WHERE TO START?
So, you just received a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder for your child. Now what? The first thing I recommend to all parents is to start educating yourself on the diagnosis and your treatment options. Autism Speaks has a great "100 Days" tool kit available on their website.
My second recommendation is to start finding ABA providers to work with your child and to train you to use ABA throughout your daily routines. It is important to make sure that you feel comfortable with your ABA provider(s) and that they are a good fit with your family. If your child is going to receive Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), it is recommended to provide 25-40 hours per week of services. This means providers could be in your home or your child could be at a center or school program for that amount of time. You want to find providers that will help your child make progress, as well as meet the needs of your family.
RESOURCES
Below is some information for those who have just received a diagnosis. Even if you have had a diagnosis for a while, these packets are helpful for making sure you have all your services in place.