Wait time

Due to the large volume of interest, as of January 5, 2025, Peace Autism Assessment Services is not accepting new referrals. The service will review emails and phone contacts for new referrals in August 2025. New appointments will begin in January 2026. Please contact Autism Information Services BC (autisminformation@gov.bc.ca) for other clinicians. The British Columbia Psychological Association (psychologists.bc.ca) has a referral service for psychologists in your area.

 

Introduction

Peace Autism Assessment Services offers private psychological evaluations of children and adolescents who may have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with many presentations. Autism impacts functioning in the areas of social communication, both verbal and nonverbal, and is observed in repetitive patterns of behaviour. Individuals with autism often have co-occurring challenges that add important nuances to the provision of a comprehensive assessment.

 

Territory

 

The service is offered in the Treaty 8 Territory, traditional meeting grounds, gathering places and traveling routes of the Cree, Dene, Dane-zaa and Métis.

 

Values

 

Psychological assessments should be affirming and promote self-awareness of strengths as well as challenges and vulnerabilities with goals of enhanced well-being and self-efficacy. Best practices emphasize foundational validity of assessment tools, openness to possibilities without bias, clearly communicated results, and recognition of the limitations and underlying assumptions in accordance with ethical and professional guidelines. Peace Autism Assessment Services endorses the perspectives of lifespan development and neurodiversity as fundamental aspects of assessment validity. Assessment outcomes may be different than expected but it is important that the assessment experience is validating for all those who are involved.

 

Oversight of the profession of psychology

 

The College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (https://chcpbc.org/) is the statutory body that regulates the profession under the auspices of the Health Professions and Occupations Act. More information about the practice of psychology is available at the