Business Details
Expert Psychological Assessments for Children & Youth in Kelowna
Okanagan Ability Centre is a private facility dedicated to providing comprehensive psychological assessment and diagnostic services for children and youth. Our team of doctoral and master's level psychologists and consultants specializes in evaluating developmental delays, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and social-emotional or behavioral difficulties. We collaborate with family physicians, pediatricians, psychiatrists, school personnel, and government ministries to deliver tailored intervention strategies that improve functioning across multiple domains. Our assessments are designed to identify specific challenges and provide actionable recommendations for educational and community support.We maintain registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC, ensuring adherence to the highest professional standards. With a focus on timely diagnostic results and coordinated care, we offer specialized assessment services in a single setting, including both private evaluations and assessments for Interior Health. Our expertise extends to adaptive functioning assessments for CLBC eligibility determination and remote psychoeducational assessments for BC residents aged 6+. Through evidence-based practices and a commitment to accessibility, we strive to empower families with clear diagnostic insights and practical solutions.
Services
Psychoeducational Assessment
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments
Social-Emotional Assessment
Developmental Assessments
Adaptive Functioning Assessment
CLBC Eligibility Evaluations
Remote Assessments
ADHD Diagnostics
Learning Disability Evaluation
Giftedness Identification
Highlights and features
- We specialize in comprehensive psychological assessments for children and youth
- Our team includes doctoral and master's level registered psychologists
- We coordinate care with healthcare providers and educational institutions
- We offer specialized assessments for CLBC eligibility determination
- Our services include remote psychoeducational evaluations for BC residents
Services
Psychoeducational Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of cognitive development and academic achievement for children aged 6+. Includes ADHD diagnostic measures and tailored recommendations for educational interventions. Utilizes standardized testing to identify learning disabilities and giftedness indicators while providing actionable strategies for school success.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessments
Diagnostic assessments following provincial standards for autism spectrum disorder. Available for ages 2+ with integrated social-emotional measures. Includes developmental evaluations for younger children and comprehensive reporting for accessing community support services through CLBC and other agencies.
Social-Emotional Assessment
Specialized assessment addressing social, emotional, and behavioral functioning across age groups. Combines developmental measures for younger children with psychoeducational components for older youth. Identifies adjustment difficulties and provides intervention strategies for managing life challenges and improving emotional regulation.
Adaptive Functioning Assessment
Cognitive and adaptive skills evaluation for Community Living BC eligibility determination. Available with or without IQ measures to assess intellectual disability indicators. Provides documentation required for accessing adult support services while maintaining provincial assessment standards.
Remote Assessments
Secure online psychoeducational assessments for BC residents aged 6+. Maintains diagnostic accuracy through adapted digital testing protocols. Includes remote administration of standardized measures for ADHD and learning disabilities while ensuring compliance with professional practice guidelines for telehealth services.
Questions
Do I need a doctor's referral for an assessment?
While referrals from healthcare providers are common, we accept direct requests for private assessments. Contact our office for specific requirements.
How long does the assessment process take?
Most assessments require 2-3 testing sessions with report preparation taking 2-4 weeks. Wait times vary for ASD evaluations.
Will my insurance cover assessment costs?
Many extended health plans cover psychological services. Check with your provider regarding coverage for registered psychologists' services.
What payment options are available?
We require a deposit with booking. Full payment is due before report release. Contact us for specific payment arrangements.
Do you offer assessments for adults?
We specialize in children and youth assessments. Adults seeking ASD or mental health evaluations should consult their family physician.
Reviews (2)
Matt McFadden
Jan 26, 2021
Report
Regarding adult assessment:
OAC made all kinds of promises and were eager to take my money to conduct an adult assessment (which is incredibly difficult to achieve in BC). Waited four months due to my own busy schedule. This assessment is very important to me. Last week, after shelling out two thousand dollars, I merely asked what the expect on the day of assessment (which was supposed to be yesterday), how we were going to conduct the remote assessment, etc.; psychologist barraged me with texts and phone calls accusing me of "misunderstanding" what the assessment was for while telling me to
OAC made all kinds of promises and were eager to take my money to conduct an adult assessment (which is incredibly difficult to achieve in BC). Waited four months due to my own busy schedule. This assessment is very important to me. Last week, after shelling out two thousand dollars, I merely asked what the expect on the day of assessment (which was supposed to be yesterday), how we were going to conduct the remote assessment, etc.; psychologist barraged me with texts and phone calls accusing me of "misunderstanding" what the assessment was for while telling me to
Micheline Wiebe
Jun 26, 2018
Report
Dr Welder and staff were very patient, empathetic, genuine, and thorough. We felt supported and heard when our son was undergoing his assessment process. He was born with Down Syndrome and we have much experience with services similar to OAC. I feel confident in saying that our experience was excellent. I have never seen such a detailed and relevant report with recommendations that are clear and actionable. Thank you Dr Welder!
