My child has just been identified as Autistic…. what should I do to support them?

So, your child has just been identified as Autistic.

You might be feeling a bit stunned. You might be feeling overwhelmed. You might have known for ages but just had it confirmed. You might be relieved. You might be concerned. You might feel sad.

So, what do you do now?

Some people might be telling you that you have to act quickly to get services and therapies in place. They might be telling you there is no time to waste because the younger you treat Autism the better off your child will be and the more chance you have of them growing up to be normal.

I would encourage you to slow down. Breathe. Think. And read.

Autism is not a tragedy that requires immediate action. Nothing has really changed for you and your child with this diagnosis. They are the same child as they were yesterday. There is no rush. Despite what the professionals will tell you, you have lots of options to choose from now. So, take your time. Have a look around and check out what is on offer, then choose what fits best for your child and your family. You know your child better than any one and you are capable of making decisions in their best interest.

Some of the things you need to do will be country or state specific, so find someone local to you to help you navigate things like accessing funding.

Then read.

We are very lucky to have access to so many online resources these days. I’m going to share with you the best ones I know of. These websites and blogs have been a lot of help to me in my journey as a parent, I hope you find them helpful too.

Articles

What is Autism? by Nick Walker

Don’t Mourn For Us by Jim Sinclair

“Splinter skills” and other words we use by Ariane of Emmas Hope Book

Books

I love being my own Autistic self by Landon Bryce

Blogs and Facebook Pages by parents