Your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and you have asked for help. This is an important turning point in a long journey. For some families, it may be the point when, after a long search for answers, you now have a name for something you didn’t know what to call, but you knew existed. Perhaps you suspected autism, but held out hope that an evaluation would prove otherwise. Many fami- lies report mixed feelings of sadness and relief when their child is diagnosed. You may feel completely overwhelmed. You may also feel relieved to know that the concerns you have had for your child are valid. Whatever it is you feel, know that thousands of parents share this journey. You are not alone. There is reason to hope. There is help. Now that you have the diagnosis, the question is, where do you go from here? The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit was created to help you make the best possible use of the next 100 days in the life of your child. It contains informa- tion and advice collected from trusted and respected experts on autism and parents like you. Why Does My Child Need a Diagnosis of Autism? Parents are usually the rst to notice the early signs of autism. You probably noticed that your child was developing differently from his or her peers.
The differences may have existed from birth or may have become more noticeable later. Sometimes, the differ- ences are severe and obvious to everyone. In other cases, they are more subtle and are rst recognized by a daycare provider or preschool teacher.