What's in this module?

Hear from Anne

What's included

This module provides practical guidance to effectively problem solve or troubleshoot your way through common and sometimes complex challenges that arise in the ASD assessment process. Challenges include responding to narrow referrals, interpreting ambiguous or conflicting assessment data, managing differing clinical opinions, understanding complex constructs like, camouflaging, addressing the rise of the neurodiversity-affirming movement, and making sense of variations in diagnostic criteria between DSM-5 and ICD-11.

  • Module Toolkit (A Workbook, Self-Reflection Questions, Comparison Table - ICD-11 and DSM-5 Criteria for ASD)

  • Scenario and instructional videos

  • Reflection and application activities

  • Quiz questions

Module Outline

The module includes the following lessons:

  • Common assessment challenges

  • Navigating camouflaging in ASD assessment

  • Neurodivergent-affirming versus scientific/medical approaches to ASD assessment

  • Making sense of the differences in current versions of ASD diagnostic criteria

Skill Development

This module focuses on the following skills:

  • Decision making and critical thinking

    Evaluating the available information to make sound judgements and decisions.

  • Coordinating with others

    Collaborating and building rapport with referrers, clients and others towards excellent client care.

  • Researching

    Collecting and analysing client information to identify patterns and insights and form hypotheses.

Instructor(s)

Principal Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Annie’s Centre

Dr Anne Chalfant

Anne is a Principal Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Annie’s Centre based in Sydney. A successful author, speaker, podcast host, and researcher in child development and mental health, she consults across Australia and globally. Anne is internationally regarded for her expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is a member of both the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) and the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR). Anne began her early career developing and co-authoring the Autism Spectrum adaptation of the acclaimed Cool Kids Anxiety Program. She received the Australian Psychological Society National Clinical Psychology Conference Prize for Early Career Research for this work. In 2011, she published the book, Managing Anxiety in People with Autism, which subsequently became a finalist in the 2012 International Book Awards in the Psychology section. It has since sold thousands of copies worldwide. She also published the children’s book “Wally the Worried Wallaby in Dog-Gone Trouble” and the related parent guide as a way to assist families in preventing and managing anxiety in young children. In 2004, Anne was a pioneer in establishing a multidisciplinary private practice, which specialised in helping children with developmental and mental health difficulties. For over 15 years, Annie’s Centre was known as a centre for excellence in assessment, diagnosis and treatment for hundreds of children and families. Now, Anne splits her time between caring for her own five children, producing the Annie’s Centre podcast as a free support service to families, and conducting training courses and workshops. These are highly regarded by medical and allied health professionals across the globe.