Our Approach

At Self-EDvocate, we take an empowerment approach to our psycho-educational assessment services.  First, we investigate our client’s learning differences. Then, we educate our clients and their parents on how their brain learns best. We also offer a follow-up session to help our clients self-advocate for their unique learning needs and help parents provide learning support in partnership with the school team.‍ ‍

We encourage our young adult clients to attend the educate and advocate sessions with a close family member. A knowledgeable support network helps foster your potential in school and in life.

What is a psycho-educational assessment?

A comprehensive assessment of strengths and challenges in areas of cognitive ability, academic skills, and social-emotional development.

Our Process

  • A young girl with blonde hair in braids, wearing a pink shirt, sitting at a desk and using a computer keyboard and mouse.

    Investigate

    We complete a detailed assessment that involves:

    - File Review: Thorough review of school, developmental, and medical history

    - Interviews and Surveys: Conducted with our client, parents, and teachers

    - One-on-one Work: 2 to 4 in-person client sessions up to half a day each

    - Direct Observations: Observing behaviours and responses during the assessment

    We analyze information from the following areas:

    - Academics

    - Cognition

    - Social-Emotional wellbeing

    - Behaviour

    We can then determine whether the results indicate:

    - Learning Disorder

    - Intellectual Disorder

    - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    - Gifted

  • A person sitting at a wooden desk using a ruler to draw on a white notepad, wearing a red knitted hat and a black wristwatch, with a Dr. Seuss book and a smartphone charging on the side.

    Educate

    We review the results with our clients and parents, to support understanding of the diagnosis, learning strengths, and challenges.

    We share evidence-based recommendations and services based on the results.

    Clients and parents may invite a teacher to review the results and recommendations with us.

    Young adult clients are encouraged to invite a close family member to the educate session.

  • A man in a green Polo shirt assisting two women who are working on computers in an office setting.

    Advocate

    As part of our service, we offer a follow-up virtual consult 4 weeks after receiving the report, where we might cover any of the following:

    - Individualized Education Plans, and ways to partner with the school to develop, implement, and monitor success of the plan.

    - Transition planning for high school or graduation, and ways to partner with the school to support a smooth transition.

    - Strategies to help our high school and young adult clients to self-advocate for their learning needs.

Hybrid Structure

We combine virtual and in-person components to reduce the stress of commuting for families.

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  • We have a flexible virtual schedule that begins with a 60min virtual parent interview.

    After completion of the assessment, we schedule a virtual feedback session to explain the results and provide a roadmap for next steps in supporting your child.

    Parent and teacher surveys are completed virtually at your own pace on your own time to obtain deeper insight.

  • We work one on one with our client for 2 to 3 sessions up to half a day each, depending on the client’s age, needs, and nature of the tasks.

    We review the report and recommendations in our 60min Educate session, which may be scheduled after school hours so that our clients may participate (as appropriate) together with their parents/guardians.

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