Neurodiversity-Affirming
Autism Diagnostic Interview (NAADI)
FRAMEWORK:
The Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Diagnostic Interview (NAADI)
is built upon a comprehensive framework that integrates key elements from the
MIGDAS-2, ADOS-2, ADI-R, and DSM-5-TR.
For use by: Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Paediatricians, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Speech Language Pathologists, and other qualified health professionals with existing competency in Autism assessment.
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Clinical Context
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The Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Diagnostic Interview (NAADI) is a semi-structured interview developed by psychologist Kathleen Cleland. Grounded in lived experience and clinical expertise, it informs comprehensive autism diagnostic assessment through a narrative-based, trauma-informed, sensory-first approach. While inspired by the structure of the MIGDAS-2 framework, the NAADI has been independently conceptualised, developed, and iteratively refined through extensive clinical use and interdisciplinary feedback.
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The development of the NAADI has been informed by feedback and insights gathered from over 300 formal autism assessments. This feedback, provided by multiple clinicians, evaluated the tool's alignment with validated psychometric instruments and structured clinical judgment in accordance with DSM-5-TR criteria. The multi-method, multi-clinician approach ensures diagnostic rigor, consistency, and clinical reliability
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The NAADI supports the collection of rich, narrative data aligned with DSM-5-TR criteria while affirming neurodivergent identities and minimising bias through its sensory-first and trauma-informed structure. It demonstrates strong face, content, and construct validity in applied clinical settings, with clear convergence between qualitative interview findings and quantitative outcomes.
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While not yet subject to formal academic publication, validation efforts are active and ongoing through structured clinical implementation, internal data analysis, and interdisciplinary review. The interview is freely shared with clinicians on the understanding that feedback on its use contributes to ongoing refinement. Users are encouraged to share feedback and clinical insights to inform continued development. Access to the most current version, along with details on how to provide input, is available by clicking on the button below.
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The NAADI demonstrates strong clinical utility within a multi-method, neurodiversity-affirming framework and offers a robust alternative to traditional structured observation tools. It reflects emerging best practices in affirming autism assessment, grounded in extensive applied evidence.
Update 06/08/2025
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To ensure clarity and ethical transparency, the description of the NAADI tool's development has been updated.
Feedback indicated that the previous wording was potentially ambiguous, so it has been revised to reflect that the tool was refined using clinician insights and professional feedback, not direct client data.
This update clarifies that client privacy has always been, and will remain, a core priority of this tool's development.
Copyright Statement
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© Kathleen Cleland, 2025.
The Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Diagnostic Interview (NAADI) is the original intellectual property of Kathleen Cleland and is protected by copyright. While inspired by the sensory-first, narrative-based structure of the MIGDAS-2 framework, it has been independently conceptualised, developed, and iteratively refined, using neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed principles for use in clinical autism assessment.
This tool may be used and adapted by qualified clinicians within their own clinical practice, provided that authorship is clearly acknowledged. Redistribution, publication, or incorporation into other published materials or training programs requires written permission from the author.