Adult Neurodevelopmental Services

Intended For

• Adults 16 years and older with a documented diagnosis of an intellectual disability and/or autism presenting with mental health concerns or behaviors that challenge such as severe aggression, self-injurious behaviours (SIB) or severe persistent repetitive behaviours.
• Adults seeking diagnostic clarification for autism
Catchment area:
• Autism assessment and psychiatry serves all of Ontario
• All other disciplines (Behavioural Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Nursing, Developmental Service Work, Psychology) serve Toronto (postal codes starting with M)

Referral Requirements:

Physician referral required. Please download the form and call your doctor.

Additional Referral Details

New referrals may be faxed to Access CAMH at 416 979-6815 using the referral form. Please review the list below for additional details on the information that should be included with the referral:

• Psychological assessment
• Psychiatric assessment
• School accommodation documents (IEP, IPRC)
• Medication summaries:  Medication history, recent blood work
• Hospital admission & discharge summaries
• Discharge summaries from residential, educational & vocational placements
• Specialized assessments & treatment summaries.  Including any MRI or CT results, EEG, Genetics, occupational therapy reports, behaviour therapy reports, SLP reports

Program Duration:

Our outpatient services offer consultations and short-term / time-limited interventions up to 6 months.

Waiting Period:

Varies depending on program and referral volumes. Our wait time for autism assessments is approximately 1.5-2 years.

Location:

Queen Street site - 1025 Queen Street West

Additional Location Details:

3rd floor

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact Phone Number:

416 535-8501 ex. 37800

Contact Email:

ANSinfo@camh.ca

Types of Treatment and Services Offered

The ANS has an outpatient program, as well as a research department.

Program Overview

The outpatient program provides short-term, interprofessional goal-oriented assessment and treatment to adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and/or autism with mental health concerns and/or behaviours that challenge. ANS also offers autism diagnostic assessments. The goal is to support the individual to live in the community during and after treatment. The ANS team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, behaviour therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, registered nurse, and developmental service workers. CAMH is a teaching hospital, so you may see students, residents or trainees accompanying clinicians and physicians during your appointments. You may also have the opportunity to participate in various ongoing research projects at CAMH. 

ANS Outpatient

ANS Outpatient offers the following services:

• Psychiatric consultation for mental health assessment and/or medication review for adults with a diagnosis of intellectual disability and/or autism.
• Interprofessional assessment and treatment for adults with a diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Autism diagnostic assessment - To make an autism diagnosis, there must be evidence of autism during early developmental period. Without any reliable information about early development, it is often not possible to complete the assessment or make a reliable diagnosis. Therefore, where possible we ask for the individual to involve an informant such as a caregiver, parent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, etc. to provide the developmental history.  If no informant is available then we ask for the individual to bring documentary evidence such as past assessments, school reports, etc. If no informant or past records are available and still an individual is interested to be seen, then we will offer an assessment but we cannot guarantee a final autism diagnosis.

Research

ANS works in partnership with the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, the first Canadian research and education centre dedicated to improving care for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health difficulties, and their families. 

Discipline Specific Treatments:

Psychiatry: Psychiatrists provide consultations for autism diagnostic assessments, mental health assessments, and/or medication review, and work with client’s family doctors or other psychiatrists in the community to provide treatment recommendations.

Psychology: Psychologists provide various psychological services such as mental health assessment for people with intellectual disability.  ANS does not provide cognitive assessment for Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) eligibility. We also do not offer individual counselling or therapy.

Social Work: ANS Social Workers provide support to address various issues such as stress and caregiver burnout. The Social Workers can also provide education to clients and families about diagnosis and assessment as well as provide information on treatment options. In addition, the Social Workers work with other supports (agencies, case managers, clinicians, family members, and friends) in advocating and addressing issues at both the personal and social level — for example, access to funding and providing information on available day program options. They also connect and refer clients to community resources, programs and supports.

Behaviour Therapy: ANS Behaviour Therapists assess what a person is trying to communicate through a behaviour that is challenging and that may be a barrier to participate and live in the community. ANS behaviour therapists may offer interventions to reduce or replace these behaviours. This is done through safety planning for use in crisis management, mediator training, behaviour change programs, skill building programs, transition planning, and environmental accommodations.

Occupational Therapy: ANS Occupational Therapists work with clients to promote their health, well-being and participation in meaningful activities at home and in the community. Occupational Therapists provide a holistic assessment of a person’s strengths and capabilities, their activity demands and their environmental supports and provide strategies to support participation in daily life activities. Areas of assessment may include (but are not limited to): daily living skills, sensory processing needs, self-regulation and community safety and engagement. 

Nursing: The ANS Registered Nurse can assess the physical health and medications of our clients. Physical conditions and side effects of medication may contribute to behaviours that challenge and may be barriers for participating and living in community. The ANS Nurse can provide education regarding medication and medical concerns such as diabetes.

Developmental Services Workers: ANS Developmental Services Workers assist the assessment and treatment delivered by other ANS clinicians. They can teach strategies that may help improve clients and their families’ quality of life. Developmental Service Workers also connect clients to community resources and engage them in activities.

Group Treatment

* Please note that these groups run on a rotating basis. Please contact us for more information on which groups are currently being offered.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Group: The CBT Group is a 13-week group provided to adults with autism (without an intellectual disability) who also experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The purpose of the group is to help participants develop skills and strategies to decrease symptoms of anxiety and/or depression by learning about the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations. Clients will be screened for suitability for this group.

Self-Regulation Group:The Self-Regulation Group is an 8-week group for adults with mild intellectual disability (with or without autism) and mental health concerns. This group is offered in collaboration with our community partner, Aptus Treatment Centre. The aim of this group is to support participants to identify their emotions and build confidence using coping strategies to help safely and independently manage their emotions. Clients will be screened for suitability for this group.

Meet-Ups: An ASD Social Skills Group: This is a group for adults diagnosed with autism (without an intellectual disability). The objective of the group is to provide participants with strategies to improve their social communication and navigate everyday relationships.

Fitness and Wellness Group: This group supports individuals with autism and/or intellectual disability with creating and practicing manageable daily fitness routines, which focus on keeping active and healthy, while not relying on any equipment. The group also looks at how a good diet and other factors of our daily living can lead to good health and well being in the long term.

Family Caregiver Group: Four weekly online group sessions, followed by an individual session with an Adult Neurodevelopmental Services Social Worker. Topics include managing stress with self-care, recognizing and addressing burn out, system navigating via the DSO, and connecting you with supportive resources.

Other resources

ANS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ANS General Timeline of Events

Click here to find your local Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) office for social supports. You need to be registered with the DSO to apply for programs like housing (a place to live), community participation (day programming, job training), case management (a professional who helps you find help that you need) and other specialized services.

Resources on mental health and intellectual disabilities, sometimes referred to as dual diagnosis. This page includes videos and printed materials. The first portion is for health care providers. If you are a person with disabilities or a caregiver, scroll down to find videos and materials for you.

Connectability: It has a number of resources for people with disabilities and their families

Additional resources to help people with disabilities and families go to medical appointments.
https://ddprimarycare.surreyplace.ca/tools-2/general-health/todays-visit/
https://ddprimarycare.surreyplace.ca/tools-2/general-health/about-my-health/
https://www.porticonetwork.ca/web/hcardd/healthcareresources/people-with-developmental-disabilities-and-caregivers

For health care providers or staff supporting people with disabilities:
http://nutsandboltstools.com/
https://www.porticonetwork.ca/web/hcardd/healthcareresources/clinicians-and-service-providers

Crisis Resources

Warm Line (Progress Place) 
• Call 416-960-9276
• Text 647-557-5882
http://www.warmline.ca/ (online chat)

Peel Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST)
• Tel: 289-748-0123 
24/7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin
• 905-278-9036 Mobile Crisis of Peel 
1-888-811-2222 Caledon & Dufferin

Distress Centre Halton
• (Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville) 
• 905-849-4541 

Mood Disorders Association of Ontario 
• 1-888-486-8236 or 416-486-8046