Private assessment for ASD

[letsgetbackto2019]

Hello everyone,
I have strong suspicions my 3yo might be on the spectrum but we have been told the waiting list for an assessment can reach two years!

We have a GP call booked in the middle of June (!) to discuss but in the meantime we are researching private centres, we wouldn't mind to pay.

Any centre to recommend whose diagnosis would be recognised by NHS/local authorities with little issues?

North West England but wanting to travel if needed.

Thanks!

As far as I know, as long as the team who assess are also assessing for the NHS, you should be fine.

Your GP should be able to tell you who on his list also takes private patients. If not, the NAS have a directory, but none of the people listed in it are "approved" in any way by them, so do thoroughly check them out before booking.
www.autism.org.uk/directory

We used Axia-ASD in Chester for our DS (then 9). I would be tempted to see if you can access the NHS route if possible (I tried but got nowhere).

Thanks @BlankTimes, I found the directory!

@landofgiants thank you, we are actually pretty close to Chester! Was it easy then to get the diagnosis recognised by NHS/LA?

So far, we have not used the diagnosis to access any addition support, as DS is doing 'ok' at the moment. The big benefit for us is diagnosis has improved DS's understanding of himself and improved his self-esteem. The other benefit is that he is now protected by the disability discrimination act.

I don't see it as a case of them accepting it or not - I have just told school (and sent them a copy of the report) and I let the doctors know as and when it is needed. As PP says, so long as the centre you use also does NHS work (which Axia does), there shouldn't be a problem.

In hindsight, I wish I had taken him earlier - aged 5/6/7 - because in the meantime he has learnt to 'mask' and I think it would have given better leverage with school.

Yes, I get you - my son is almost 4 and I'm driven by the will to act asap.
My worry about state services acknowledging that is in case it comes out he will need support. But if they handle NHS referrals, they should be fine. Also Chester is less than half an hour from us. Thanks a lot :)