My Child Was Diagnosed With Autism — What Now?
5 Steps for Ontario Families
Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can bring many different emotions - uncertainty, validation, worry, or simply a long list of questions.
One of the most common questions we hear from families is:
"What do we do now?"
The good news is that you don't need to figure everything out at once. An autism diagnosis can help you better understand your child's unique strengths and needs and connect your family with appropriate supports.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism in Ontario, here are five practical places to start.
1. Register for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
One of your first steps should be registering your child for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) through AccessOAP.
The OAP provides a range of services and supports for autistic children and youth and their families. To register, your child must be under 18, live in Ontario, and have a written autism diagnosis from a qualified professional.
Start by:
Keeping a copy of your child's written diagnostic report
Creating an AccessOAP account
Registering your child for the OAP
Connecting with an AccessOAP Care Coordinator to learn more about available services and supports
Don't wait until you've decided what therapy your child needs before registering. Getting connected to the OAP is an important first step in understanding what options may be available to your family.
Helpful resource: Ontario Autism Program
2. Identify Your Child's Priorities
An autism diagnosis doesn't automatically mean your child needs every type of therapy. Instead, think about what is currently having the greatest impact on your child's everyday life.
For example, you may have questions about:
Communication: Is your child able to communicate their wants, needs and ideas effectively?
Daily living: Are dressing, eating, toileting or other routines difficult?
Sensory needs and regulation: Does your child have difficulty participating in certain environments or regulating their emotions and body?
Social connection: Does your child need support navigating interactions, relationships or self-advocacy?
Learning and independence: Are attention, executive functioning, handwriting, literacy or other skills affecting participation at home or school?
Depending on your child's needs, their team might include a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), Occupational Therapist (OT), psychologist, behavioural clinician, psychotherapist or other professionals.
The goal isn't to collect as many therapies as possible. It's to determine which supports will make a meaningful difference in your child's communication, independence, participation and quality of life.
3. Connect With Your Child's School or Childcare Team
Your child's school or childcare providers are an important part of their support system.
Consider sharing relevant portions of your child's assessment and arranging a meeting to discuss their:
Strengths and interests
Communication style
Areas requiring support
Sensory and regulation needs
Helpful accommodations
Learning and participation goals
For school-aged children, families can also ask about an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) process when appropriate.
If your child is preparing to enter Kindergarten or Grade 1 for the first time, you may also want to investigate the OAP's Entry to School Program. Eligibility requirements apply.
Helpful resource: Ontario Autism Program — Entry to School Program
4. Explore Financial Supports
There are also financial programs that families may want to investigate.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
The Disability Tax Credit is a federal non-refundable tax credit designed to help offset some of the costs associated with severe and prolonged impairments.
Importantly, an autism diagnosis does not automatically qualify a child for the DTC. Eligibility is based on how an impairment affects everyday functioning, and the application requires information certified by an eligible medical practitioner.
Child Disability Benefit (CDB)
Families receiving the Canada Child Benefit may also qualify for the Child Disability Benefit if their child is approved for the DTC.
For July 2026 through June 2027, eligible families can receive up to $3,480 per year ($290 per month) per eligible child, with the actual amount depending on family income.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
DTC approval may also make your child eligible for a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
An RDSP is a long-term savings vehicle for people with disabilities and can provide access to government grants and bonds for eligible beneficiaries.
It's worth investigating these programs even if you're not sure your child will qualify.
5. Build Your Child's Circle of Care
Your child's support shouldn't exist in separate silos.
Depending on your child's needs, their circle of care may include:
Family, Physician/Paediatrician, SLP, OT, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Behavioural Clinician, Teachers, Childcare Providers, etc.
When appropriate, give providers permission to communicate with one another.
Sharing assessments, goals, strategies and progress can help everyone understand the bigger picture rather than focusing only on one area of development.
For example, an OT may notice that sensory regulation is affecting a child's communication. An SLP may recognize that communication difficulties are contributing to frustration at school. A teacher may see skills that aren't yet generalizing into the classroom.
Collaboration helps connect those pieces.
One More Tip: Create a Folder
You'll likely accumulate a surprising amount of paperwork over the next several years.
Create one physical or digital Autism & Development Folder and keep copies of:
Your child's diagnostic assessment
AccessOAP/OAP information
Therapy assessments
Treatment goals and progress reports
School documents and IEPs
Insurance information
DTC and CDB documentation
Funding information
Receipts
Having everything organized in one place makes it much easier when you're completing applications, meeting a new provider or advocating for supports at school.
You Don't Have to Do Everything at Once
If you're feeling overwhelmed, simplify the process.
Start with these five steps:
1. Register with AccessOAP
2. Identify your child's biggest priorities
3. Connect with school or childcare
4. Explore available financial supports
5. Build a collaborative care team
Most importantly, an autism diagnosis doesn't change who your child is.
It gives you additional information that can help you understand how they experience and interact with the world. From there, the goal is to build on their strengths and provide the communication supports, accommodations, skills and opportunities they need to participate meaningfully in everyday life.
Looking for Support?
At Kidztales Therapy & Learning Centre, our multidisciplinary team supports children and families across areas including Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Psychotherapy.
We believe support should be individualized, family-centred and focused on helping each child build confidence, participation and meaningful skills.
If you're unsure where to start after receiving a diagnosis, our team can help you identify your child's priorities and determine which services may be appropriate.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not replace individualized medical, clinical, financial, tax or legal advice. Program eligibility and funding requirements can change; families should confirm current requirements directly with the relevant government program.
Comments