What a difference TWO decades make! Specialists are able to detect the symptoms of autism earlier and earlier, and while it is never the diagnosis that parents want to hear, there are so many resources available now from the very beginning. I asked parents of children with autism as well as individuals on the autism spectrum to offer their best advice for families of a newly diagnosed child. Here is list of 10 crucial things to help you get started:

1)Allow yourself time to grieve.

2)Susan Woolner, mother of three boys including twins with autism,(I always listen to a mother of TWINS with autism!) recommends Autism Speaks 100 day kit. The 100 day kit, along with the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit, were created specifically for newly diagnosed families to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child’s diagnosis of autism or AS/HFA.

3)Meet other parents and build community with them. also, seek out parents who are “veterans” in the ASD journey. The benefits of being with other people who “get it” cannot be explained in words.

4)Educate yourself on your state law and school district policies. You are the best advocate for your child. Remember that they are children first and that they just happen to have autism.

5)Don’t blame yourself or your spouse.

6)Pick your battles.(Amen to that!!)

7)The internet can make you crazy! You will find a lot of support, but you can also find a lot of false promises.

9)Even though you will occasionally feel like you’re losing your mind, do your best to keep your sense of humor. Autism itself is not funny but it DOES create some situations that are.

10)”No matter the level of his or her challenges,” says’s Lindsey Nebeker, a pianist/songwriter and autism advocate who herself is on the autism spectrum, “your child has a place in this world. your child has a voice.”

Great book! Read first three chapters HERE.

In case you wondered, I’m happy to talk to your group.GO HERE to learn more.

DO YOU HAVE a QUESTION ABOUT AUTISM? ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR RESOURCES?

Send me your questions here at and I will do my very best to help.

Posted By: Laura Shumaker (Email) | November 21 2010 at 07:15 PM