A new autism diagnosis can be overwhelming. Parents who have been through this before, have unique experiences to help other parents. Here are one Mom’s recommendations:
A Mom’s Recommendations of What to Do After a New Autism Diagnosis
From my experience parenting two boys who received an autism diagnosis, here are the first three key steps:
1. The doctor diagnosing your child may very well have a lot of good information to give you – much more than when my son was diagnosed. Don’t walk away before you ask them what they recommend you do next. Prepare (written) questions ahead of time if possible.
2. Call your County Board of Developmental Disabilities or equivalent governing body and ask if they have any programs that might benefit your child. They will likely want to do an Intake – someone will meet with you and ask questions about your child and their level of functioning (my advice – be as honest as possible…this is not the time to overestimate your child’s level of functioning). Soon after, they’ll tell you if your child will be eligible for services and what they offer. At this point, you will be assigned to a Services and Support Administrator (SSA) to help you.
3. Check out your local chapter of the Autism Society of America. They can offer many parental support and specialized programs your child may benefit from or enjoy. These days, they have a lot to offer. You can also join an autism support group or community like Vitalxchange.
