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THE ROAD AHEAD I ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a difference in the way kids’ brains work that affects the way they think, communicate with others, and interact with the world around them. Explore the questions below to learn how to recognize the signs, understand what causes it, and discover effective treatment options.
What caregivers might notice in their child
Kids with autism have differences in the way they connect and interact with other people as well as certain patterns of behaviors and interests that can be really particular. Every kid with autism is different, so it’s really important to have your child evaluated by a professional who is experienced in diagnosing autism. In order to be diagnosed with autism, kids must have two different kinds of symptoms:
This can include things like:
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Having trouble making conversation with other people
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Not being able to communicate how they feel
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Not understanding social cues
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Having differences in eye contact or nonverbal communication
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Not being able to make friends or keep friendships
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This can include things like:
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Moving their bodies in a certain way over and over again
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Repeating things other people say
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Having trouble changing routines
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Being really focused on certain things they are interested in
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Being really sensitive or not sensitive to things that they taste, smell, see, and feel
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This can include things like:
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Not being able to speak
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Not being able to solve problems or learn new information as well as other people
But a lot of people with autism don’t have these problems!
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It’s possible for other things to cause problems like these, too – so if your child has one or two of the symptoms listed above, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have autism. Things like anxiety, OCD, and trauma can cause some of these symptoms too, and people with autism can also be diagnosed with other mental health problems. This is why it’s really important for a provider to evaluate and diagnose your child.
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People used to think about autism as linear – on a line from low functioning to high functioning. Now we think about autism as a spectrum with a whole variety of different symptoms. Thinking about autism in a linear way means we miss a lot of the unique differences that people with autism can have. It’s more accurate to think about autism as different categories of symptoms, with people having more or less symptoms in each category. We can think about it more like this, with each triangle representing a certain symptom or type of symptom that can be more or less challenging for each person with autism:
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Our experts have scanned the internet and find these videos to be helpful...
What causes ASD?
While there are many theories about what causes autism, scientists don’t know for sure why some people have autism and others don’t. However, there are a few important factors that we know can impact Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
Genetics: Autism often runs in families. Kids who have a parent, sibling, or grandparent with autism may also be more likely to have autism themselves.
Environment: There are some things that can happen to babies and kids that make it more likely they’ll have autism. Sometimes problems with pregnancy and birth can make it more likely that a person will have autism, but none of these things cause autism on their own.
A note: As scientific research develops over time, it is possible that scientists will learn more about what causes autism. As additional evidence-based research comes out, we will make sure to add that information here. For now, there is no evidence to suggest that things like parenting techniques, vaccines, or screen time causes ASD. Recent statements have been made about links between Tylenol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy and increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD and ADHD. At this point in time, research indicates that there may be a higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders with prolonged use of acetaminophen (Prada et al., 2025; Kwok et al., 2022), but this does not mean that Tylenol by itself causes ASD or ADHD, and there are other factors that may be involved as well. It’s always best to consult your doctor if you’re using any medication while pregnant, to determine what is best for you and your baby.
(updated October 2025)
My child has a hard time with loud noises and doesn’t like certain foods. Does that mean they have ASD?
When people think about autism, many people think about certain symptoms of autism. There is a lot of information on the internet about sensory problems like being sensitive to loud noise or avoiding certain foods, and how these things are connected to autism. It’s definitely true that some people with autism have symptoms like this, but these symptoms alone do not mean that your child has autism, and your child doesn’t have to have sensory problems to be diagnosed with autism, either. It’s very common for all people to dislike certain loud noises and to prefer & avoid certain foods. Having a diagnosis of autism is much more than just one or two symptoms, so be sure that you and your child’s provider are looking at all aspects of their personality and experiences when you are talking about a possible autism diagnosis.
Who is affected by ASD?
ASD is a condition in your brain that starts in childhood and continues to affect people as adults. About 1 in every 31 kids in the United States has a diagnosis of autism – and we know more kids today are diagnosed with autism than there used to be. There are a few possible reasons why more kids are being diagnosed with autism now:
Autism used to be diagnosed a little differently, and symptoms were more specific than they are now. In the past, providers diagnosed some people with Autism and others with Asperger’s. Now both of these things are under the category of “Autism Spectrum Disorder”, so since they are combined, more kids have this diagnosis.
Scientists know more about autism than they used to – in the past, more boys were diagnosed with autism, and kids were often diagnosed when they behaved in ways that caused problems in school or at home. Now we understand a little more about how people’s brains work with autism, and that has helped providers to diagnose and treat more kids with autism who think differently, but don’t usually cause problems at school.
Providers have more tests that we can use now to evaluate and check for autism, and these tests look at all kinds of different things: nonverbal communication, imagination and creativity, conversation, relationships, emotional understanding and expression, and restricted behaviors. We can test for autism in a lot of different ways: by observing kids and how they act, by asking questions to parents and teachers, and by testing kids to see how their brains work. More people are getting tested for autism now, so more kids and adults are getting diagnosed. Pediatricians also usually screen for autism during regular appointments for kids – your child’s doctor may have you fill out questionnaires when they are between 1-3 years old to check for possible symptoms of autism. If you tell them your child has some of these symptoms, they will probably send you to a provider who specializes in autism to do more testing and get a diagnosis.
Treatments that work for ASD
There are a lot of things that you can do to help your child with autism – and you’re already taking a big step by learning more! Your child will always have autism – it’s not something that kids grow out of. So treatment for autism is really focused on helping you and your child learn how their brain works and how they can use their differences as a superpower, instead of a struggle or a weakness. Many kids and parents see a lot of improvement in their child’s daily functioning with the right support. Here are some treatments that scientists have found to be helpful for people with autism:
Sometimes people with autism benefit from seeing a therapist – this is usually most helpful when they have other mental health concerns in addition to autism. For example, a child who has a hard time making friendships because of their autism symptoms might also feel very anxious. Therapy can help with their anxiety and help them feel more comfortable with the different ways their brain works. It can be helpful to look for a therapist who has experience working with people with autism. There are certain therapies, like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) that often work especially well for people with autism, so you can also ask your provider if they specialize in these types of therapy. For younger children or kids who aren’t able to talk much about how they think and feel, mental health therapy is usually play-based, so your child’s therapist will probably play with them and encourage you to do that, too.
Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of treatment that helps people with the things they do every day. It can be helpful for people with autism because it helps them find ways to do the things they need to do every day on their own. OT can help with sensory problems, social skills, and other things that are often more difficult for kids with autism. OT can happen in your home or in a specific office with special equipment and toys for kids to use.
ABA is a type of treatment that works with caregivers and children to change behaviors that are not working well for them. Some people really like ABA therapy, and other people think ABA is problematic for treating autism because it forces kids to try to change their behaviors to fit in better with others, even if that’s not the most helpful thing for them. Some providers and caregivers will use the terms “neurodiversity” and “neuro-affirming” to talk about things like autism and ADHD – this means respecting people with autism by talking about the way their brain works as unique and different, rather than problematic or abnormal. Some providers who offer ABA therapy do it in a neuro-affirming way – you can ask your provider how they think about this!
ABA therapy can be done at an office or a clinic, or in your home. Sometimes it is helpful for a therapist to work with your child in their own home so they can see how your child acts and behaves in their own environment and work on making changes at home. You can work with your provider to decide what is best for your family.
ADVOCATING FOR HELP I ASD
Getting support for ASD starts with knowing what to ask for. Use the questions below to find out how to get help, talk with providers, and access the tools your child may need.
How to get help
There are a few ways to get diagnosed with ASD. Here is how you can get started:
They can do a basic screening and refer you to someone else if needed. Many pediatricians regularly do autism screening checklists for all their patients, so if your child has already had their first birthday, you may have completed one of these questionnaires already.
You can fill out the M-CHAT-R ™, a common screening tool for autism, at this website if your child is between 16 and 30 months old.
If your child is between 2 months and 5 years old, you can fill out the ASQ:SE-2, a common screening tool for both general and social-emotional development in kids.
Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists can help assess your child. Psychologists can test your child for autism and psychiatrists can prescribe medication if needed. Note that not every mental health professional has experience working with kids with autism, and not every psychologist offers testing for autism, because providers who test for autism usually have specialized training in it.
Click here to find a provider
Children’s Village offers an ASD Diagnostic Clinic that tests kids for autism. There are a lot of different providers that are usually involved in this testing, which means they can get a really good idea of your child’s symptoms and needs.
AS360 offers a resource list for families and caregivers looking for autism services and supports. You can access their list here.
You can request an evaluation for accommodations at school (these are usually called IEP’s or 504 plans). Schools typically can’t diagnose autism, but they can help tell you where your child is struggling and offer some help in the classroom.
Click here on how to talk to your child’s school
What is a psychological assessment?
If you’re worried your child might have ASD, talk to their doctor or mental health professional. Their provider may recommend a full psychological assessment to better understand what’s going on. This usually includes talking with you, your child, and sometimes teachers or others who know your child well. The assessment often involves interviews, questionnaires, and tests that help show your child’s strengths, challenges, and how they’re doing at home, school, and with friends.
Learn more here.
How can I get a comprehensive psychological assessment for my child?
Depending on your particular need, you may seek a psychological assessment from your school’s psychologist (if you are seeking IEP/504 accommodations) and/or outside providers.
Click here for more information on how to seek a psychological assessment through your school.
Click here for a sample letter of how to request that your child receive an evaluation for special education services.
Click here for a list of providers in your area that conduct psychological assessments.
If you are a parent seeking resources from your school, it is important to highlight that when requesting an IEP from your school, you do have the right to have your child evaluated by an outside professional other than your school’s psychologist. To note, in many of these cases, you will have to pay for the private evaluation. Furthermore, while the school must consider the evaluation from the outside provider, they do not necessarily have to accept the results. This is important to know for kids with autism because they often need a more comprehensive and specific evaluation than schools can offer.
If my child has ASD, what treatment components should I ask my provider about?
Treatment for autism will look different based on your child’s unique symptoms, their age, and their development level.
If your child is under 3 years old, they may receive services through the Washington State ESIT program. These comprehensive services often include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and support services for family members.
You can learn more about ESIT at this link
Depending on your child’s current symptoms and challenges, occupational therapy (OT) may be a good fit for them. OT can help with some of the everyday challenges that kids with autism face and a provider can work with them to solve problems in their everyday lives.
It’s good to be on the same page with your child’s provider early on so you all agree on goals for treatment with your child. Since autism isn’t a disorder that treatment tries to cure or get rid of, treatment is really about meeting your child’s needs and helping with problems that come up in daily life. It’s important for caregivers and providers to set realistic goals for children in treatment and monitor to see if those goals are being reached over time. If your child has multiple providers (like a speech therapist, mental health therapist, medical doctor, occupational therapist, and support at school) it’s a good idea to make sure all of these providers can talk to each other and share information about treatment as needed so that your child has support in every setting they are in during the day.
You can use questionnaires like the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) in treatment, which is designed to monitor treatment progress in kids with autism to see if their symptoms are getting better or worse.
Many schools or autism treatment clinics offer groups for kids that teach them social skills and new ways of communicating with others. This is important for kids with autism because it is often harder for them to understand subtle social cues and figure out how to communicate well with others. Groups like these give them a chance to interact with peers and to practice communicating with others using new skills they are learning in treatment.
Not every child with autism struggles with speech and language difficulties, but many do. If this is your child, speech therapy can be helpful for improving communication, understanding communication from others, problems with eating and swallowing, repeating phrases or having trouble with pronouns, and social connection with others.
PROGRESS OVER TIME I ASD
This section offers a few extra tools to help you along the way. Whether things are going smoothly or getting more challenging, these resources can support you as your child grows and their needs change.
My child has autism, now what?
Once your child has been diagnosed and is getting treatment, there are still more ways you can support them—and yourself. Here are some next steps to consider:
Just know that you don’t have to figure this out alone. Programs like the Caregiver Skills Training Program (CST) developed by the World Health Organization offer support and training for parents of kids with developmental disorders like autism, and their online platform is free to use. You can learn more here.
Watch this video to learn about Caregiver Skills Training: Using Play to Promote Engagement.
You can also find in-person and virtual support groups to connect with other caregivers on a similar journey. Websites like MyAutismTeam, Grupo de Apoyo by Autism Connections, and the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE) all offer social support and resources for caregivers.
There are some excellent, practical reads written for parents like you.
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Try “Sincerely, Your Autistic Child” by Emily Paige Ballou, Sharon daVanport, & Morenike Giwa Onaiwu
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“Positive Parenting for Autism: Powerful Strategies” by Victoria Boone, MA
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“Different…Not Less” by Temple Grandin
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“A Parent’s Guide to High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder” by Sally Ozonoff
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“The Aspie Teen’s Survival Guide” by J.D. Krauss & Alex Beckham
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Getting an autism diagnosis is a big step in working towards the right support and services for your child, but it can also feel overwhelming. Autism can also look very different in different kids, so understanding your child’s experience of autism is really important. The Autism Speaks organization offers a 100 day kit for families of kids between ages 5 and 13 to help you plan and access services in the first 100 days after your child is diagnosed with autism.
You can ask your child’s therapist or doctor to use things like autism rating scales or executive functioning checklists to track what’s improving—and what still needs support. Some apps can help you track sleep, mood, and routines too.
Even if your child already has support at school, it’s worth checking in regularly. Ask for updated reports, suggest team meetings, and make sure accommodations are still working. You can also request changes to your child’s IEP or 504 plan if needed. See the Talking with My Child’s School section below.
My child is getting worse, what can I do?
It’s hard to see your child struggling, especially when it feels like things are getting more intense, not better. You’re not alone—and there are steps you can take to get support and stabilize things.
If you notice your child struggling, see if there’s a specific reason why – kids may struggle to tell you verbally what’s going on, but their behavior may be signaling that something doesn’t feel right in their environment. For kids with autism, you may want to specifically pay attention to sensory experiences, disruptions in routine, social difficulties, diet and sleep, and strong emotions. In some cases, making things better could be as simple as making a change in your daily routine or environment that better supports your child’s needs.
Let them know what’s changed. Sometimes medication needs adjusting, or therapy needs to be more frequent or focused differently. Be specific about what you’re seeing: bigger meltdowns, school refusal, aggression, or withdrawal.
Every family should have a plan for what to do if things get worse. This might include knowing who to call during a crisis (like a mobile crisis team or behavioral health urgent care), when to head to the ER, or how to calm things down at home. Your provider can help you build a plan that fits your family.
Some communities offer “wraparound” programs that bring together a team to support your child across home, school, and community. These services are especially helpful when things feel complex or overwhelming.
If your child’s behavior is disrupting their learning or daily life, you can ask the school for an FBA. This helps figure out why certain behaviors are happening and leads to a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) with concrete supports.
During tough times, it can help to simplify routines, add more visual schedules or checklists, and create calm-down areas at home. This doesn’t fix everything—but it can reduce stress for everyone.
When your child is in crisis, it can take a toll on your whole family. Connecting with other parents, talking to a therapist, or simply having a support system in place can help you stay grounded while you’re supporting your child.
Talking with my child’s school
Your child spends a big part of their day at school—so it’s important that their learning environment supports their needs. You don’t have to be an expert in education law to advocate for your child. Here’s how to get started:
If your child already has a 504 Plan or IEP, you can call a meeting anytime – not just during annual reviews. Share your concerns, ask for updates, and discuss if changes need to be made. If your child doesn’t have a plan yet, you can formally request an evaluation to see what supports they qualify for.
Schools respond best to clear examples. Keep track of patterns—like missed assignments, behavior changes, or stress around certain subjects. You can also ask your provider to write a summary of concerns or diagnoses to share.
Resources like Wrightslaw explain special education laws in parent-friendly language. Knowing your rights helps you feel more confident in meetings and ensures your child gets what they’re entitled to.
Explore tools from other parents.
Understood.org and wapave.org is a great website full of free tools, templates, and stories from families navigating similar school challenges. It can help you figure out what to ask for and how to phrase it.
A behavioral health consultant or educational advocate can go to meetings with you, help interpret school evaluations, and suggest goals that actually match your child’s needs. This kind of support can make a big difference—especially if meetings feel overwhelming or you’re not sure what to ask for.
CAREGIVER TOOLKIT I ASD
This section offers simple, practical tools to help you support your child—from building routines and healthy habits to improving communication and recognizing their strengths. It’s also a reminder that taking care of yourself is part of the plan—you’re not alone on this journey.
Daily habits that help
Whether your child has autism or not, play is one of the best ways that kids can learn social skills, problem solving, creativity, and communication. Scientists tell us that when caregivers play with their children, it can even change your child’s brain and help it work in more healthy ways. Some specific ways you can play with your child with autism are:
Building things together: This helps with problem solving and communication when you are working together on a team. If your child struggles with listening and following directions, you can work on that here too (e.g. saying things like “okay now stack the red block on top of the blue block”)
Imagining things and creating social stories (like playing with dolls, small animals, or people figurines): This helps your child learn social communication skills including speech and nonverbals. You can practice having your dolls move their arms and heads when they talk, and you can practice having toys talk back and forth to each other in conversation to show your child how people communicate socially.
Structured games: This includes things like board games and cards games – you can choose any game with rules that is interesting to your child. This helps your child learn to follow instructions, take turns, and solve problems. It also helps kids learn how to tolerate frustration (being okay when things don’t go their way), so make sure you don’t always let them win! And when you lose a game, it’s a good idea to talk to them about it and model being okay with losing (i.e. saying things like “oh I lost, that makes me disappointed, but maybe I’ll win next time!”).
Most kids, and especially kids with ASD, thrive on routine and consistent structure. Having daily checklists for necessary chores, writing down what your child needs to bring to school every day, or having a family calendar visible can all help your child know what to expect in their day. Finding consistent routines (e.g. a set of things you always do at bedtime) can help your child’s mind and body to react well to the situations they are in. When you know you have a big change in routine coming up (like starting the school year, going on vacation, playing at a friend’s house, moving to a new home. etc.) it’s a good idea to start talking to your child about this early so they have time to think about it and prepare. You can even practice and play games related to the new routine – like if you are moving to a new home, you and your child could practice packing some clothes in a bag together and “moving” them to another area of the house. You can also let your child know what will stay the same when changes are happening – maybe you’ll be starting at a new school, but a friend you already know will be there. Or you’ll be moving to a new house but your furniture and toys will come along. This lets your child know what they can expect and provides comfort that some things will stay consistent.
When you talk to your child with autism, there are some easy things you can do as a parent to set them up for success. When giving instructions, ask them to do one thing at a time. Give clear instructions in simple language they can understand. Be really specific about what you want from them (e.g. don’t say “get ready for the day”, say “brush your teeth and put on a shirt and some pants”). Make eye contact with them and pay full attention to them when you are talking – even if they don’t make eye contact back, you are showing them how to communicate effectively. And when your child succeeds at something, try to compliment them on it right away – this helps them remember to do it again!
You are your child’s caregiver, and helping a child with ASD sometimes requires you to be a coach too. Coaches don’t play the game themselves though – they show, explain, and help the team figure out how to do it from the sidelines! Your long-term goal is to help your child learn skills on their own. You’ll help them solve problems now, and as they get older and understand their brains better, you’ll step away and let them do it themselves, because you know you’ve already put in the effort to help them build the skills they need.
Kids with ASD can have some really special strengths. People with ASD are often creative, energetic, connect with people in awesome ways, and have areas of passionate interest. These can be great things at home, in school, and in their future jobs. Help your child see what makes them unique and special!
Many kids with autism have areas of special interest – they might know a lot of facts about their favorite football team, they might be able to tell you every type of dog that exists, or they might love reading the same book or types of books over and over again. This is very normal in autism and it’s good to let kids explore things they are interested in. As a caregiver, participate in this when you can, and look for ways that you can use their interests in positive ways. If they love talking about dogs, practice having conversations with other people about their dogs and work on talking back and forth. If they love a certain sport but have a hard time making new friends, see if you can find an autism-friendly sports league near you or have them join a club at school with other students who love sports too.
Encourage physical activity and exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. These things help balance ASD symptoms and help you & your child have more energy and resources to deal with problems and challenges.
Eating can be a specific challenge for many kids with autism because of sensory challenges they often have with foods. If you’re concerned about your child’s eating habits or worry they aren’t eating enough healthy foods, talk to their pediatrician to see how you can help them. Providers may be able to help you with strategies to get them to try new foods, and they might also recommend adding things like vitamins and supplements to your child’s diet (at least for a time!) to make sure their body is getting what it needs to be healthy and work well. It’s always a good idea to ask your medical doctor about their recommendations before introducing new vitamins or supplements to your child’s diet.
Caregiver self-care
Parenting a child with autism is a big job. It’s okay to ask for help, and it’s good for your child to learn that they can also ask others for help when they need it!
Take breaks when you can. It makes a big difference when you can be consistent in the way you respond to your child, but you don’t have to do it alone. The good news is – while it can be a big change & a lot of effort to start working on behavioral changes with your child, once you establish these things, it will make things easier in the long run and your child will start to learn how to practice these skills on their own!
Behavior therapy is all about providing rewards for your child’s behaviors. You can join in the fun! When you and your child succeed in something new, pick rewards that are fun for you & for your child (e.g. going on a special outing together) or things you can do on your own when you get a break (e.g. going for a walk alone, reading a book, doing something you love).
Your child with autism is going to grow, change, and mature at their own rate, so comparing them with siblings or peers who don’t have autism can be hard. When you feel discouraged on your journey, focus on comparing your child to their past self and look for the growth and positive change. Did they try a new type of food this month? Did they join a sport or club at school for the first time? Did they play with someone on the playground they haven’t met before? Were you able to go somewhere new without a meltdown or a lot of worry? Celebrate all of these things, and acknowledge the ways you’ve supported your child to make this happen.
Other parents, even other parents of kids with autism, might have very different experiences from you, but it can still be helpful to hear what challenges others have faced and how they have worked through these difficulties. It can also really help to hear stories of older kids or adults with autism who are thriving in their lives – this can give you hope and a picture of what your child’s future can be!
Autism Speaks offers a parent guide to autism that provides some helpful strategies, information, and personal stories from other parents.
Dealing with a new diagnosis can be hard. Parent support groups like this can help you connect with others and get the support and information you need to move forward.
Find a provider
