You walk out of the appointment with a folder, a word, and a hundred questions. Some parents feel relief. Some feel grief. Many feel both before they reach the car. Here’s what to do after an autism diagnosis, one step at a time.
Take a breath first. Then read the written report, call your insurance about ABA therapy coverage, and contact an ABA provider to check your benefits. If your child is under 3, look into early intervention. If they’re 3 or older, contact your school district. You don’t have to do all of it this week.
Your child is the same child
Nothing about your child changed in that office. What changed is that you now have a name for what you’ve been seeing, and that name opens doors to support. Give yourself a few days to feel whatever you feel. There’s no right reaction.
Your first steps, at a glance
Your first steps after a diagnosis
Think in weeks, not days. Some of these can happen at the same time.
Read the report, slowly
The written report usually includes the diagnosis, what the specialist saw, and recommendations for next steps. It may also list a support level from 1 to 3. The level describes how much support your child needs right now, not who they’ll become.1 If something doesn’t make sense, call the evaluator’s office and ask. That’s part of their job.
Save the full report as a PDF and keep a printed copy. Insurance, therapy providers, and schools will all ask for it, and you don’t want to wait on a records request.
Call your insurance
Most states have laws requiring certain health plans to cover autism treatment. What’s covered varies, and self-funded employer plans often don’t have to follow those state rules, so it’s worth asking.2 If your child has Medicaid, children and teens under 21 are covered for services that are medically necessary for them, including autism services.3
- Is ABA therapy covered on my plan?
- Do I need a prior authorization or a referral?
- Which ABA providers near me are in network?
- What will I pay, like a deductible, copay, or coinsurance?
- Is there a limit on hours or visits?
What ABA therapy looks like from here
ABA therapy is designed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. Sessions are often carried out by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), who works under close supervision.4,5 It focuses on building skills that matter in daily life, like communication, play, and handling change, based on your child and your family’s goals.
With most providers, including Treetop, the next steps are a benefits check, an assessment with a BCBA, a treatment plan you review together, and then regular sessions. Our guide to your child’s first ABA session walks through exactly what happens.
Questions to ask an ABA provider
- Do you take my insurance, and will you check my benefits for me?
- Do you offer therapy at a center, at home, or both near where we live?
- Who designs my child’s plan, and how often will they see my child?
- How will you include us as parents, and is parent training part of the plan?
- How do you measure progress, and how often will we review it together?
- What does a typical session look like for a child my child’s age?
Early intervention and school
If your child is under 3, your state’s early intervention program can evaluate them and, if they qualify, build a plan for services. If your child is 3 or older, ask your public school district for a special education evaluation. If your child qualifies, the school writes an Individualized Education Program, or IEP.6,7
Who’s who on your child’s team
- Your child’s doctor: keeps an eye on overall health and development, and handles referrals.
- The BCBA: designs and oversees your child’s ABA plan, and meets with you about progress.
- The behavior technician (RBT): works with your child in sessions, under close supervision.
- The school or early intervention team: supports your child’s learning and plans services there.
- You: the person who knows your child best, and the one who connects everyone else.
One folder, paper or digital, for the diagnosis report, insurance letters, school paperwork, and a running list of who you talked to and when. It saves hours of searching later, and it makes every new appointment easier.
Find your people, and pace yourself
Other parents who’ve been here are often the best source of local tips: which waitlists move, which pediatric dentists are patient, which playgrounds are quiet on weekday mornings. Ask your child’s doctor or school about local parent groups.
Trying to read everything in one weekend, and anything that promises to fix autism fast. Good support is steady and individualized, and it fits your child.
And look after yourself. Our post on self-care for parents has small, realistic ideas for when your plate is already full.
Frequently asked questions
What do the autism support levels mean?
Levels 1, 2, and 3 describe how much support a child needs right now, from support to very substantial support. They can change as your child grows and learns new skills.
Do we have to start therapy right away?
There’s no need to panic, but it’s worth getting the process started, since benefits checks, authorizations, and waitlists all take time. You can make calls while you’re still taking it all in.
What is ABA therapy?
Applied behavior analysis is a type of therapy that builds everyday skills, like communication, play, and coping with change. A BCBA designs the plan around your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
How do I tell family members?
Share as much or as little as you want, when you’re ready. Some parents start with what the diagnosis means for daily life, like what helps their child feel calm, rather than the label itself.
1. Give yourself time. Your child is the same child. 2. Read and save the report, then call your insurance about ABA therapy. 3. Use early intervention or your school district alongside therapy, and pace yourself.
Ready when you are.
Send us the report, and our team will check your insurance, explain your options, and walk you through what comes next. Treetop works with children from 18 months to 18 years, at our centers or at home, depending on where you live.
Talk to our teamOr call (855) 800-9361Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder” (DSM-5 criteria, as summarized by CDC). cdc.gov
- Barry, C. L., et al. (2017). “Effects of State Insurance Mandates on Health Care Use and Spending for Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Health Affairs. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2014). “Clarification of Medicaid Coverage of Services to Children with Autism.” medicaid.gov
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board. “Board Certified Behavior Analyst.” bacb.com
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board. “Registered Behavior Technician.” bacb.com
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Learn the Signs. Act Early. “Concerned About Your Child’s Development?” cdc.gov
- Center for Parent Information and Resources. “Evaluating School-Aged Children for Disability.” parentcenterhub.org
This article is for education and is not a substitute for individualized medical or clinical advice.