Autism spectrum disorder diagnoses are made by licensed medical or mental health professionals. These may include pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists and psychiatrists. Evaluation teams may also include speech-and-language pathologists (SLPs) and occupational therapists (OTs).

This article from Child Mind shares more on the diagnosis process. This guide can also help families who want to prepare for a diagnosis appointment.

Families who are concerned about school should start with the School Resource Guide. This guide includes red flags, solutions and frequently-asked questions.

First of all, know that you’re not alone. Kids with autism or other developmental disabilities often struggle with challenging behaviors. According to Dr. Ross Greene, a leading child psychologist, this is because the kids have not yet developed the skills to do better.

Some families help their children to do better by providing support for them. Our Behavior Resource Guide is a great place to learn about the different ways to support your child.

Dealing with challenging behaviors can be hard, so it’s also important to care for yourself. Connecting for Kids offers support programs, or you can learn coping strategies on your own with this guide.