To arrive at a diagnosis of autism may be something that you've anticipated for some time or more of a surprise. Acknowledge that you need journey that you've taken and be forgiving of yourself. Following an autism diagnosis, your child is still the child that you've known for the first few years of their development or longer based on when they receive that diagnosis. And likewise, you're still an individual in the context of a family. So, remembering all of those pieces and roles is going to be important.

You're going to process this diagnosis at different time points. You may have an initial reaction followed by a lot of Googling to gain as much information as possible. A very natural experience that comes from a place of wanting increased certainty and autism can provide you with some uncertainty about some of the expectations that you might hold for your child's future. To stay in the moment and focus on what you can control more immediately in terms of setting up support. And it is also really critical to focus on yourself care at this time. Quality and regularity for self-care over duration and lengthy small rituals like 10 minutes alone in your room to practice yoga or do some reading or watch some silly videos on a regular basis. It's going to go a long way for your well-being.

In that first year following your child's diagnosis, you might be involved in a range of therapy services. There might be special school meetings and coordination meetings as well as other specialist appointments. This can all be very busy and feel like your world is quite focused on your child's specialized programming. However, it is important to really take time to be a family and make time for joyfulness, fun activities out as a family, silly things that you do at home like ordering pizza and and doing a dance party. It's anything that you do with intentionality just to enjoy your time with each other.

It's really important to find a community for yourself. This may already exist for you in the form of friends and family members. However, community of people who might understand your child's needs and your experience navigating the world of autism can be very valuable. This can happen through a service provider. They may have family groups available and most communities. Do you have a local autism society and offer events for families Here you might meet people who can be great peer resources for you and can help you navigate that system in your local community. It's also important to have people that you can go to for help, and that help might look different based on the person that's offering it, but it's important to leverage those different types of help regularly.

We all extend help to others, and you likely don't think twice, and so it is important to ask for that in kind when it's needed. Although receiving that diagnosis may have been unexpected, it is important to note your child's strengths. They have a range of positive qualities and skills. Embrace your child as an individual with their diagnosis of autism as part of that picture.

Here are some key tips for you:

Acknowledge Your Journey: Recognize the journey you've taken to arrive at the diagnosis and be forgiving of yourself. Remember that your child is still the same child you've known, and you are still an individual within your family2.

Process the Diagnosis: It's natural to have an initial reaction and seek information. Focus on what you can control immediately, such as setting up support, and prioritize self-care with small, regular rituals3.

Balance Therapy and Family Time: In the first year following the diagnosis, you may be involved in various therapy services and meetings. It's important to make time for joyful family activities and enjoy your time together4.

Find a Supportive Community: Connect with friends, family, and local autism societies or service providers. Having a community that understands your child's needs can be very valuable5.

Ask for Help: Don't hesitate to ask for help when needed. Embrace your child's strengths and recognize their positive qualities and skills6.