Community pathways allow physicians to collaborate with Holland Bloorview clinicians so that families can have their autism assessment with their own physician, closer to home, and with less wait time than a traditional referral to Holland Bloorview’s autism assessment team.
* Referrals to community pathways that do not result in a conclusion (i.e., autism diagnosed or ruled out), can be re-directed to Holland Bloorview for an in-person assessment at Holland Bloorview. Original referral dates will be honoured.
The descriptions of the different pathways are:
Diagnostic Consultation (children and youth under the age of 18)
Community physicians refer for a 30-minute consultation with a psychologist or speech-language pathologist to discuss a client the physician is assessing. For this referral type, the community physician conducts the assessment and communicates the diagnosis (when applicable). The consultation is usually a phone call or virtual meeting between clinicians to discuss assessment procedures and/or review assessment findings. The family is not present for the consultation.
Clients who receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder will be automatically referred for a Holland Bloorview social work consultation that focuses on resource navigation and support.
Please consult the ECHO Autism Diagnostician Resource Portal to help guide your assessments.
Psychologists are doctorate-level clinicians who assess and diagnose autism. They have expertise in mental health as well as all the diagnostic criteria for autism.
Speech-Language Pathologists are master-level clinicians who independently administer the ADOS and virtual diagnostic tests, but who do not diagnose autism. They have expertise in social communication, language, and speech, and can discuss a client’s development in the context of the autism diagnostic criteria.
Virtual Assessment (children under 6 only)
Community physicians refer a child under the age of 6 to a Holland Bloorview SLP to conduct the virtual test with the child. Both the referring physician and the SLP are present for the test and will discuss their observations afterwards. The physician is responsible for communicating the diagnosis (when applicable).
Clients who receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder will be automatically referred for a Holland Bloorview social work consultation that focuses on resource navigation and support.
Social Work Short-Term Consultation
If a child has already received a diagnosis of autism from outside of Holland Bloorview and their family is experiencing barriers to service access related to language or other psycho-social needs, a community physician or nurse practitioner can refer them for a short-term social work consultation focused on resource navigation support.
* We will do our best to contact referring physicians’ offices within a reasonable time. If we are unable to reach the clinic within two weeks of our first attempt, the referral will be redirected to an assessment at Holland Bloorview, recognising the client will remain on our list for the full wait time for that assessment.
