Student working with child
Diagnostic Assessment

Diagnostic Assessment

Diagnostic services are provided to families seeking to determine whether their child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Evaluations are also available for children who have already received an ASD diagnosis, but the family is interested in obtaining a fresh evaluation. It is important for families to note that this clinic primarily focuses on training future clinicians. Therefore, services will be conducted by school psychology graduate students under the supervision of a licensed psychologist whenever possible. The target population for this clinic comprises children aged 2 to 16; older individuals and adults will be seen on a case-by-case basis.

Psychological Evaluations

Intake (2 hrs.): The parent/caregiver and child will meet with a psychologist and/or student clinician for a diagnostic interview, during which the assessment plan will be determined based on the child and family's specific needs. If the family intends to proceed with testing, they will be provided with rating scales (parent and teacher, if applicable). A good faith estimate of charges for psychological testing, if deemed necessary, will be provided.

  • Psychological Testing: The student clinician and/or psychologist will conduct individual testing tailored to the individual's requirements. Depending on the age and functional level, the parent may need to be present for certain portions of the assessment; however, the majority of testing will be conducted individually. The testing may encompass cognitive, academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and/or adaptive functioning, as determined by the psychologist and student clinicians. The hours billed will be based on the specific tests administered and the time required to score and write up the results.
  • Feedback: The family will receive a written report detailing all the findings. Feedback can be provided on the day of the testing appointment if there is sufficient consultation time available between the student clinician and psychologist. However, in most cases, feedback will be provided during a separate appointment.

Supervisors: Dr. Brittany Dale & Dr. Kim Zoder-Martell

COMPASS School-based Services for Caregiver-Teacher IEP Planning and Teacher Coaching

The purpose of the COMPASS School-based Consultation service is to facilitate collaboration between parents and teachers in prioritizing goals that are essential for all children with autism. COMPASS offers a valuable opportunity to develop meaningful goals that inform the Individualized Education Program (IEP), create personalized intervention plans for crucial social, communication, and learning skills necessary for successful classroom participation, and provide teacher coaching. There is substantial research supporting the effectiveness of COMPASS in significantly improving IEP outcomes.

The COMPASS Program consists of five sessions. The initial session, which can be split into two sessions if needed, takes approximately 3 hours and occurs at the child's school with the involvement of caregivers and the educational team. Following the first session, there are four 1-hour teacher coaching sessions.

Caregiver Facilitation and Support

COMPASS for Hope (CHOPE) is an 8-week program that includes weekly sessions. Half of these sessions are individual, lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours, while the remaining sessions are group sessions with other parents, lasting about 1 hour each. CHOPE is designed for children ages 3 to 12 and is recommended for those with a recent diagnosis. Caregivers undergo a COMPASS assessment to identify and prioritize goals and concerns. The group sessions with other parents will cover additional subjects such as responding to the diagnosis, managing grief and unexpected emotions, accessing support, relaxation techniques and ways to cope with stress, and identifying other community resources. Please refer to the table below for a description of each session.

 

CHOPE Session Description

Session

Format

Focus of each session
1 Individual

Overview of C-HOPE and its goals, assessment and initial goal identification using the COMPASS profile.
2 Group

Introduction of parents and their child to the group based on an assessment of social, communication, and other behaviors. Discussion of unique and common characteristics of each child. Overview of cognitive theories of autism (central coherence, theory of mind, executive function) and how these relate to behavior, and local autism services and resources. The session is concluded with the introduction of a relaxation strategy.
3 Group

Direct education on principles of behavior and learning as well as proactive and reactive strategies.
4 Individual

Development of the child’s personalized behavior plan using the COMPASS framework. Once the disruptive behavior is identified (behavior to decrease), the replacement skill(s) is generated (behavior to increase).
5 Group

Discussion of teaching strategies, positive behavior approaches to prevent disruptive behaviors, teach new skills, and respond effectively.
6 Group

Discussion of parents and caregivers as essential “environmental supports” for the child and the emotions associated with the diagnosis, parenting expectations, and transitions. A “wellness” package of activities designed to identify strategies for self-care and relaxation is reviewed.
7 Individual

Review of the individual behavior plan and how well it is working. Modifications to the plan may occur based on data tracking the child’s problem behavior and new skills
8 Individual

Pertinent skills from previous sessions are reviewed. Progress toward the goals is examined and any modifications needed are implemented. Anticipated barriers that might arise related to the implementation of the behavior plan are discussed as well as possible proactive strategies to overcome these issues following the intervention.

It's almost time for Camp Achieve 2023!

  • Camp Dates: June 6 - July 17, 2024
  • Camp Time: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
  • Applications Due: May 3, 2024
  • Apply here
  • For more detailed information contact us.

Camp Achieve is organized and hosted by the faculty of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The camp is a five-week summer day camp specifically designed for children aged 6-12 with autism. It offers a positive learning environment where participating children can develop and strengthen important skills such as communication, social interaction, and adaptive abilities. The camp experience not only provides fun and enjoyment but also serves as a valuable opportunity for campers to enhance their school and community success through skill-building activities.

The camp takes place annually on Ball State University's campus, offering access to a wide range of activities, including a rock climbing wall, an exceptional playground, and the beautiful Christy Woods for an enriched outdoor experience. In addition, campers get to enjoy exciting field trips to places such as the Duck Pond for fishing, the Glick Center for Glass, and the Charles W Brown Planetarium. With the support of dedicated camp counselors and tutors, the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder ensures a safe and successful summer camp experience for all participants.

Currently the center for autism spectrum disorders offers diagnostic evaluations for children and adolescents (ages 2 to 16). The CASD is a student run clinic supervised by licensed Indiana psychologists. In the upcoming school calendar year (2023-2024) we plan to offer services beyond evaluations including community and school consultation and group parent educational trainings. See our services for more information.

Our waitlist is variable. As we operate on the school calendar year, our clinic is open from August to May with closure for winter and spring breaks. Due to limited resources, we have a reduced capacity for completing evaluations. The waitlist is highly dependent on the current volume of requests, and the individual factors of your child.

At this time, we are a self-pay service provider. The cost for an intake appointment is $160, while each additional assessment hour, report writing, and feedback meeting hour is $150. If you have concerns regarding cost, please feel free to email or call us regarding our sliding fee scale.

Camp Achieve is a summer day camp for autistic children aged 5 to 12 years old. It takes place in June and July with applications opening typically in March. Yearly applications are submitted through Ball State’s special education department. The CASD is not directly linked to Camp Achieve and has no input regarding your child being accepted to camp. Applications acceptances are determined on a first come, first serve basis. If you have further questions, please feel free to email ASDCampAchieve@gmail.com

As a Ball State University student Camp Achieve offers a unique opportunity to gain direct experience working with autistic children. It is a full-time job that is competitively paid. To apply for employment, you will access the application through Cardinal Link. Applications for employment typically open in March prior to a May start date. If you have further questions, please email ASDCampAchieve@gmail.com. The CASD has no direct ties to camp achieve and does not have an impact on the hiring process.

Due to the limited capacity, we currently do not offer adult evaluations. We do offer alternate referral resources that can be found here. These also include pediatric resources.

No. A medical referral is not required. To initiate services families are encouraged to call and complete a brief telephone intake.

First families are required to complete a brief telephone intake. Following a clinical decision to initiate services, the family is required to complete an in-person intake interview. This typically takes between 90 minutes and 150 minutes. It is important that the child be present for this intake interview.

Following intake, one to three assessment sessions are completed with the child. These typically range from 60 minutes to 180 minutes. At these appointments, parents will be asked to fill out forms for additional information.

Following the final assessment session, the student clinician and supervising psychologist will work collaboratively to write up the results of the evaluation and any diagnostic impressions. Families can expect to participate in a feedback meeting between 2 weeks and 8 weeks following the final assessment session. Feedback meeting durations are typically between 60 minutes and 120 minutes. Within the feedback meeting, diagnosis and recommendations are discussed.

The family will be provided with 2 or 3 copies of the child's completed evaluation and potentially referred for additional services within the CASD. It should be noted that payment is expected at the end of each appointment.

We are able to accept cash, check, and credit card payments.