Welcome to
can
Identifying and
celebrating
Neurodivergence in the
South West
CORNWALL AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENT (can) specialise in private autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental assessments for children, young people and adults in Cornwall, Devon and the South West.
Ensuring individuals receive an appropriate private assessment for autism diagnosis, ADHD diagnosis, or other neurodevelopmental disorders is our absolute priority. Our multidisciplinary team have been involved in NHS ASD and neurodevelopmental assessments for many years and understand the absolute necessity to get it right.
Cornwall Autism and Neurodevelopment (can) is a neuroaffirmative service and celebrates the brilliance of the neurodivergent people we meet. We follow National Institution for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, and the DSM5 criteria to determine whether a diagnosis is appropriate.
We are a multidisciplinary team consisting of highly experienced Psychiatrist, Paediatrician, Psychologist, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Mental Health Nurse, all of whom have years of experience diagnosing autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions within the NHS.
We are local so are well known by schools, NHS and local authority services in Cornwall, Devon and the Southwest, and so can signpost our clients to relevant support near to them, unlike large national online companies.
What we CAN offer:
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Self-Referral and Free Initial Screening
No professional endorsement is required; individuals, or parents can contact Cornwall Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) themselves and request free initial screening to ensure that an autism, ADHD, or broader neurodevelopmental assessment is appropriate. . -
Clear and Transparent Pricing Structure
We have an upfront pricing system as we understand the financial commitment involved in opting for a private ASD and neurodevelopmental assessment in Cornwall. Our screening process is completely free and then if we do proceed with assessment, you will only have one fee to pay with no hidden extras. -
Seen Quickly for a Face to Face Assessment
We are very aware of the long waiting times for ASD and other neurodevelopmental diagnosis within the NHS. By opting for a private autism, ADHD or neurodevelopmental assessment you will be seen quickly and at a time to suit you, usually within two months following screening. -
Links with Local Services and organisations
We are a well regarded, ethical assessment team. Our clinicians have worked in Cornwall and the South West for many years and have established links within the NHS, Education, Local Authorities, local charities and organisations. This ensures we are able to signpost to appropriate support and services relevant and near to you. -
Multidisciplinary Team of Highly Experienced Cinicians
We are a hugely experienced, multidisciplinary team of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Paediatrician and a Mental Health Nurse, all of whom have worked, or currently work for NHS teams including autism and neurodevelopmental assessment services. -
Fun and Friendly Assessments
We understand how daunting it is for children, families and individuals to engage in an assessment process; we therefore ensure that we talk you though every step and tailor the assessment to suit your, or your family's needs. The face to face assessment is fun and our clinicians are skilled at putting people at ease.
EXCELLENT Based on 32 reviews Natalie battelleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional and thorough service, made us feel very welcome, safe and heard. I would 100% recommend. Heather WorthTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent professional, responsive service from start to end. Highly recommend. Jess NichollsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve had such a positive experience with CAN. The initial screening forms are completely free to submit, and in much more detail than the NHS autism questionnaires. From submitting the pre-screening forms I only had to wait around 8 weeks for the assessment - 1 week later I was phoned with the outcome and not even a week after that I was sent a very in-depth report and letter to confirm a diagnosis. CAN have been so helpful, answering all of my questions and reading through the pages and pages of information I shared to aid my assessment. I had my assessment with Dr Fisher, she was so warm and welcoming and very understanding and patient that I was anxious. I really can’t recommend CAN enough, absolutely nothing to fault! Hannah VentressTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From my initial enquiry to my follow up call and the very end of the process the entire team were unbelievably friendly, kind, helpful and amazing! I felt supported throughout the whole process, no question was too big or small and was answered very quickly! The assessment was extremely throughout and my report was incredibly detailed! I honestly can’t praise them enough! 10/10 Angie LiversedgeTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team at CAN were phenomenal from my first point of contact with them and throughout the whole process of diagnosing my young adult daughter. They assessed my daughter with great sensitivity, insight and expertise and were thoughtful, thorough and reassuring with me when taking her developmental history. They stayed in contact throughout the process and were swift with her assessment, enabling her to begin her second at university with an autism diagnosis and therefore a better understanding of the difficulties she had been facing. The team very much celebrated my daughter as an individual and I’m grateful for their positivity and kindness and their excellent recommendations for support. Vicki Dramatherapy TruroTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As a parent and as a professional , I have really valued the expertise and kindness shown by the professional's at Cornwall Autism and Neurodevelopment team. As a parent , I was treated with respect and really listened too. My child was supported and has felt the experience of assessment to be a really positive one. Having a diagnosis of Autism for her has helped her feel understood. It is also very good that after the assessment and report is sent , parents are given a consultation to speak about the assessment and ask any questions instead of just being left to navigate the next step, the team have offered valuable suggestions and links to further knowledge and support. I would highly recommend this team. natalie blameyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cornwall Autism have been outstanding. Incredibly helpful and would recommend to any family looking for the help and understanding they need for their child. AliTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have had a very positive experience from start to finish. The team are professional and supportive throughout. We had concerns about our daughter engaging in the assessment process, but she was put at ease so well and engaged far better than we anticipated. Highly recommended, I wish we’d done it sooner! Thank you Bryan Mcnaught-boydTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience and very friendly staff Amy SapwellTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From the very first email sent to the final meeting and report our experience with Cornwall Autism was brilliant. The small team were quick to respond to queries and really efficient in their set up. The free ‘pre-assessment’ was very in-depth which gave us confidence going forward. Our son really enjoyed his assessment with Charlotte, who was welcoming and friendly and made him feel at ease. Our parent assessment with Mary didn’t miss a single thing - 13 years is a long period of time to cover but she had the patience and understanding to listen to it all and it took several hours. We have been given an in-depth report, and a load of resources. We also know we can reach out at any time if we need any help in the future. I cannot recommend them enough. Yes it is a lot of money to find and to part with in this current climate but believe me - it is worth it. Start to finish was about 2 months - WAY better than a 3 year wait!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
More very kind feedback can be found here
Who CAN are:
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Mary Hosken
HIGHLY SPECIALIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER, Company Director -
Catriona 'Oni' Law
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Company Director -
Dr Sanjida Sattar
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist -
Dr Jo Lewis
Consultant Community Paediatrician -
Dr Lucy Fisher
Practitioner Psychologist -
Jo Bryan Brown
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist -
Gemma Smith
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist -
Lisa White
Specialist Mental Health Nurse -
Kerensa Jones
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist -
Charlotte Rushton
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist -
Lisa Tobin
Specialist Occupational Therapist -
Jane Hosken
Occupational Therapist -
Sarah Jewell
Occupational Therapist
Our View on ASD Terminology
As a diagnostic service we use the term ‘autism spectrum disorder’, or ‘ASD’ in our reports and also on our website for two reasons:
- In order that people will discover our website when searching using a variety of terms including autism, autism spectrum disorder and ASD
- To ensure that our diagnostic conclusions are clearly aligned to the current diagnostic manual (DSM-5) and our reports are therefore recognised as valid by statutory agencies including health, social care and education.
We do not, however, view autism as a ‘disorder’ or something that needs to be fixed, but rather as a pattern of strengths and challenges which are shared by other people who also identify as autistic. Whilst there may be some similarities in terms of these patterns of strengths and difficulties, we recognise that each autistic individual is unique and has their own unique strengths and challenges. Our aim is to help others around each person to recognise their strengths and their huge potential to grow and achieve great things in their lives.