INFORMATION

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

In most instances, no referral is required for your client to access occupational therapy services who are funded by NDIS or self-funding through other means.

Vanessa works collaboratively with other health care providers involved in the care of their mutual clients, providing consent has been provided. She is available for case consultation, case conferences or other collaborative work. Please ensure your client is aware that this is a fee-paying service before initiating contact.

Referral for autism assessments

Vanessa is a skilled clinician with specialist training completed at Mindful, University of Melbourne in autism assessment. Referrals are received from paediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists to assist in determining if a person meets the diagnostic criteria for autism.

Vanessa is experienced in administering the Autistic Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd Edition (ADOS 2). She regularly participates in Coding & Reliability training at Mindful as well as moderating assessment results with colleagues. She combines the ADOS-2 assessment with an interview using the Autistic Diagnostic Inventory Revised (ADI-R). When both instruments are used in combination, they are considered the international ‘gold standard’ as the most reliable tools in terms of both sensitivity and specificity to contribute to clinical diagnosis and the consistent and rigorous application of diagnostic criteria.

The concluding report includes:

• the caregiver’s insight into the person’s current and past functioning including both the acquisition and loss of skills including language and communication; social development and play; interests and behaviours.
• direct observations of communication; reciprocal social interactions; relationships and emotions; play; restrictive and repetitive behaviours.
• A functional impact table and summary statement.

If necessary, Vanessa will additionally undertake observations of the child in their natural environment/s, be they at home, childcare, kindergarten or school to further identify and clarify the functional implications and level of support required.