Making Assessments Accessible for those with ADHD, Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Difficulties & Other Additional Needs: Using MALD®
I am pleased to be one of the first people in Ireland to be working with this assessment framework and process in 2026:
Introduction
MALD® is a leading, recognised national specialist assessment model, widely used in court proceedings. It uses existing assessment frameworks which are adapted and augmented to suit the needs of parents/guardians with vulnerable adults i.e. those with Learning Difficulties, Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, ADHD, Mental Health Issues. It is designed to overcome these challanges, which may make it difficult for parents to access traditional assessments, so that every parents has the best chance of a fair assessment.
MALD® uses additional visual aids, prompts and obervational tools so that parents can fully partake in the process at a level which suits them.
Background
All MALD® visual aids and tools have been devised by leading Expert Witnesses, having worked with tens of thousands of vulnerable families throughout the UK, and having completed training in other specialist assessment models.
It does not rely on completion of work booklets or marking / scoring criteria – a specialist assessment should not be an exam or test for a parent! Outcome tables and reports should not be busy or unclear.
The Course Founders and Leading Expert Witnesses (Danielle Hoskinson & Nichola Doyle) have received several commendations from Judges and Court Parties in the UK, where the tool is used to date.
This is a link to a parent's information video
Next Steps
The assessment takes around eight visits over a period of two months. This can also include time spent observing a parent with their child/ren.
It used a strengths based approach by talking about what a parent does welll it also identified areas for development, skills training, support or guidance.
MALD® is more comprehensive – it is the only framework designed from the start for parents who have a learning disability, difficulty, vulnerability, or who are neurodivergent.
To discuss or commission a MALD® Parenting Capacity Assessment just make contact with me via this website, call 083 3721313 or email steven@futuredirections.ie to start the process.