Autism Pre-Screening Assessment

Deeper understanding and appreciation of yourself makes a lasting difference. We know what that feels like first-hand... From our owner: In every community, there are people quietly wondering why their experiences feel different. Many spend years searching for language to describe the way their minds work or longing for validation that their way of being makes sense. Personally, I have been there myself, as have many others I have met, and it made such a difference in our lives to discover the right language to describe ourselves and our experiences. I often wondered what we can do to help our community with this same type of self-discovery. We began offering our Autism Pre-Screening Assessment because the path to adult diagnostic testing can feel out of reach—waitlists are long, costs are high, and the process can be daunting. Many people choose to start with a pre-screening to help them decide if pursuing a formal diagnosis is worth the effort and expense. Others find that this step alone offers the clarity and validation they were seeking. While online pre-screenings are readily available, they are not medical-grade and should not be trusted as a quality indicator. These oversimplified online pre-screenings can give false reassurance or cause unnecessary alarm. They cannot address the whole person and lack human, affirming content. I have seen the harm that putting trust in these online pre-screenings can cause. We knew we needed to offer something beyond the elementary checklist found online. We needed a trustworthy medical-level approach that would provide reliable results. We also needed person-to-person feedback that would help individuals see themselves beyond their numerical scores while giving them a new language of acceptance and value. After completing our Autism Pre-Screening Assessment, one client shared with me what it felt like to finally find that language. They said, “For the first time, I felt like it all made sense. I wasn’t broken—I was me.” They went on to explain that they spent time quietly remembering so many moments of their life with a better understanding and, more importantly, acceptance that their unique way of being in the world was valuable. That’s the heart of what happens when people have a chance to look inward with a new perspective, a new language, and a new understanding. It’s not about a label or a test; it’s about connecting the pieces of a life that have always been there. For some, it brings relief. For others, a sense of belonging. Often, it simply feels good to be understood. When these moments of self-discovery happen, we meet them with neurodivergent-affirming care—always with respect, never judgment. We’ve seen how powerful it is when someone realizes they are already enough, just as they are. For me, this work is deeply personal. I often think about how different my own journey might have been if something like this had been available twenty years ago. That perspective is why I felt it was important for Partners to offer this resource, and why I’m so grateful to our skilled team for shaping and delivering this resource with such compassion and understanding. There are still parts of our society that do not yet see the value in diversity, including the diversity brought by autistic minds. We still need spaces where differences are seen not as flaws but are valued as our unique contribution to our shared humanity. I am very proud that Partners in Autism is one of those spaces - where a quiet kind of understanding allows people to be seen and accepted as they are. For me, it is a privilege to witness these moments in our community and contribute a small part in fostering a culture where neurodiversity enriches us all.