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After Boy1’s psychoeducational testing, we were advised to pursue autism testing. The wait time for the Medical University of South Carolina was around six months, but given that Boy1 has already been waiting for eight years, I wasn’t willing to have him wait any longer.

So, I reached out to a private provider and we were able to schedule an appointment quickly. Although we had to pay out of pocket, we can submit the expenses to our insurance for possible reimbursement—fingers crossed they cover it!

Our first appointment was a telehealth session where I discussed Boy1’s history with the provider. We covered what I knew, though we had limited personal medical and biological family history available. Despite this, we managed to go through quite a bit during our discussion.

The next step was an in-person appointment where Boy1 underwent the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) assessment. The provider’s rapport with him was fantastic; she engaged him in a way that made him comfortable and interactive. It was fascinating to observe, especially from my perspective as a behavior analyst who has conducted many assessments but never observed the ADOS process firsthand.

The final appointment was another telehealth session to review the results, which was a bit unconventional but necessary due to my travel. I was actually pulling up to Animal Kingdom Lodge in Florida when the meeting started—talk about multitasking! As expected, Boy1 did not receive an autism diagnosis. While he met some criteria, his social skills were too strong for an autism diagnosis. He is highly social, reciprocal, and always tries to engage others in his activities. From the moment I met him, I’ve always known how much he seeks to connect and share experiences.

Even though I was confident he wouldn’t receive an autism diagnosis, I’m glad we went through the assessment. It provided valuable insights and, had he received a diagnosis, would have opened doors to additional services. Plus, experiencing the process firsthand was enlightening, and the provider shared some excellent resources and recommendations that could support Boy1 in the future.

Overall, the assessment was a valuable experience, and I’m grateful for the new perspectives and resources it provided.

Images courtesy of Deposit Photos artist AtlasStudio.