The team at Phoenix Children’s Autism Program takes a whole-person and family-centered approach to evaluating and diagnosing children and connecting families with community services. Our intent is to work with individuals and families to provide resources to meet their unique needs and goals.
Like many health systems across the country, Phoenix Children’s has seen a dramatic increase in the number of families who are seeking an autism evaluation for their child. In the United States and Arizona, approximately one in 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Phoenix Children’s has developed a new process for existing and new requests for autism evaluation.
To help efficiently serve families, our developmental pediatric team will be completing autism evaluations for children 0 through 3 years old while our psychologists will be completing autism evaluations for children ages 4 through 6 years old who have co-occurring complex medical needs or genetic differences.
We recognize that there are children who are 4 through 6 years old without complex medical needs or genetic differences and older children who also require autism evaluations. If needed, we can provide families with a list of community resources.
To begin the process for a new request for autism evaluation at Phoenix Children’s, follow these step-by-step instructions.
If your child is 6 years old or younger and you think they may be on the autism spectrum:
- Schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to discuss your concerns. Important things to talk about during the appointment include developmental milestones, your child’s relationships with other children, and any behavioral differences you think may be related to autism. Together, you and the pediatrician will develop a plan for next steps. This might include an autism evaluation request through Phoenix Children’s or a community agency.
- If a request for an autism evaluation at Phoenix Children’s is placed by your pediatrician, our team will review the information and request additional information from you or your pediatrician, if needed. Our team will then review your child’s request in full to make sure we are the right fit for your child’s needs. If so, we will be in contact with you to schedule an autism evaluation appointment. If our program is not the right fit for your child, we can provide you with an appropriate resource in the community.
Note: Phoenix Children’s will require your primary care physician to provide copies of completed M-CHAT-R with requests for evaluation for children 3 years old and younger.
- Once your child’s autism evaluation is scheduled, you will receive a request to complete a new patient packet. You will also receive a teacher packet for your child’s primary teacher to complete. You will be asked to bring the teacher packet to your child’s evaluation.
If your child has an existing request for an autism evaluation, you will receive or have received an Autism Diagnostic Evaluation Survey in August 2023.
- Complete and submit the Autism Diagnostic Evaluation Survey as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days from receiving the survey. If you do not complete the survey by the due date, it will be assumed that your child has received necessary services elsewhere.
- Once your Autism Diagnostic Evaluation Survey is completed and received, our team will review the information. In many cases, you may be asked to complete a second survey that asks about your child’s health and behaviors.
- Once the second survey is completed and received, our team will review the information in full to make sure we are the right fit for your child’s needs. If so, we will be in contact with you to schedule an autism evaluation appointment. If our program is not the right fit for your child, we will help you locate an appropriate resource in the community.
- Once your child’s autism evaluation is scheduled, you will receive a request to complete a new patient packet. You will also receive a teacher packet for your child’s primary teacher to complete. You will be asked to bring the teacher packet to your child’s evaluation.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Developmental Pediatrics Division for children 0 through 3 years old at 602-933-2327 and for children ages 4 through 6 years old, please contact the Psychology Division at 602-933-0414.
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A list of FAQs and additional community resources are available below.