What to Do in the First 30 Days After Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis
A simple, supportive guide for parents and caregivers written by Mitch Leppicello, LICSW
First, take a breath.
If your child was just diagnosed with autism, you may be feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or even relieved to finally have answers. All of that is normal, and you don’t need to figure everything out today. This guide will help you focus on what actually matters in the first 30 days from my 35+ years of clinical experience working with families.
Step 1: Give Yourself Time to Process
Before you take action, pause.
Examples of what you may be experiencing:
- Shock or confusion
- Grief or worry about the future
- Relief that things now make more sense
All of these reactions and feelings are completely normal.
What matters most right now is to hear that you don’t need to “fix” anything today. Your child is the same child you knew yesterday.
Step 2: Focus on Understanding, Not Urgency…
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If you’re wondering, “What do I do next?”
The CALM Compass: Navigating Neurodiversity was created to give parents clear, practical strategies you can use at home.
My goal in developing the program is to help you create a better understanding of behavior and communication, and give you tools to support emotional regulation and daily challenges your child may be facing.
It doesn’t replace therapy or in-person supports. It’s a structured, easy-to-follow online program designed specifically for parents and caregivers from the point of autism diagnosis or anywhere in between.
You can start anytime and go at your own pace because it includes lifetime access to the materials.
