An FCA for an autistic adult or an adult with ADHD examines that person's activities and support needs. The diagnosis provides relevant background, but it does not tell the assessor how every activity is managed.
The assessment should allow for individual differences in communication, routines, sensory demands and the assistance already in place. Not every topic will be relevant to every person.
What might the assessment examine?
Depending on the purpose, questions may concern starting and organising tasks, managing appointments, preparing food, communicating in unfamiliar settings or taking part in work and community activities.
The assessor needs to ask what happens rather than work from a list of presumed traits. A difficulty may depend on the task, the environment, other health conditions or the support available.
For example, someone may manage a familiar routine with written prompts but have difficulty when the sequence changes. The prompts and the familiar setting are part of the explanation, not reasons to omit the activity from the assessment.
Explain support and effort where relevant
An activity may be completed with help that is not apparent during an interview. A partner may organise a schedule, or a person may use a carefully established system. Describe those arrangements and whether they are working.
Some people also need to explain fatigue or recovery after an activity. Include that when it reflects the person's experience. It should not be assumed solely because the person is autistic or has ADHD.
Likewise, comfortable conversation in one appointment does not establish communication or participation across every setting. The report needs to describe the limits of what was observed.
Make the process accessible
Tell Seeds about the communication approach and appointment arrangements that work for you. Written notes, processing time or help from a chosen support person may be relevant. Availability and any effect on the assessment scope need to be discussed before booking.
You do not need to abandon useful strategies or deliberately attempt an overwhelming task to demonstrate difficulty. The assessment can examine how a strategy works and what support remains necessary.
Questionnaires should be used according to their instructions. They are one source of information, not a test with an answer that guarantees eligibility.
Diagnosis and the NDIS
This FCA service does not diagnose autism or ADHD. It may use existing diagnostic and treating information alongside evidence about daily activities.
A diagnosis alone does not decide whether someone meets NDIS access requirements. The relevant impairment, its effects and the other eligibility requirements must be considered. Conversely, a diagnosis label should not be used on its own to dismiss the person's account of functioning.
Before commissioning a report, identify the evidence question. An FCA is useful when it can answer that question; it should not be sold as a guaranteed route from diagnosis to funding.