First 100 Days After Your Child's Autism Diagnosis

If you only have energy for one thing

Write down one difficult moment and one thing your child enjoys or finds comforting. Include their own views in whatever way works for them. You can use this when talking to school, a family member or a professional.

NHS guidance suggests comfortable surroundings, familiar routines, notice of changes and time to rest. These are options to adapt together, not a prescribed programme. NHS: supporting an autistic child.

Choose help for the part of today that feels hardest, or use the free “what helps my child” paper plan.

Have one useful conversation with school or nursery

SEN Support can be provided without an EHC plan. Ask the teacher, nursery key person or special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) what support can begin for the difficulties you describe. You can raise needs while waiting for a report. GOV.UK: SEN Support.

You can adapt this short message. The brackets are for your own information; leave out anything that does not fit:

I would like to talk about the support my child needs. They are finding [situation] difficult, and [what helps] seems useful. Could we agree what support to try, who will arrange it and a date to review it? Please send me a short written record of what we agree.

This is an original SENDPath conversation prompt. Kent’s guidance recommends a written support agreement and review date. Keep important messages and the assessment report somewhere you can find them; you do not need a perfect file before asking a question.

Check financial help when it is relevant

DLA may help with extra costs for a child under 16 who meets the care or mobility rules and the other eligibility conditions. A diagnosis alone does not determine an award. Check the DLA eligibility rules.

• Get the claim form: print and complete the DLA form, or call 0800 121 4600 to request a printed pack. Follow the form’s return instructions; this is not an online submission.
• Make useful notes: describe the actual help needed, how often, how long and how it varies across ordinary, easier and harder days. The DLA guide and optional care diary can help organise your observations.
• Check the wider picture: if considering Carer’s Allowance, check its conditions and effects on other benefits before assuming what your family would receive.

Find your local route

The Local Offer is public information about support in your area. You can browse it; you do not have to register with it before asking for help.

• Kent County Council area: Kent Local Offer and Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK).
• Medway Council area: Medway Local Offer and Medway SENDIASS.

For speech and language therapy, occupational therapy or mental-health support, ask your GP or local autism team which service covers your child. Criteria and waiting times differ. Our Kent and Medway waiting-support guide separates the local routes. Private care is optional; a directory listing is not an endorsement.

When to read about an EHC needs assessment

If your child may need support through an EHC plan, read the EHC needs assessment guide or discuss it with your local SEND advice service. You can request an assessment without waiting for an autism diagnosis. A request does not guarantee an assessment or a plan.

The council must tell you whether it will assess within six weeks of receiving the request, unless a specific statutory exception applies. See SEND Regulations 2014, regulation 5 and the SEND Code of Practice, paragraphs 9.41–9.43, and use Kent’s EHC information or Medway’s parent request route. Seek advice promptly about a decision or delay.

Support for you, too

You may want practical help, a conversation or time to take things in. You do not have to feel a particular way about a diagnosis. See our small starting points for parent support.

The National Autistic Society’s Parent to Parent service offers a non-urgent emotional-support callback. It does not provide clinical, benefits or education advice.

For urgent mental-health support in Kent and Medway, call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option. If there is immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 999. For someone to listen, Samaritans on 116 123 is available at any time. Urgent-support details.

A small optional checklist

Choose only what is useful now. Copy these prompts into your own notes or print this page. SENDPath does not save the ticks or ask you to submit them.

Questions you may have

Next Steps