Overview

The Developmental Disorders Clinic is a joint venture of The Commonwealth Autism Service and the Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia. The clinic is designed to provide direct service to children and their families, and to offer a training experience for students and practitioners.

Services Provided

The clinic provides a comprehensive diagnostic assessment service for young children (age six years or younger) for whom a diagnosis of autism or another Pervasive Developmental Disorder is suspected. The standards of practice followed in the clinic include a commitment to providing, along with a diagnosis:

• a rationale for the diagnosis,
• a discussion of the implications of the child's strengths and challenges
• a set of treatment and education recommendations, and
• follow-up to support the implementation of the recommendations.

The clinic includes the parents of the patients as full partners in the assessment team. Community-based practitioners who are involved in the education or treatment of the patients are welcomed as members of the assessment team, at the invitation of patients' parents.

Multidisciplinary Team

The Developmental Disorders Assessment Clinic is comprised of a multidisciplinary team. The team includes a/an:

• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Educational Consultant
• Speech Therapist
• Occupational Therapist

For More Information Contact

Donald Oswald, Ph.D.
Director, Developmental Disorders Clinic
Virginia Treatment Center for Children
515 North 10th Street
P.O. Box 980489
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0489
Tel: 804. 828. 9900
Email to:doswald@vcu.edu