Clinical Services Overview

The HANDLE Institute offers two unique assessments.

Screening

HANDLE Screening is a brief version of the HANDLE Evaluation and is designed for those 5 years old and older with mild learning and/or behavioral challenges. A HANDLE Screening is administered by a certified HANDLE Screener, and is ideal for evaluating an individual or group in a short time.

HANDLE Screenings:

• Assess how a person interacts with his/her environment
• Identify general areas of neurodevelopmental weakness
• Identify how areas of weakness influence the person’s ability to cope with the demands of the environment
• Identify how areas of weakness impact daily functions, learning, and behavior

Post-screening recommendations will:

• Include HANDLE activities designed to create readiness for neurological systems to mature
• Guide the person to adapt his or her physical surroundings to reduce stress and to meet his or her needs
• Ease tasks through approaches that compensate for the individual's unique challenges
• Include additional attention and/or therapeutic measures, if needed, including a full HANDLE Evaluation

Evaluation

The HANDLE Assessment is an in-depth evaluation administer by a HANDLE Practitioner that uses a series of tasks to help determine how the body/brain system of an individual processes and organizes information. This assessment is appropriate for people of all ages with mild to severe neurological and behavioral challenges.

HANDLE Assessments:

• Evaluate each system more comprehensively than a Screening does
• Thoroughly evaluate how a person interacts with his or her environment
• Identify how areas of weakness influence the person's ability to cope with every day demands
• Identify how areas of weakness impact daily function, learning, and behavior
• Attempt to indentify root causes of neurodevelopmental differences
• Observe the degree to which the vestibular system (part of the inner ear) interacts with and supports other systems
• Look deeply into how an irregularity within an individual system impacts other systems

Post-assessment recommendations will include:

• A visual map (neurodevelopmental profile) that identifies specific findings but also illuminates the dynamic interaction between systems that explain individual functional concerns
• A program of HANDLE activities adapted to address the unique developmental profile of each individual 
• Recommendations for protecting vulnerable systems while gently enhancing functionality
• Possible environmental recommendations
• Possible nutritional recommendations
• Possible recommendations for complementary therapies