Newly diagnosed

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, my daughter was officially diagnosed with autism, and I’m still processing everything. I want to make sure I’m doing the best I can for her, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

What kind of support or help can I get within the home? Are there services, therapies, or resources you found particularly helpful early on? I’d also love to hear any advice on what steps to take next, both emotionally and practically.

Any guidance, personal experiences, or even just reassurance would be so appreciated. TThank you. 

Parents
  • Hi Marie - welcome back to the community, and congratulations on securing your daughter's diagnosis! Slight smile

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis", including one covering how your daughter might feel during the subsequent days / weeks / months. You - and she - might find them of interest and/or helpful:

    NAS - How you might feel after a diagnosis

    NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis including:

    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Emotional support for family members after a diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis - including in respect of benefits, school, and more. 
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough

    Your daughter might also find the resources here helpful:

    NAS - Resources for autistic teenagers -  "The Know Yourself series is a set of free resources which includes videos and downloadable guides aiming to support you and others like you to understand what being autistic means."

    Finally, you might like to consider seeking emotional support from other parents who are in a similar situation via the NAS's parent-to-parent helpline:

    NAS - Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline

Reply
  • Hi Marie - welcome back to the community, and congratulations on securing your daughter's diagnosis! Slight smile

    The NAS has a great set of articles focused on "after diagnosis", including one covering how your daughter might feel during the subsequent days / weeks / months. You - and she - might find them of interest and/or helpful:

    NAS - How you might feel after a diagnosis

    NAS - Other advice covering post-diagnosis including:

    • Talking about and disclosing your autism diagnosis
    • Emotional support for family members after a diagnosis
    • Formal support following an autism diagnosis - including in respect of benefits, school, and more. 
    • What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough

    Your daughter might also find the resources here helpful:

    NAS - Resources for autistic teenagers -  "The Know Yourself series is a set of free resources which includes videos and downloadable guides aiming to support you and others like you to understand what being autistic means."

    Finally, you might like to consider seeking emotional support from other parents who are in a similar situation via the NAS's parent-to-parent helpline:

    NAS - Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline

Children
No Data