Services
Assessment
Our goal is to schedule your child for a comprehensive evaluation within 30
days of your contacting our office. While this may sound like a long
time, we are aware that the major university-based programs are routinely
giving 12-15 month waiting list times to parents. We are the only
location in Georgia where you can obtain a psychological evaluation for
eligibility and diagnostic purposes from a licensed psychologist and a
comprehensive behavioral evaluation (FBA, ABLLS, etc.) from a board
certified person on staff. Our staff are trained in both traditional psychometric assessment procedures and
behavioral functional assessment techniques as specified under IDEA.
Which is why we founded the ASAP
evaluation program for Autism Spectrum Disorders to provide
comprehensive and integrated evaluations for children and adolescents
suspected of being in the Autism Spectrum.
In addition to our expertise providing psychological
and behavioral evaluations for ASDs, our consultants
have experience in both mental health and mental retardation assessment with in-patients
and out-patients, including forensic cases in schools, as out-patients, and in medical
centers. Dr. R. Montgomery also has extensive experience in performing Court ordered
forensic evaluations on school-age children and adolescents. He has also taught
courses on assessment and has supervised doctoral practica in clinical and behavioral
evaluation and assessment. Dr. C. Montgomery has experience and training in performing
neuropsychological assessments in both in-patient and out-patient settings.
Behavioral Assessments
The ABLLS (Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills) is a highly
sought after evaluation for children with suspected deficits in language,
social skills, and self-care skills. This behavioral assessment
reviews skills across 25 skill areas in great detail and when conducted by a
skilled and trained behavior analyst results in specific and detailed
recommendations for program and IEP goals. As previously noted, IDEA specifies that under certain circumstances schools are obligated
to perform a Functional Behavioral Assessment on target behaviors of special education
students. We have been
performing Functional Behavioral Assessments long enough that we doing them before the
term was coined! The essential components of such an assessment are direct
observation of the behaviors and an underlying expertise in the principles of applied
behavior analysis. Many of the initial steps in performing an FBA can be directed
by a knowledgeable professional using staff as the key data gatherers. It
has been our experience that some agencies are attempting to perform FBAs with personnel
who are unfamiliar with the process and underlying technology of applied behavior
analysis. While FBAs may appear simple, they are not and those untrained in the
technology are often unaware that they are not meeting the established professional
standards in this area.
In addition to offering ABLLS and Functional Behavioral Assessments on the needs of specific
individuals, we offer training and workshops to develop the skills
necessary for staff to implement the technology and meet current professional standards.
Traditional Psychometric Assessment
Your staff are equipped to address a wide array of assessment questions and
do so at a high professional standard on a routine basis for you and your
agency. However, with the increase in severe emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric profiles
routinely being seen it is becoming more common for traditionally
trained psychologists to ask for technical assistance with these very difficult
evaluations. Our staff includes traditionally trained clinical psychologists
with experience serving children and adolescents with severe clinical and behavioral
disorders. This training typically includes exposure to evaluations in medical,
school, and private practice settings. All evaluations are directed by a licensed
psychologist who has actively participated in the assessment process or performed all
assessments directly.
Forensic Evaluations
All too often today individuals with significant behavioral, clinical, or
developmental needs are involved with the Courts. There are times when
your agency may be a part of the forensic referral process. In those instances it is often
the case that the judge or hearing officer will request a formal assessment of the student
prior to a determination. Forensic evaluations are a potentially contentious area
where specific expertise is often a prerequisite to performing any evaluation that will
withstand the adversarial process of the Courts. Dr. R. Montgomery has performed
forensic assessments for use in Juvenile and Superior Courts on questions of capacity,
emotional and cognitive state, potential for harm to self or other, and future
treatment/school needs.
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