Your child has been diagnosed with autism. What happens next?
An autism diagnosis can bring many emotions—relief, worry, confusion, sadness, hope, or all of these at once. You may be receiving advice from doctors, therapists, schools, family members, and the internet, yet still have no idea where to begin.
You do not have to figure everything out today.
An autism diagnosis does not change who your child is. It gives you information that can help you better understand your child’s strengths, needs, communication style, and development. The next step is turning that information into a thoughtful, manageable plan.
McKenna Autism Consulting offers families a complimentary 30-minute post-diagnosis consultation.
Start with your child—not a checklist
There is no single treatment plan that is right for every autistic child. Some children benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral support, developmental therapy, parent coaching, school-based services, or a combination of approaches.
The goal is not to sign up for every available service. The goal is to understand your child’s most important needs, identify appropriate supports, and build a plan that works for your family.
Depending on your child’s age and needs, your first steps may include:
- Reviewing the diagnostic evaluation and recommendations
- Contacting Early Intervention or your local school district
- Exploring speech, occupational, developmental, or behavioral therapies
- Learning what your health insurance will cover
- Preparing for an evaluation, IEP, or preschool placement
- Identifying qualified providers with appropriate availability
- Creating a system for organizing reports, appointments, and applications
How I help newly diagnosed families
I have supported hundreds of parents as they learned to navigate autism services, schools, therapies, and long-term planning. My role is to explain the system in plain language, help you sort through competing recommendations, and identify the next steps that matter most for your child.
During your complimentary 30-minute consultation, we can discuss:
- What your child’s diagnosis and evaluation mean
- Your immediate questions and concerns
- Therapy options, including speech, occupational therapy, ABA, and other developmental supports
- Early Intervention and school-based services
- IEP evaluations and educational planning
- Insurance and provider-search considerations
- Local and statewide autism resources
- A practical roadmap for what to do next
This is an introductory conversation, not a sales presentation. You will leave with greater clarity about where to begin and which questions to ask.
A thoughtful approach to therapy
Families often receive strong and sometimes conflicting opinions about autism therapy. ABA may be helpful for some children and families, while others may benefit from different or less intensive approaches. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, developmental models, parent coaching, and school-based supports may also play important roles.
The quality of the provider, the goals being addressed, your child’s response, and the fit with your family are all important. Therapy should be respectful, individualized, and focused on meaningful skills—not simply on making an autistic child appear less autistic.
You are allowed to ask questions, observe sessions, request changes, and reconsider a service that does not feel right.
Looking for an ABA provider?
Finding an ABA agency can be difficult. Families need to consider location, availability, insurance participation, service setting, clinical supervision, treatment philosophy, and overall fit.
I created ABA Options to make that search easier. Families can use the directory to identify and compare ABA providers in their area.
ABA Options is free for parents—always.
You don’t have to navigate this alone
The months following a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you do not need to have every answer right away. Begin with the questions in front of you. Learn about your options. Build your child’s support team one step at a time.
I would be happy to help you get started.
Complimentary Post-Diagnosis Consultation
Schedule a free 30-minute conversation with Laura McKenna, PhD, to discuss your child’s diagnosis, your family’s priorities, and the next steps that may be most helpful.