Self-Assessment Tools

Children

  • Encircle Families (formerly Raising Special Kids)

    Care for the Caregivers Hosts Tucson and Phoenix parenting meet ups for parents of special needs children.

    Birth to 5

    Autism Society of Southern Arizona

    Child Mind Institute

    Zero to Three

    Aha! Parenting

    CHADD.org

    Circle of Security

    Arizona Early Intervention Program - 18mo-2yrs9mo

    Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) - 2yrs9mo +

    Instagram Accounts to Check Out
    @sensory_therapist
    @the_therapist_parent
    @drbeckyatgoodinside
    @occuplaytional

  • Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children — Ruth Fidler & Phil Christie (great intro & practical examples)

    Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity — A collection of autistic voices that highlights how parents can avoid common mistakes and misconceptions, and make their child feel truly accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are

    101 Games and Activities for Children With Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders — Ways to engage your child and support their development

    The PDA Paradox — Bethany C. Little (explores autonomy and demand responsivity)

    Uniquely Human — Dr. Barry Prizant (a must-read for autistic behaviors through a strengths-based lens)

    Parenting with Love and Logic by Charles Fay and Foster Cline - This book provides practical strategies for raising responsible children while maintaining a compassionate approach.

    Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman - This resource helps parents learn to understand and manage their emotions, which is crucial for fostering healthy emotional development in children.

    How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish - A practical guide that offers communication techniques to strengthen parent-child relationships.

    Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop managing Behaviour and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids Author: Mona Delahooke, PhD

    Low-Demand Parenting: Dropping Demands, Restoring Calm, and Finding Connection with your Uniquely Wired Child Author: Amanda Diekman Specifically Helpful for neurodivergent kids who fit PDA profile and escalate when perceiving a demand

    Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies That Really Work Author: Robyn Gobbel Sensory friendly techniques to help regulate children.

    Playful Parenting (Lawrence J. Cohen) Useful playful interactions to reduce power struggles and meltdowns.

    The Whole-Brained Child (Dan Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson) Breaks down emotional outbursts through brain science. Tons of strategies you can use with kids.

  • Explaining Brains Website Gives real examples of what it’s like to be neurodivergent from different children’s perspectives.

    Telling Your Child They Have ADHD - Book to teach your child about ADHD.

    Neurodivergent Ninja - Ages 4-10, teaches strategies to manage neurodivergence for kids.

    The Smart Cookie - Teaches about different kinds of intelligence, self esteem, and acceptance.

    The Too Much Unicorn - For kids who often feel like a burden or “too much.”

    The Boy with the Big, Big Feelings - Geared towards highly sensitive/deeply feeling/autism.

    Too Much: An Overwhelming Day - Sensory processing disorder/sensitivities.

    Benji’s Busy Brain - Benji has ADHD and adds skills to his toolkit to harness the powers of his busy brain.

Adults

Executive Functioning

  • Noise Dampening - Reduce auditory overwhelm:

    • Loop ear plugs

    • Noise cancelling headphones

    • Music playlists for different scenarios preloaded

    Deep Pressure - Provides grounding and regulation:

    • Weighted lap pads

    • Weighted/heated blanket

    • Weighted stuffed animals

    • Compression vests

    • Lavender neck heating pad

    • Tight hug

    Visual:

    • Dimmable lighting with warm light bulb options

    • Liquid motion timers

    • Glitter tubes

    • Fiber optic lamps

    • Lava lamps

    • Expanding breathing balls

    Movement

    Hanging Egg Chair – Adult swingy chair.

    Rocking/Gliding Chairs – For seeking movement and regulation.

    Sensory Swings – All ages

    Fidgets

    • Slime

    • Kinetic sand

    • Tangle toys – twistable segments that rotate endlessly

    • ONO rollers – smooth rolling motion between fingers

    • Thinking putty / therapy putty – stretch, squeeze, tear

    Oral/Chewing Stims:

    • Chewelry necklaces

    • Silicone chew pencils

    • Chewable Lego-style pendants

    • Chew pencil toppers

    Clothing:

    Sensationally You - Sensory friendly clohing.

  • Auditory: Speech-to-text & audio books

    Task Initiation:

    First Then Visual Schedule HD: First-Then visual schedule for your family with audio-visual representations of routines, activities, sequences and transitions.

    Choice Works: App for custom visual schedules for transitioning students and children through multi-step tasks and routines, like getting ready in the morning, or calming down.

    https://goblin.tools AI breaks large tasks into smaller steps, estimates time required, helps initiate tasks.

    Forest Focus App https://www.forestapp.cc

    Emotional Support:

    Worry Dolls: Tell your worry to a worry doll and track it overtime. 

    iCreate…Social Skills Stories: Create social stories for transitions or new experiences with personal photos to make it customized.

    Lifestyle:

    Plant Nanny: Water tracking app that reminds you throughout the day. 

    I Can’t Wake Up!: Requires you to complete a puzzle or math problem to shut off the alarm.

  • Classroom Tools

    • Wobble cushions / wobble seats – allow gentle rocking movement

    • Balance balls or yoga ball chairs

    • Chair bands (resistance bands on chair legs)

    • Standing desks or floor desks

    • Rocking stools

    Quiet Fidgets

    • Tangle toys

    • Stress balls

    • Therapy putty

    • Pop-it fidgets

    • Marble mesh fidgets

    • Spinning rings

    • Kneaded erasers

    • Silent fidget cubes

    • Textured desk strips

    • Silicone “calm strips”

Seeking an ADHD or Autism Diagnosis

Although therapists (Masters level) can diagnose disorders from the DSM-5 (e.g. Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, etc.), we only screen for Autism and ADHD and make recommendations to specialty providers for an official diagnosis because these are considered “Neurocognitive” disorders which implicates a biological and medical component due to involving brain chemistry.

We are trained in understanding and supporting ADHD and Autism; however, diagnosis requires a specialized evaluation through a medical provider (MD/DO) or neuro-psychologist (PsyD) with specific tools and assessments that are best practice for a thorough diagnosis.

A diagnostic evaluation usually includes things like developmental history, cognitive testing, standardized diagnostic instruments, and sometimes medical screening to rule out other neurological or developmental conditions.

If you are seeking a diagnosis for a child, you can consider first talking to your child’s school to request an evaluation which is a free and covered service in public schools. Diagnosis helps support an IEP or 504 plan as well as help access further services your child may need.

Reach out and schedule an initial evaluation to get started on your journey.

Book an Appointment Today.

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