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 
• Adult 16 years and older with a diagnosis of an intellectual disability seeking diagnostic clarification for autism
• Adults 18 years and older seeking diagnostic clarification for autism. No co-occurring diagnosis is required 
  
   
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

Referrals can be made by Physicians or Nurse Practitioners. Please download the form and call your healthcare provider.

New referrals may be completed electronically or faxed to Access CAMH at 416 979-6815. Find both referral forms here.

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. Due to an increase in referrals our wait times can vary from 1 to 3 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, a 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 the early developmental period (0-5 years old). 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 person to involve an informant. An informant is someone who knew you in early childhood. Such as a caregiver, parent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, etc. to provide the developmental history. Developmental history can include information about developmental milestones, play interactions, school experience, and social interactions.  If no informant is available then we ask for the person to bring documentary evidence such as past assessments, school reports, etc. If no informant or past records are available and still a person 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:

For an easy read version of this section, click here.

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 and individual counselling for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.  ANS does not provide cognitive assessment for Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) eligibility. 

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 a referral is needed to access these groups. 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 Autistic adults (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: A Neurodivergent Exploration of Socialization: Meet-Ups is a curriculum-based and discussion-driven group for Autistic adults (without an intellectual disability) to explore the dynamics of social interactions and interpersonal relationships within a supportive environment. Each session introduces key topics related to socialization and includes opportunity for open dialogue where participants can share experiences, reflect on diverse perspectives, and consider strategies for navigating relationships in ways that feel authentic and meaningful. Clients will be screened for suitability for this group.  .

Fitness Group: This group supports Autistic adults (with or without intellectual disability) of all fitness levels with exploring and engaging in different forms of exercise to find what works best for them. From traditional body weight strength training to the free flow of movement through dance, participants spend 5 weeks trying out different forms of exercise with one goal: get the body moving. This group is designed so that participants can complete their exercises in smaller spaces and without expensive equipment, only their bodies and their motivation. Each participant is then offered a daily at-home movement routine based on their exercise preference to keep their body fit and healthy.  

Mind body heart club: This 12-week in-person group (with a two-week break) focuses on empowering participants to better understand their relationship with their body, health and sexuality. The group aims to support participants in making healthy choices, understand social norms, and setting boundaries in a healthy and safe way. The group also explores topics around understanding your own pleasure and intimate acts with self and others. Topics will also include sexual hygiene, safety online, and online dating.   

Mindfulness for Autistic Adults: Mindfulness for Autistic adults is an autism-informed approach to learning mindfulness, developed in collaborating with Autistic advisors. The program adapts mindfulness exercises for neurodivergent minds, making the practice accessible to Autistic meditators. This group provides an opportunity to help Autistic adults to learn mindful ways to cope with stress and how to focus on the present moment, by using a range of exercises introduced week by week. Exercises include paying attention in a specific way to our senses, sharpening our focus with a range of ways of paying attention to the breath and body, and learning to cultivate a sense of acceptance and compassion for ourselves. The program includes a workbook and there are guided meditation practices for daily use at home through the 6-weeks. 

I’m Autistic…now what?: This is a one-time workshop for newly diagnosed Autistic adults created and facilitated with Autistic self-advocates. Meet and hear from other Autistic adults. Topics include what is autism, myth busting about autism, neurodiversity and disability, disclosure of autism diagnosis to others, resource sharing, and discussion around new diagnosis experience. 

Caregiver Resource Group: This five-week virtual group offers caregivers the opportunity to learn more about disability resources and caregiver supports in the community. The Caregiver Resource Group hosts a wide variety of educational presentations by external guest speakers and by ANS clinicians (Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Behaviour Therapists). Caregivers will receive group consultative supports and guidance with resource navigation. This group provides caregivers with a safe and inclusive space to discuss topics such as burnout, self-care, and coping strategies. 

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. Contact DSO to see if the services provided are right for you. If registered with DSO, supports can be available for 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. A comprehensive collection of tools and resources for individuals, caregivers, health care professionals, researchers, and policymakers seeking information and support related to the health and health care of individuals with developmental disabilities in Canada. 

Connectability: Various resources for people with disabilities and their families.  

Additional resources to help people with disabilities and families go to medical appointments.

Resources for People with Developmental Disabilities

• The About My Health form was developed by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program at Surrey Place. Fill it out so you can share important information about yourself and your health with new health care providers. Having this information ready can help appointments run more smoothly.
• The My Health Care Visit form was developed by the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program at Surrey Place. This form can be filled out during a health care visit to help you understand what was discussed during the appointment and any information you will need to know for follow-up.

Resources for health care providers or staff supporting people with disabilities

Crisis Resources

9-8-8: https://988.ca
Free, 24/7. A suicide crisis helpline for people across Canada.
Call or text 9-8-8.

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto: https://www.dcogt.com/home-support
Free, 24/7, confidential helpline. If you are experiencing emotional distress or need help getting services in a crisis, call 416-408-4357. The website includes information about community services in Toronto and in Peel Region in an emergency, including clothing, drop-ins, housing and food.   

Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/urgent-help  
Free, 24/7, confidential, for people across Canada (not just for kids).
Call 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a professional counsellor or  
Text CONNECT to 686868 to speak with a voluenteer crisis responder or  
Go the link posted above to chat online with a volunteer crisis responder.  

Warm Line - Progress Place: http://www.warmline.ca/
Free and confidential. Not a crisis line. Provides a peer support worker to talk to if you are feeling anxious, lonely, isolated, depressed and in need of a friendly ear. Available 6pm-Midnight, 7 days a week. Call 416-960-9276. Text 647-557-5882. Visit the website to chat online during the available hours.

Peel Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST): https://cmhapeeldufferin.ca/programs-services/24-7-crisis-support-peel
24/7 support for mental health crisis in Peel and Dufferin regions.  
Call 905-278-9036 or 1-888-811-2222

Distress Centre Halton: https://www.dchalton.ca   
Available 24/7  
Burlington: 905-681-1488 
Halton Hills/Milton: 905-877-1211 
Hamilton: 905-561-5800 
Oakville: 905-849-4541 

**If there is an emergency call 9-1-1 or go to the closest hospital emergency department. If safety is at risk for anyone, call 9-1-1. When you call for help you can share some information to help the first responders, such as sharing any support or soothing strategies that are known to be helpful to the person in crisis**