You may be thinking, My child was diagnosed with autism. Now what?” Where do you go from here? While this time is life-changing no matter how you feel about the diagnosis, it is important to take the time for you and your child to adjust properly. How do you do that?
The first thing you should do after your son or daughter receives an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is breathe. It is important to take some time to come to terms with the diagnosis. Once you have found your footing, the next steps are to find a support group and learn more about autism.
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Take a Breath and Take Some Time
Step one: take a breath. Everyone receives a diagnosis in different ways. For some, finding out why their child is different from neurotypical people can be a comfort. For others, it can be scary or shocking. It is important to remember your child is the same person they were before the diagnosis. Having a name for how they are wired does not change who they are.
Also, remember that you are not alone in this diagnosis. The CDC reported in 2020 that about 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States. There are many services and support systems throughout the country for children with autism and parents of children with autism.
Find Help and Support
As mentioned above, many places will help you in your journey. These services can offer plenty of support for your children, such as ABA Therapy and education programs. Having a place to explore this reality can help you grow your knowledge of your child’s diagnosis.
How to Help At Home
There are a few things you can do to improve your child’s life at home. For example, start implementing visuals into their everyday routine. Children with autism tend to be much more visual in their learning, so having things like visual chore charts can help them better understand what they need to do. Implementing a routine and structure can be helpful as well. Children with autism respond better to structured environments.
Steps To Progress is Here To Help
Your child being diagnosed with autism can be a shock, but it isn’t a bad thing. The diagnosis does not define who your child is, but it can explain why they are the way they are. It is important to become comfortable with their diagnosis, find a community for support, and learn more about autism.
Contact us to learn more about your child receiving an autism diagnosis.
