How do I request a neurodiversity-affirming assessment for my child?

School psychologist Breea Rosas says, “If a family is seeking a neurodiversity-affirming assessment, I think it's really important to keep in mind that some of your providers have been practicing the way that they've been practicing for a really long time. And it doesn't mean that they're not skilled providers, just because they aren't doing neurodiversity-affirming assessments. But you can definitely start broaching it with your teams.” She has this advice:

• Write a parent letter before the IEP that talks about the neurodiversity-affirming lens your family uses with your child
• Prepare a brief (one-page or less) explanation of neurodiversity acceptance that you can share with your IEP team
• Request neurodiversity-affirming trainings for teachers, admin, and providers
• Write a neurodiversity-affirming consultant into the IEP (This might seem like a stretch, but if your child isn’t being accurately represented, then the team may need guidance.)

See our article about neurodiversity-affirming assessments for more ideas and resources to help your whole IEP team see the benefits of using this approach.