From the first screening to everyday routines and your child’s legal rights at school, start with the resources that fit where you are today.
📘 Guide
Understanding the Autism Diagnosis
The Autism Society of America’s guide for families facing a new diagnosis: what it means, what to expect next, and how to build your support team.
Autism Society of America
🌱 Early Intervention
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
Research-backed, play-based intervention developed by Sally Rogers and Geraldine Dawson for children 12–48 months. Find certified therapists and parent training through the official ESDM Training Program.
UC Davis MIND Institute
🧩 Community
Autism Speaks Family Services
A free 100 Day Kit for families of newly diagnosed children aged 4 and under (a school-age kit covers ages 5–13), plus a resource directory and the Autism Response Team helpline.
Autism Speaks
❤️ Support
GRASP: Autistic-Led Support
The Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership is an autistic-led nonprofit offering support groups, coaching, and virtual assessments — a helpful bridge as your child grows into adulthood.
GRASP
💰 Benefits & Rights
IDEA: Navigating Special Education Rights
Understand the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — how to request an IEP, dispute decisions, and advocate for your child's educational rights. Your rights under IDEA are unchanged by the 2026 shift of day-to-day program administration to HHS.
U.S. Dept. of Education
📱 Screening
M-CHAT-R/F Toddler Screening Tool
The free, validated 20-question checklist pediatricians use to screen toddlers aged 16–30 months. Complete it online and take the result to your child's next appointment.
M-CHAT-R/F
🏠 Daily Living
Visual Schedules & Routines Toolkit
Free downloadable visual schedule templates from the AFIRM project to help children with ASD build predictable daily routines at home.
AFIRM / UNC
📖 Book
"The Reason I Jump" by Naoki Higashida
Written by Naoki Higashida at 13 and translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell, this book offers profound insight into the internal experience of autism — essential reading for any parent.
Book Details & Excerpt