Does your child have a recent autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis? It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious right now. But that doesn’t mean you can’t help yourself, your family, and your child. If you’re not sure what to do next, take a look at some next possible steps.

Talk to the Professionals

You aren’t in this alone. If you’re not sure where to start or who to turn to, ask your child’s diagnosing doctor or other autism-related professional. It’s not always easy to navigate your way through the world of early intervention and other services. The doctor (or other professional) can connect your family with:

• Therapy services. These may include ABA, physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
• Community groups. Again, you don’t have to navigate your way through this diagnosis alone. Other parents who understand your family’s new needs can offer support, friendship, and an empathetic ear right now and in the future.
• Educators. As your child enters or re-enters school, they may need additional assistance — and so may you. You’ll need to learn more about your child’s educational rights, the school’s responsibilities, and what the best educational options are to support your child’s needs.

If you’re not sure what to ask (or who to ask), give yourself time. No one expects you to educate yourself overnight. Take a breath, start a list, and make professional discussions (with doctors, behavioral specialist, educators, or other related experts) an ongoing process.

Learn the Terms

The ability to effectively communicate with the new behavioral and therapeutic professionals in your family’s life will make life easier for everyone. As you meet your child’s new therapists, teachers, and other helpers, ask about terms you should familiarize yourself with.

These may include:

• Autism spectrum disorder. This is the obvious first term you need to know. The medical and behavioral professionals can help you to better understand what autism is, what the diagnosis means for your child and their individual needs, and what to expect.
• ABA therapy. Applied Behavior Analysis (or ABA) is one type of therapy used to help people with autism. ABA is grounded in research and helps the child to increase language and communication skills, improve attention, and decrease unwanted or problematic behaviors.
• Speech therapy. A speech language therapist uses therapeutic techniques to help your child increase or improve their ability to effectively communicate.
• Occupational therapy. Occupational therapists help children to develop fine motor abilities and the skills they need for everyday life (such as dressing, feeding, and other similar movements).

Along with these therapy-based terms, you’ll learn other autism-specific vocabulary over time. These words may include echolalia (the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds), emotional regulation (control of feelings), expressive language (verbalization), functional play (using objects for the intended purposes), sensory (experiencing through the senses), and nonverbal behaviors.

Schedule Services

Consistency is key — for both you and your child. Now that your child has a diagnosis and you’ve connected to professionals, it’s time to set up a realistic schedule that benefits your child. While it’s tempting to schedule as many therapy appointments as possible, this may overwhelm or overstimulate your child.

As you create a new schedule for your child, consider:

• The expert’s opinion. When and how often should your child attend therapy appointments? Provided you feel comfortable with the professional’s advice, follow their recommendation.
• The type of therapy. Some therapies may require a specific schedule tailored to your child’s needs.
• The number of therapies. Your child may not need behavioral, speech, occupational, physical, or other therapies.
• Other activities. Along with therapy, your child may attend school, have playdates, go to birthday parties, take part in an art class, or do any number of other activities.

Even though your child will need some types of therapy, their recent diagnosis doesn’t have to dominate their schedule. Make space in your child’s schedule for family-time, friend-time, and anything else they enjoy.

Is your child ready to start ABA? Contact ABA Adaptive Services for more information.