Who is the training for?   

• Psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, speech and language therapists and other professionals working in mental health and forensic areas of clinical practice
• A minimum of three years post qualification experience is essential
• A wide knowledge and experience of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

 
What does the training involve?

The DISCO training is delivered face to face only. It involves:

• attending 4 days of training over 2 stages (2 consecutive days per stage).
• pre-reading: prior to attending stage 1, participants are sent the DISCO manual which they must familiarise themselves with (before attending).
• on the day participants will receive a training handbook which sets out the accreditation standards.
• interim coursework: this involves undertaking a The DISCO assessment and preparing a case study report in between stages 1 and 2. This may require booking study leave to undertake the assessment and write up the case study. The case study will be evaluated as part of the accreditation process. Completion of this case study is mandatory before returning for stage 2.
• structured practice in groups at stage 1 and 2. This involves conducting a clinical interview using The DISCO and is a key component of the training (days 2 and 3 of training).

About The DISCO

The DISCO was developed for use at the National Diagnostic and Assessment Service, by Dr Lorna Wing and Dr Judith Gould, as both a clinical and a research instrument for use with children and adults of any age. The advantage of using the DISCO is that it is not just an assessment of different neurodiverse conditions but provides a profile of an individual’s strengths and needs. This is key to helping the person being assessed to be supported in their life situations. An assessment using the DISCO provides a lifelong plan for the individual rather than just a clinical diagnosis.

The revised DISCO 12 not only covers assessment of individuals who have more obvious difficulties but those who are more subtle and often more complex in their clinical presentation.

Find out more. 
 

Why use The DISCO?

• Supports clinical formulation and is recognised by NICE guidelines
• Assists with differential diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions
• Assesses complex case presentations
• Can be adapted for different clinical settings
• Provides an individual profile of autism and helps identify needs.

Please send the DISCO application form to conference.andevents@nas.org.uk

If you are an accredited DISCO user looking for an update course – please find further information here.