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Redefining Assessment Through a Neurodiversity Lens
In a recent open-access publication, UW Autism Center’s Dr. Sara Woods co-authored Principles of Neurodiversity-Affirming Collaborative Assessment with Drs. Amara Brook and Liz Angoff. The article outlines a new approach to psychological and developmental assessments—one that centers lived experience, collaboration, and strengths.
Rather than focusing on deficits or aiming to “fix” individuals, this model blends the neurodiversity paradigm with practices from therapeutic assessment. The result is a respectful, person-centered process that helps individuals and families better understand themselves in ways that feel meaningful and affirming.
The authors introduce five guiding principles for this approach: Collaborative Understanding, Accessibility, Recognizing Intersectionality, Empowerment, and Strengths Recognition (CARES). These principles can be applied to assessments across the lifespan and across neurotypes, including autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and others.
This framework is designed not only for clinicians, but also for educators, support providers, and anyone seeking a more inclusive and human-centered way to approach evaluation. It offers practical tools for making assessments more accessible, useful, and affirming.
Read the full open-access article: Principles of Neurodiversity-Affirming Collaborative Assessment
