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The CIDD offers outpatient services to individuals of all ages who have or are suspected of having a developmental disability. Our clinic provides specialized evaluation services to assist with understanding an individual’s developmental profile, strengths, and areas of need, and/or to assist with clarifying diagnoses related to neurodevelopmental conditions. In addition, consultation services assist with identifying tailored treatment and support recommendations to help address developmental, behavioral health, or other care planning needs. The CIDD also offers some group-based intervention services on a rolling basis.

Learn more about our clinic teams below.

The Adult Autism Assessment Clinic offers diagnostic evaluations for adults. Often this clinic focuses on evaluating autism in individuals who have struggled to succeed in school, vocationally, and socially. Many referred persons have been misidentified as having psychiatric diagnoses and/or have unidentified co-occurring autism spectrum disorder. Evaluations include consultation and treatment planning assistance, which for young adults, may include help with transition planning from school-based services to adult educational, vocational, and/or community-based services.
The Angelman Syndrome Clinic serves individuals with Angelman syndrome (AS) and their families from across the country. This team brings together multiple specialists into one setting to address the complex medical, developmental, and educational needs of individuals with AS. Depending on specific questions or needs, patients and their families have access to providers from disciplines such as Genetic Counseling, Genetics and Metabolism, Neurology, Occupational Therapy, Pediatrics, Physical Therapy, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, and/or Speech-Language Pathology. This clinic is offered once monthly, and generally a family is scheduled to see most, if not all, of the team clinicians based on their concerns during a “one-stop shop” full day appointment. Following the appointment, our team provides families with a comprehensive report including testing results, impressions, and recommendations. If families wish and consent, the team will communicate directly with primary care physicians and other health professionals in the client’s medical home to provide direct consultation. Additional referrals to other specialists within the UNC Health system are also possible. In addition, follow-up appointments can be made with AS Clinic team providers as needed.

To learn more about Angelman syndrome, please visit the following websites:

To make an appointment with the Angelman Syndrome Clinic team:

  • Complete the secure Angelman/Dup15 Intake Form online
  • Or, download and complete this form and provide a copy of genetic testing confirming diagnosis of Angelman syndrome. Send questionnaire and genetic testing report to:

Fax: 919-966-2230
(Attn: Margaret DeRamus, CIDD Angelman Syndrome Clinic)

Mail: Margaret DeRamus, CIDD Angelman Syndrome Clinic
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #7255
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7255

Email: angelman@cidd.unc.edu

The UNC Angelman Syndrome Clinic is a member of the LADDER Learning Network. Linking Angelman and Dup15q Data for Expanded Research (LADDER) is a database platform that links data on individuals with Angelman or Dup15q syndromes collected from multiple sources, such as research studies, registries, caregiver reports, and clinic visits.

For information related to Angelman syndrome research opportunities, including clinical trials and the AS Natural History Study, visit the CT and AS Studies page.

The Behavioral Medicine Clinic is an interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment service for children, adolescents, and adults with underlying neurodevelopmental disabilities co-occurring with complex behavioral and/or psychiatric challenges. The evaluation and treatment team includes a psychologist and a physician trained in both pediatrics and psychiatry. Common referral concerns include assistance with self-injurious behaviors, disabling ritualistic behaviors, difficulties surrounding obsessive/narrow areas of interest, anxiety, depression, PICA, and explosive/aggressive behaviors. Evaluation services are problem focused. Diagnostic clarification of the underlying developmental disability is not the area of focus in this clinic. Intervention services can include but would not be limited to development of a detailed behavioral management plan, psychopharmacologic consultation, and collaborative institution of all recommendations with the family and community providers as appropriate. Consultation with the patient/family will vary from one visit to a longer period of co-management with the family and/or community provider as appropriate.
The Duplication 15q (Dup15q) Syndrome Clinic brings together multiple specialists into one setting to address the complex medical and psycho-educational needs of individuals with Dup15q syndrome. Depending on their specific questions and concerns, clients and their families may meet with specialists from disciplines such as Pediatrics, Genetics and Metabolism, Genetic Counseling, Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and/or Social Work. The Dup15q Syndrome Clinic occurs once a month, and generally one or two families participate in a “one-stop shop” full day appointment with the clinic team, meeting with each specialist to discuss relevant concerns. Following the appointment, our team provides families with a comprehensive report, including testing results, impressions, and recommendations. If the families wish and consent, the team will communicate directly with primary care physicians and other health professionals in the client’s medical home to provide direct consultation. Additional referrals to other specialists within the UNC Health system are also possible. In addition, follow-up appointments can be made on an as needed basis with certain clinicians.

To learn more about Dup15q syndrome, visit the Dup15q Alliance website.

To make an appointment with the Dup15q Syndrome Clinic team:

Fax: 919-966-2230
(Attn: Margaret DeRamus, CIDD Dup15q Syndrome Clinic)

Mail: Margaret DeRamus, CIDD Dup15q Syndrome Clinic
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box #7255
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7255

Email: dup15q@cidd.unc.edu

The UNC Dup15q Syndrome Clinic is a member of the LADDER Learning Network. Linking Angelman and Dup15q Data for Expanded Research (LADDER) is a database platform that links data on individuals with Angelman or Dup15q syndromes collected from multiple sources, such as research studies, registries, caregiver reports, and clinic visits.

For information related to Dup15q syndrome research opportunities, including clinical trials, visit the CT and AS Studies page.

The Early Childhood Clinic offers diagnostic and developmental evaluations for children up to 5 years of age who may show signs of an underlying developmental disability condition. Typical referrals to this clinic include requests for screening and assessment of possible autism symptoms, comprehensive developmental assessment, and assistance with treatment and resource planning. Common developmental concerns that prompt referrals to this clinic include speech/language delays, atypical speech patterns, differences in social interactions with caregivers and/or peers, behavioral concerns, fixated or unusual interests, difficulties coping with changes, sensory processing abnormalities, and/or repetitive behaviors. The team may include input from a Psychologist and Speech/Language Pathologist, as well as graduate students from each of these disciplines. Professionals from other disciplines may be included as needed.
The Hearing and Development Clinic offers interdisciplinary evaluations for individuals of all ages who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing in combination with developmental concerns. The primary purpose of the clinic is to better understand an individual’s global developmental profile, identify potential underlying neurodevelopmental conditions, and provide relevant recommendations for treatment. Typical referral concerns include speech, language, or learning difficulties, concerns regarding developmental delays, and/or suspicion of possible autism symptoms. The team may include clinicians such as an Audiologist, Learning Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Speech-Language Pathologist, and/or providers from other disciplines based on needs.
While major public policies and societal attitudes toward individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities have evolved, perceptions toward sexuality have lagged behind. The Let’s Talk Sexual Health Education Group is a psychoeducational series which aims to provide accurate and developmentally appropriate information about sexuality development across the lifespan and to empower youth participants to make good decisions and practice healthy behaviors related to personal relationships and their bodies. Group sessions generally last six to eight weeks. Sessions with youth and teens include a trusted parent or caregiver; sessions with adults include a trusted family member, friend, or other trusted adult. For youth and teen groups, included are weekly “family-focused” segments that provide opportunity for interactive family activities designed to explore and clarify family values and to strengthen communication about sexuality. Through this unique family-system approach, we hope to support positive continuous sexuality education in the home through information, strategies, and resources.
The Neurodevelopmental Neurology Clinic is an evaluation and treatment service for children, adolescents, and young adults from birth to 26 years of age with developmental disabilities and co-occurring neurological conditions. Common referral concerns include seizures/epilepsy, headache and other pain disorders, sleep problems, issues affecting tone and coordination, concussion and other brain injury, and tic disorders. Our neurologists can provide neurologic and developmental evaluations, pharmacological consultations, and ongoing management of the above conditions and more. Additional services include healthcare transition counseling for adolescents.
The Neurogenetics Clinic is an interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation team that provides services to individuals who have documented genetic diagnoses associated with developmental disability (e.g., Fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, 22q11 deletion syndrome, and others). Typical referrals for this team include requests for comprehensive developmental assessment, diagnostic evaluation when there is suspicion of a possible co-occurring neurodevelopmental condition (such as autism), and consultation related to treatment, educational recommendations, and support planning. Clinician disciplines on this team may include Neurology, Psychology, Speech/Language Pathology, and/or other disciplines as needed.
The Pediatric Neuropsychology Clinic focuses on neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents with neurological conditions, medical illnesses and disorders, genetic diagnoses, psychiatric illness and behavior problems, brain injury, developmental disabilities, and/or complex learning issues. Individuals are referred to the clinic from a variety of sources including Neurology, Nephrology, Oncology, Pediatric Rehabilitation, and local school systems. Neuropsychological assessment assists with understanding brain-behavior relationships by assessing multiple cognitive domains and relating a patient’s performance within these domains to neuroanatomical and neurophysiological factors. Based on findings, consultation is provided regarding appropriate treatments and recommendations.
The Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic serving individuals with established PWS diagnoses and their families across North Carolina. The clinic team is comprised of clinicians from disciplines of Endocrinology, Genetic Counseling, Genetics, Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and/or Speech/Language Pathology based on referral needs. A medical consultation model is used in providing support to families who come to the clinic and rotate through visits with clinicians from the team over the course of a day. Appointments with individual disciplines can also be arranged.

To learn more about Prader-Willi syndrome, click here.

The School-Age Autism Clinic offers evaluations and consultation for school- aged children and adolescents who show signs of possible autism. Evaluations may involve differential diagnosis of autism across a range of functioning levels, as well as other possible neurodevelopmental and/or psychiatric conditions. Individuals who are evaluated receive tailored consultation and support recommendations as needed. Individuals with preexisting autism diagnoses may also be seen for consultation regarding updated intervention planning, behavior supports, educational supports, and transition planning.
The interdisciplinary School-Age Team consists of clinicians from various disciplines based on referral needs. Children from preschool through 12th grade may be referred by their family, physicians, or schools for a variety of issues related to a suspected or known developmental disability. Clients referred to this team frequently present with complex diagnostic and treatment challenges warranting further evaluation of learning, developmental, social, and/or behavioral/emotional concerns. The interdisciplinary team members conduct individual assessment sessions over the course of a day-long evaluation to target specific referral questions and needs. Parents/caregivers have an opportunity to observe and participate in consultations with each clinician. Following assessments, clinicians meet to develop and tailored plan and then share results and recommendations with the family.
The Social Skills Group Clinic is a recurring 8-week, group-based social skills training program. This group focuses on social cognition (understanding the intentions of others) and social skills (improving social behaviors) and relies on structured didactics, videos, and role-plays. The group is open to those with a formal diagnosis that impacts their social abilities (such as autism or ADHD). Although a diagnosis of autism is not required to be in the group, most participants typically have an autism diagnosis. The group is geared towards older teenagers and young adults, and most participants are typically in high school. For more information regarding this group, contact Dr. Gabriel Dichter.
The Telehealth Evaluation and Consultation Clinic offers virtual services to individuals and families with developmental disability-related questions or concerns across North Carolina. During a video visit, primary concerns and support needs are discussed and detailed treatment and support recommendations are provided. There are also options for short-term treatment and follow-up visits via telehealth. Common referrals include requests for developmental disability screening (to determine if more in-depth assessment is needed), behavior support planning, behavioral sleep intervention coaching, and resource and transition planning assistance.