We offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental diagnostic service for adults and children who may benefit from an Autism or ADHD assessment. We have offices in Bath Street in Glasgow and Harley Street in London and locations in Edinburgh city centre. We also offer fully remote assessments for those are unable to attend in person.
Who we are
We are a multidisciplinary team of experts with decades of experience in working with people with Autism and ADHD. We provide a professional, confidential service. Our service is led by Consultant Psychiatrists, and includes Clinical Psychologists, Autism Specialist Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Autism and ADHD Assessors, Speech and Language Therapists, and our Service Manager.
What we do
Our team are qualified, fully trained and are experienced in utilising a range of Gold Standard Diagnostic Tools, such as the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R), Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA- 5), Young Diagnostic Interview for children aged 5- 17 (Young DIVA -5), ADHD Child Evaluation (ACE and ACE+v2).
Meet the team
Saduf Riaz
Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Autism and ADHD Diagnostic Centre. MBChB MRCPsych MBA
I have been working in Mental Health for over 22 years, having graduated from the University of Glasgow with bachelors in Medicine as well as Surgery, and completing my Pre-Registration House Officer year. Helping others, often at their time of most need, has been the greatest honour of my life and I was always naturally drawn to the sciences. I was particularly fascinated by and developed a passion for learning about the brain, mental health conditions and their treatment very early in my career.
Following completing my professional examinations and gaining the Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, I specialised in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, having grown fond of working with the patients as well as being part of as well as providing clinical leadership to a multi-agency team. I have worked with countless neurodiverse individuals over the years in a variety of settings including the community, in-patient settings, secure settings and have vast experience in assessing, caring for and managing the most complex of presentations, with co-morbid mental and physical disorders, including genetic conditions, as well as distress behaviour.
On pursuing my interests further, I trained in Forensic Psychiatry and I have looked after neurodiverse individuals on behalf of the Scottish Ministers as well as regional Low Secure Services. I am also an expert witness and regularly appear at Tribunals as well as at Courts.
My passion for learning led to completing a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Strathclyde and I have over a decade of experience working in Neuropsychiatry as well as work in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
I supervised junior and senior medical staff as well as acting consultants, taught medical students at the University of Glasgow and have been an examiner for medical students at the University of Glasgow as well as the University of Edinburgh. In addition to publishing some of my work, I presented at national and international conferences.
Most of all, I thoroughly relish aiding patients with their mental health needs and it remains a passion of mine to help as many people as I can with the challenges that they might face, to understand who they are or what they could potentially be suffering from, in order to aide them in their journey to recovery, using the best evidence-based interventions, so that they can live their happiest, healthiest and most fulfilling lives.
Hear more from Saduf here.
Margaret Serrels
Service Manager, Autism and ADHD Diagnostic Centre, RMN, RNLD, BSc (Hons)
I am the Service Manager here at the Autism & ADHD Diagnostic Centre. With over thirty years of experience working in mental health and learning disability services, I have held various clinical and managerial roles.
Throughout my professional career I has been at the forefront of change as both a clinician and a senior manager, and have been influential in the development of significant service change across both mental health and learning disability services at both local and national level.
My professional interests focus on neurodevelopmental conditions and tackling health inequalities across vulnerable care groups.
Hear more from Margaret here.
Khalid Nawab
Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Autism and ADHD Diagnostic Centre
I completed my psychiatric training in the Republic of Ireland and joined the NHS in 2002. I have been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities in the NHS since 2009. I’ve also worked as a Clinical Director in Adult Mental Health in the NHS for 12 years, and I am currently the Clinical Lead for the Learning Disability Service in the NHS.
Over the years I’ve worked with a number of people with Autism and ADHD and have developed expertise in these conditions. I am trained in Gold Standard Diagnostic Tools (ADIR and ADOS) for Autism and have also completed assessment training on ADHD provided by UKAAN.
I am a director of the Autism and ADHD Diagnostic Centre which aims to provide a high quality assessment service for individuals who may be living with Autism or ADHD.
Hear more from Khalid here.
Yvonne Samson
Neurodevelopmental Clinician, RNLD, RNA, BSc Professional Health Studies
As a registered nurse for over 25 years, I have gained experience in differing settings but predominantly within the learning disability sector. Having many years’ experiences in the Learning Disability Sector and in a world that is ever changing where we all face unpredictability at times, I was interested to find out how this felt for a person with a diagnosis of Autism. Employed in my ever-diverse role my passion and interest took over and I developed further learning in the process of Autism diagnosis and post diagnostic supports. This has also enabled me on a personal level, supporting my own family members with autism.
Initial mentorship and career development steered my focus on autism diagnosis to adults where diagnosis had never been made and who were often referred to adult services for other health reasons. I realised how important a diagnosis is for the person who may well be experiencing difficulties in day-to-day living. I enjoy listening, supporting and helping others to understand how a diagnosis can support and help someone to achieve all that they can be.
Hear more from Yvonne here.
Andy Fleming
Neurodevelopmental Clinician, RMN, RNLD, Specialist Practitioner in Adult Nursing
After qualifying as a mental health nurse in 1988, following a short period working within an adult inpatient service I then went on to complete my adult learning disability training.
In 2006 I was appointed to the role of specialist autism nurse practitioner where I was tasked with developing an adult autism service, this included developing the diagnostic assessment service, providing autism assessment and support plans based on the person’s individual autism profile. I also provided staff training and support to families and carers. I chaired our local autism clinical development group, which had representations from all of the multi-disciplinary team.
I undertook a post graduate diploma in autism studies at Strathclyde university. I retired from the NHS in 2021 after 37 years and then came to work at ADC. I’m particularly interested in the different female presentation in autism, there is long history of lower rates of dx in females compared to males, where woman may be misdiagnosed or not receive a diagnosis until later in life. Women with autism may appear to have fewer social difficulties than men but this could be due them masking or camouflaging those difficulties.
Hear more from Andy here.
Fiona Ramsay
Neurodevelopmental Clinician, Dip COT
I am a Specialist Occupational Therapist that has worked in the field of Learning Disability since qualifying 33 years ago.
During my working life, I have become interested in supporting individuals who, in addition to their learning disability, have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or perhaps present with ASD traits. I have studied the theory and practice of using a Sensory Processing approach to assess and identify possible underlying sensory issues that individuals with a neurodevelopmental condition may present with. As an Occupational Therapist, to be able to recognise and consider sensory processing difficulties, can help to explain the possible functional difficulties that an individual with a neurodevelopmental condition may encounter on a day-to-day basis, with such things as personal care right through to being able to organise self for work.
My interest in working with individuals with neurodivergence had allowed me to be part of an ASD Development group within my previous employment. I am trained and experienced in both the use of ADI-R and ADOS assessment tools.
I have worked with the Autism Diagnostic Centre since 2021 I am passionate in supporting individuals to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
I am keen to share my knowledge, skills and experience and am equally keen to continue to learn from others, in an attempt to support individuals, prior to, during and following a neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
Hear more from Fiona here.
Mary Lynas
Neurodevelopmental Clinician, BSc Hons Occupational Therapy.
As a qualified therapist for over 15 years, my experience pre and post qualification has been in the learning disability speciality, spending 23 years prior to qualification in various job roles within an inpatient and community setting.
During this time, I have been interested in autism and its varying presentations. This led to opportunities for further learning in the assessment of autism, diagnosis and post diagnostic supports in adult and early years. When diagnosis is made in adult years it can be life changing as it is likely they have been experiencing daily challenges from early years, when engaging in the world around them and it often leads to a better understanding of self.
My aim now is that in the provision of assessment here at ADC, individuals will understand how a diagnosis can support and assist them to engage positively in their life.
Hear more from Mary here.
Meet our admin staff
Karen Rawling
Office Manager
Kirsty Carrick
Senior Administrator
Ryleigh Sandrey
Office Administrator
Making a referral is easy.
If you think that you or someone you know would benefit from an Autism or ADHD assessment with a member of our team, make a referral via our form.