ASD & OT Assessments
Support With Autism Spectrum Disorder & Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
MEET THE TEAM
We’re Here To Help
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder & Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
Navigating neurodevelopmental needs or seeking clarity on your own or your child’s experiences can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to walk this path alone. At Athlone Care Clinic, we provide a compassionate, multidisciplinary approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments and Paediatric Occupational Therapy. Our goal is to offer you a supportive, respectful environment where you and your family can find clear answers, build confidence, and access the right tools for everyday life.
Whether you are an adult embarking on a long journey of self-discovery, a parent seeking a gold-standard diagnostic evaluation for your child, or a family looking for practical, play-based occupational therapy to aid with sensory processing and motor skills, our highly qualified team is ready to guide you.
We combine internationally recognised diagnostic tools with a deep respect for your lived experiences to deliver comprehensive, HSE-accepted reports and actionable recommendations. From your initial consultation through to ongoing support, we are dedicated to helping you understand your unique strengths and empowering you to thrive at home, in school, and beyond.
Meet Our Expert Team
Michael O’Brien
BSc in Occupational Therapy | MSc in Sports Therapy
Michael is a highly experienced Senior Occupational Therapist with over 16 years of clinical experience working across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. He graduated with a BSc in Occupational Therapy from University College Cork in 2010 and later completed an MSc in Sports Therapy at London Metropolitan University in 2015.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked across a broad range of clinical settings, including acute hospitals, neurological rehabilitation, community rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, paediatrics, disability services and private practice. His extensive international experience has allowed him to develop specialist skills in the assessment and treatment of both adults and children with complex physical, neurological, developmental and functional needs.
Michael is the Owner and Director of Atlantic Rehab, providing specialist Occupational Therapy services to children, adults, families, schools, healthcare providers and local authorities throughout Ireland.
He has specialist training and extensive experience in autism assessment and is qualified in both the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). He works as part of multidisciplinary diagnostic teams and contributes Occupational Therapy expertise to autism assessments.
Michael completes detailed Occupational Therapy housing assessments and reports for local authorities, supporting individuals whose disability or medical condition affects their ability to safely and independently manage within their home environment. He also has experience completing complex home modification assessments and working collaboratively with housing departments, architects, builders and other healthcare professionals.
Michael has undertaken specialist Expert Witness training through La Touche and provides Occupational Therapy medico-legal assessment and reporting where required.
His approach is practical, person-centred and evidence-based. He aims to understand how an individual’s physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental or emotional needs affect their everyday life and to provide clear, realistic recommendations that promote independence, participation, safety and quality of life.
Michael places particular importance on working collaboratively with clients, families, schools, healthcare professionals and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure recommendations are meaningful and achievable for each individual.
Michael’s Clinical Areas of Interest & Expertise:
- Autism assessment and diagnostic support
- Developmental delay
- Sensory processing differences
- Fine and gross motor development
- Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Handwriting and school-based Occupational Therapy assessment
- Assistive technology for children and adults
- Activities of Daily Living assessments
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Upper limb rehabilitation
- Seating, positioning and wheelchair assessment
- Housing adaptation and disability housing assessments
- Functional Capacity Evaluations
- Vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work planning
- Medico-legal and expert Occupational Therapy assessment
Autism Spectrum Disorder Services
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that shapes how a person experiences the world, interacts with others and processes information. At Athlone Care Clinic, we understand that pursuing an autism assessment, whether for your child or for yourself as an adult, is a significant step.
Our highly experienced multidisciplinary team, which includes Chartered Clinical Psychologists and CORU-registered Occupational Therapists, provides gold-standard, compassionate assessments. Using internationally recognised diagnostic tools like the ADI-R and ADOS-2, we look beyond the clinical criteria to truly understand each individual’s unique strengths and needs. Whether you are seeking clarity, practical recommendations or access to essential educational supports, our comprehensive reports are fully accepted by the HSE and the Department of Education.
If you are looking for guidance or are ready to begin the assessment process, please get in touch with our team today to find out how we can support you.
Autism Assessment For Minors
An autism assessment is a multi-step process that includes information from a variety of sources. We review background information gathered from documents such as a developmental history form, previous assessment reports, and details provided by parents during intake. We also request a written report from school personnel who know the child well. Observational data taken during interactions with the child is included, as are any standardised assessment results conducted by our staff. There are two main tools used during a core autism assessment: the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) and the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule).
STEP 1: When you contact our clinic, our team will guide you through the assessment process. We will send out forms so that information about your child can be gathered from a variety of sources, ensuring a holistic assessment process. One form will be completed by you, the parent, and another by your child’s school or preschool. These forms were designed by Athlone Care Clinic to ensure we capture parents’ detailed current concerns and the developmental history of your child. We also gather information on how the child is functioning in the school environment, including the teacher’s observations of behaviour and social interactions.
STEP 2: The first clinic appointment will be a structured interview using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). This aligns with best practice guidelines for the assessment of autism. This appointment is attended by parents only (one or both parents can attend). The appointment takes approximately 1.5 hours and can be completed remotely.
STEP 3: The second clinic appointment is a play-based assessment with your child, carried out using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). This is completed by two clinicians in line with best practice guidelines. They will observe a one-to-one interactive session with the child. The observations of the child are then discussed and analysed by both clinicians.
STEP 4: All the information from the above steps—including reports from teachers, reports from you, the parent, and information gained by the professionals when interacting with your child during the ADOS-2 assessment—is discussed and analysed holistically. This determines if enough evidence is present to give a diagnosis of ASD at this time. Further information may be sought to support this process if necessary. Occasionally, a school observation or a full cognitive assessment is required in addition to the ASD assessment to build a more comprehensive picture of your child.
A multidisciplinary report on your child is compiled based on the above findings.
STEP 5: Your final appointment will be a feedback session with the Psychologist. They will outline the findings from the assessment process as a whole, letting you know whether a diagnosis has been reached and providing a clear explanation of the factors that informed this decision.
They will outline strengths and areas of need in your child’s profile and give recommendations on how to support your child’s needs going forward. This may involve onward referral to other therapists (Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc.) as well as recommending specific educational supports your child may need (access to a Special Needs Assistant, advice on suitable school placement, etc.).
A full report will be provided, outlining your child’s profile of strengths and experiences in relation to the outcome of the assessment, in line with the DSM-5 criteria (if relevant), alongside detailed recommendations. This report will be accepted by the HSE and the Department of Education.
Autism Assessment For Adults
Seeking an autism assessment as an adult is often the culmination of a long journey of self-discovery. Whether you have spent years wondering if you might be autistic, or it has only recently been suggested to you, our adult assessment process is designed to be a supportive, respectful and a collaborative experience. We take the time to truly listen to your lived experiences, combining your current perspectives with your developmental history to provide a clear and accurate evaluation. Below is an outline of the steps involved in our adult assessment process:
STEP 1 Screening: If you feel that you may be autistic, our free screening process will provide clarity and insight. It will be carried out by our team, who will also discuss the assessment process with you.
STEP 2 Information Gathering: We ask someone who knows you well (ideally since you were young) to complete a developmental interview with us. This is so we can understand more about you and how you were as a child. We use the ADI-R to structure this interview. This is because neurodevelopmental conditions like autism are present right from birth. A better understanding of your strengths and needs helps our clinical team with their assessment.
STEP 3 Assessment: The assessment is carried out by a Clinical Psychologist and an Occupational Therapist, who are experts in diagnosing autism in adults. During the appointment, we’ll conduct a thorough clinical interview covering a range of issues relating to your experience, making sure you feel heard and understood. As autism can present in a similar way to other conditions, our job is to differentiate between those and autism itself, giving you an accurate professional opinion. Once the assessment is complete, you’ll have time to ask questions about the outcome. We also use the ADOS-2 assessment to structure this interaction.
STEP 4 Diagnostic Report: Following the assessment, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive report giving a full breakdown of the assessment and our findings. The outcome will be clear and easy to understand, and will include our recommendations, plus helpful signposting for ongoing support.
STEP 5 Ongoing Support: Following your autism assessment, whether an autism diagnosis is reached or not, our expert team will guide you on the support options available to you.
Gold-Standard Autism Assessments
We are committed to providing a service defined by both clinical excellence and unwavering support. At the heart of our clinic is a genuine care for every individual and family who walks through our doors, ensuring you feel informed and respected throughout your entire journey with us.
To deliver the highest quality of care and the most precise outcomes, our expert multidisciplinary team relies on the world’s leading, internationally recognised diagnostic tools:
ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule): the gold-standard observational assessment
ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised): detailed parent interview
Cognitive Assessment: included when clinically appropriate
Our Specialist ASD Assessment Team
Your child will be assessed by an experienced multidisciplinary team:
Chartered Clinical Psychologist
Occupational Therapist (registered with CORU)
ASD Assessment Reports
Completed within 6 weeks
Accepted by schools, universities and the HSE
Delivered securely via email
Includes a post-assessment feedback session
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Paediatric Occupational Therapy supports children who experience challenges with movement, sensory processing, attention, fine motor skills, coordination, handwriting, daily routines and emotional regulation. Occupational Therapy uses play-based activities to build essential skills in a fun and supportive environment.
The goal is to help children feel more confident and capable in everyday life, including dressing, handwriting, fine motor tasks, classroom participation and social interactions.
Sessions can take place at Athlone Care Clinic or in the home or at school. With the focus on playful, practical approaches that help children participate more easily at home and in school.
Who Is This Service Is For?
Our Pediatric Occupational Therapy service is tailored for parents seeking expert guidance to support their child’s developmental, physical and emotional needs. Whether you are looking for practical strategies to implement at home or interventions to assist with school life, this service provides a supportive environment for children experiencing any of the following challenges:
Sensory Processing:
Support for children who may be sensitive to sound, touch, movement or busy environments and need help regulating their sensory systems.
Gross Motor Skills:
Balance, coordination, bilateral motor skills and confidence during physical tasks.
Daily Routines & School Activities:
Support with dressing, feeding, organising school materials and becoming more independent. Reduction of frustration during tasks and improved confidence.
Fine Motor Skills:
Improving hand strength, pencil control, writing fluency, scissor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Emotional Regulation:
Helping children understand, express and manage emotions through structured routines and strategies.
Attention & Concentration:
Helping children who have difficulties with attention or concentration. This can be experienced at home or through challenges in participating in school tasks
Our Paediatric OT Process
For parents and families interesting in paediatric occupational therapy we offer a comprehensive service designed to help both children, parents as well as providing wider support for schools. To enquire about this service simple contact the team to book your initial consultation. Our approach to paediatric occupational therapy and assessments is outlined below.
PARENT DISCUSSION: A calm conversation to understand your child’s needs, challenges, and goals from home and school settings.
INITIAL OBSERVATION & ASSESSMENT: Play-based observation, sensory-based activities, fine motor evaluation and/or standardised assessments depending on the child’s needs.
CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS: Practical strategies for home and school, tailored to the child’s abilities and goals.
OPTIONAL WRITTEN REPORT: A clear, structured OT report can be provided upon request, which may support school planning or onward referrals.
FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS: If required additional appointments can be arranged to support ongoing development.
We Are Here To Help
At Athlone Care Clinic, our primary message to every client is simple, we are here for you. We deeply empathise with the challenges you are facing, and we want you to know that practical, effective help is available.
We recognise that asking for support can be intimidating and that the first step often feels the steepest. However, reaching out is usually much easier than anticipated, and simply making that initial contact can instantly lift a weight off your shoulders.
To ensure you feel entirely comfortable taking that step, we offer several accessible ways to connect with us, which are listed below.
Once you get in touch, our secure and confidential onboarding process begins. We start by taking some essential details over the phone. After that, we schedule an introductory meeting with your therapist. This conversation allows us to understand how best to support you, while giving you the space to ask questions and ensure you feel at ease. If you feel confident and ready to move forward together, we will then arrange your first full session.
Send An Email
You can email us on contact@athlonecareclinic.ie
Drop Us A Call
Please don’t hesitate to call our team on 0906 455 302
Our Online Form
Head over to our contact page & complete our online form