Children's Developmental Assessment Services

Children's Developmental Assessment Services (CDAS) provides family-centred, comprehensive developmental assessments for children/youth with a developmental disability or if an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis is suspected. Referrals to CDAS for children under 18, who live in the Niagara Region, can be initiated through Contact Niagara.  

The CDAS multi-disciplinary team includes a Developmental Pediatrician, Child Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychometrist, Occupational Therapist, and Autism Resource Consultant.

The group offers a variety of assessment options:

We will conduct a Multi-Disciplinary Full Team Assessment in coordination with the family and other community partners. A physician must support referrals.

We provide psychological assessments, which provide the following:

We will establish a comprehensive evaluation of their cognitive functioning.

We are looking at early developmental needs, specific cognitive deficits, and measures of adaptive behaviour.

We will support academic achievement.

We will assess behavioural and social-emotional development.

We provide Occupational Therapy Assessments, which may assist in understanding motor, perceptual, sensory, and visual difficulties. These assessments can provide strategies to foster self-help, play, and communication, social and coping skills.

How are these services accessed? 

Bethesda staff can initiate referrals through Contact Niagara.