approach or report writing. Therefore, leveraging our expertise and years of experience writing reports to NHS standards, we ensure that our documentation serves both the needs of our clients and the requirements of statutory services.

Hold in mind, that an assessment may also lead to conclusions that someone is not autistic, but they may still be experiencing various challenges. If this is the outcome, we can still provide you with onward guidance and/or documents outlining what might be helpful. 

In the UK, guidelines say it's a good idea to involve family or use old school reports to learn about someone's early life. But some professionals insist that family members must be there, even though it might not be helpful or possible. Some research shows that signs of autism might not show up until later in life, so needing evidence from early childhood isn't always fair. At Bartles Foundry, we understand that everyone's journey is different, and we respect each person's story. 

Please contact us to discuss further.