When you arrive, you and your child will meet with our clinical team. Our clinicians will want to get to know your child, so once everybody has said ‘hello’ two of the team will take them to do lots of fun activities, like puzzles and storytelling. This is called an ‘ADOS’ and is considered the ‘gold standard’ tool for observing children as part of an autism assessment. During the ADOS, one of the clinicians will be observing and taking notes, while the other engages your child in naturalistic games and tasks designed to show up any autistic traits. While your child is with the clinicians, you'll be asked to speak with a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist. They'll ask you about your child’s development, behaviours, strengths and needs. At the end of the session, the clinical team will re-group to discuss all the information gathered before and during the assessment appointment. They will then meet with you to provide feedback on the assessment, the diagnostic outcome and any recommendations they have for follow-up support and adjustments for home and school.