Comprehensive Assessment Program
Are you seeking a thorough and comprehensive evaluation for your child? Many families report frustration in their efforts to get a thorough and timely assessment, given long waiting lists, restrictions imposed by insurance companies, and the limitations of many school districts. You may be reaching out for professional input regarding your child’s needs for the first time. You may have reservations about the extent or accuracy of the evaluation that led to your child’s diagnosis. Or, you may have had an adequate evaluation previously but are seeking something that is more complete or more current that can help guide program planning and intervention for your child. In any case, The Watson Institute can help. The Watson Institute offers comprehensive developmental and psychoeducational evaluations for children suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder. The service is also available for previously diagnosed children and adolescents when the family is seeking a broad-based assessment of strength and weakness along with recommendations for services and intervention methods. Evaluations are individualized and may include developmental, psychological, neuropsychological, educational, adaptive, behavioral, social, communication, sensory, medical, and motor components. The scope of the evaluation is based on the child’s needs and is determined jointly by Watson professionals in concert with the family—not by insurance company constrictions or artificial time constraints. Our Team includes experts with extensive training in autism and other developmental concerns. The Team may include psychologists, neuropsychologist, social workers, educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and medical personnel. An individualized Team is formed for each child based on which domains need to be part of the assessment. The Team is directed Joseph McAllister, Ph.D. Dr. McAllister has provided advanced trainings on autism to professionals at national and international forums. All Team members are well versed in best practices of autism assessment and intervention. Team members also have extensive experience in the schools and in intervention programs for children and adolescents with autism. Consequently, recommendations are detailed, concrete, and practical. Procedures Families are asked to complete an intake packet and return it, along with any prior reports, and a nonrefundable check for $200 to cover the costs of the initial review of the information. The information should include any reports from developmental specialists, psychologists, speech or occupational therapists, and any medical specialists who have seen the child. IEPs/IFSPs, behavioral plans, and any other relevant information should also be included. After the materials are reviewed, our Scheduler will contact you with options for appointment times and report the anticipated duration of the assessment. Comprehensive Assessments generally take one to two days. For some younger children, two half-days may be required. A number of lodging accommodations are available within a 20-minute drive of The Watson Institute, should you need to make such arrangements. By car, Watson is within 20 minutes of Interstate 79 and 25 minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Watson is located within a half hour drive of the Pittsburgh International Airport. The fee for the Comprehensive Assessment will be quoted to you prior to scheduling. Depending on the number of days required and the number of professionals involved, fees may range from $950 to $2500 (less the $200 deposit/review fee). Half the balance is expected within one week of when the appointment is schedule; the remainder should be paid by the appointment date. Evaluation components may include assessment of:
Evaluations can include sources of information and methods that would not generally be part of more restricted assessments. For example, the evaluation can include review of video of the child in the home, classroom, or community settings in order to provide a more complete picture of the child than can be obtained solely through observation in an office. Onsite observations can also be arranged. A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) can be incorporated into the evaluation. On the day(s) of the evaluation, at least one adult family member will need to remain onsite. Throughout the course of the evaluation, you may be asked to:
You can also anticipate long periods of time when you child is engaged with us and you are merely waiting. We would encourage you to bring a book, laptop, knitting, or something else to keep yourself occupied. You will generally have the option of discussing results at the conclusion of testing or scheduling a time to come back to review the results. If you elect to have the feedback at the end of testing (same day), you should anticipate some delay between the end of testing and the start of feedback, since the Team members may need to score tests, process results, and confer first. The Team will prepare one comprehensive, integrated report that will include the findings and recommendations of all of the professionals involved. The report is generally sent within two weeks after the conclusion of the evaluation. The report is sent to you directly. We can also send it to doctors, schools and other services providers if you first give us written permission—nothing is sent out without your permission. Consultation with your child’s educators and other service providers can also be arranged as a follow up to the evaluation. The scope of these evaluations exceeds what insurance will cover. Therefore, only cash, checks, or credit cards can be accepted for payment at this time. We can invoice school district or other agencies who agree in advance to pay for the service. Our intention is to provide an accurate and detailed portrait of your child that will help determine service needs and guide intervention planning. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our intake coordinator at 412-749-2889 or intake@thewatsoninstitute.org. This service, as presented here, is not currently available to residents of Pennsylvania with an active Medical Assistance card. Please contact our intake coordinator to see what services can be accessed through Medical Assistance at this time. Accommodations Fairfield Inn & Suites/Pittsburgh International Airport5850 Grand Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15225 USA Phone: 1-412-264-4722 Fax: 1-412-264-4733 Sales: 1-412-264-4722 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pitnv-fairfield-inn-and-suites-pittsburgh-neville-island/
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