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No Waitlist for kids under 6 with an Autism Diagnosis. 

Screeners & Assessment Services

Autism Screening and Diagnostic Pathways

Many families experience uncertainty while trying to understand whether their child may be on the autism spectrum. At Absolute Care Providers, we offer guidance and support throughout the entire evaluation journey so families never feel alone.

Early identification of autism gives children access to early intervention options—such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy—that can promote developmental growth and help them reach important milestones.

How to Have Your Child Evaluated for Autism

If you’re unsure where to begin, our team makes the process simple and approachable. We help families understand each step so children can receive the services they need as early as possible.

Your first step is completing a brief online screening tool designed for children across age groups. When results indicate elevated autism traits, we provide in‑person assessments—including the ADOS‑2—for children ages 18 months through 6 years. To ensure accessibility, both our online screeners and ADOS‑2 evaluations are offered free of charge.

Our Evaluation Process

We aim to make autism testing clear, supportive, and family‑centered. Here’s how it works:

1. Complete a free online screening

We offer age‑appropriate tools—such as the M‑CHAT‑R for toddlers and the CAST for older children—to help identify whether further evaluation is recommended.

2. Attend an in‑person assessment

If screening results suggest elevated autism traits, your child may participate in an ADOS‑2 evaluation. This structured, play‑based assessment helps clinicians observe communication, social interaction, and behavior.

3. Receive a summary for your child’s doctor

After the ADOS‑2 session, our clinician prepares a written summary and sends it directly to your child’s pediatrician or specialist. The ADOS‑2 does not diagnose autism on its own; instead, it provides information your child’s doctor uses alongside developmental history to determine whether ASD criteria are met.

4. Explore next steps

If your child receives an autism diagnosis, we help you understand available supports, including ABA therapy and other resources.

Autism screening tools for children by age:

The M-CHAT-R

Online autism screener for toddlers

The CAST

Online autism screener for older children

The ADOS-2

Gold-standard, in-person diagnostic assessment

M-CHAT-R screening tool

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) is a parent-report screening tool that is designed to assess the risk for autism in toddlers. This autism quiz consists of 20 questions for parents to answer about their child’s social, communicative, and play behaviors. These questions are critical in identifying potential signs of ASD in children.

A high-risk score does not confirm an autism diagnosis—our online autism tests are simply tools that help identify children who may benefit from early autism evaluation and intervention. If a child receives a high-risk score, they should receive further assessment by an autism specialist.

The CAST autism screening tool for older children

The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) is a 39-item parent questionnaire developed by the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge. It can be used to screen for symptoms of autism and social communication difficulties in older children. A high score suggests that your child may benefit from further diagnostic testing for autism.

 

The ADOS-2 autism assessment

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is a leading autism assessment tool used by clinicians to identify autism symptoms in children. During this play-based assessment, our team engages face-to-face with your child to observe their communication, social skills, and behaviors.

Contact us today to learn more about scheduling a no-cost autism evaluation near you for your child.

What to expect:

The ADOS‑2 is widely recognized as a reliable and validated assessment used in autism evaluations.

 

Children participate in enjoyable, age‑appropriate activities during the 40–60 minute session. The experience feels more like guided play than a medical appointment.

 

After the assessment, scores are calculated to show how closely observed behaviors align with autism characteristics. A summary is sent to your child’s provider to support the diagnostic decision.

 

Frequently asked questions

Who can diagnose autism?

Only licensed healthcare professionals—such as developmental pediatricians, child psychologists, or pediatric neurologists—can diagnose autism. Screening tools help identify risk, but a full evaluation is required. We send all assessment summaries directly to your child’s doctor.

What is the best treatment for autism?

At Absolute Care Providers, we provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, a gold standard treatment for autism. ABA therapy for autism is evidence-based, which means it has been tested and shown to be effective through multiple scientific studies. Our internal data show that children with autism who require comprehensive ABA therapy (25 or more hours per week) experience, on average, an 86% reduction in challenging behaviors such as aggression, elopement, property destruction, and self-injury. Most of this progress happens within the first year of treatment. Even as therapy hours are gradually reduced by about 20% over time, children continue to show lasting improvements. See more of our outcomes research here.

What treatments are recommended for autism?

We offer applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, an evidence‑based approach shown to improve communication, reduce challenging behaviors, and build daily living skills. Our internal outcomes show that children receiving comprehensive ABA (25+ hours per week) experience significant reductions in behaviors such as aggression, elopement, property destruction, and self‑injury—most within the first year. Progress continues even as therapy hours gradually decrease.