A recogniser is anybody who might come across a child or adult with a possible ASD.

Recognisers may be those who:

• work in education (eg. schools, early childhood centres and tertiary institutions)
• work in health or disability services (eg. child health primary care, youth health, NASCs, hospital and community services, counselling services)
• work in government services (eg. social welfare, police, legal and court services)
• are relatives, friends, caregivers, accommodation providers, co-workers, or other associates of someone who might have ASD.

A referrer is a health or education practitioner who makes initial clinical assessments for ASD, and refers for specialist hospital assessment when required. 

Referrers may be:

• doctors (usually GPs)
• Plunket or public health nurses
• Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour
• speech-language therapists
• psychologists.