| Parents spend a lot of time looking for the proper | | | | from square one. We can build on the information |
| diagnosis. Although a diagnosis is important for | | | | from other parents. |
| several reasons it is only a tool. It gives parents a | | | | Unfortunately, some parents get a diagnosis and |
| framework to start working with. | | | | another and another. Of course, it is possible for a |
| A diagnosis allows parents to look at whether or | | | | child to have several diagnoses that are correct. |
| not a specific behavior is typical for a child with | | | | The frustrating part is when a parent thinks that |
| Autism. Children being children, some behaviors will | | | | they have a diagnosis and therefore the answer. |
| be part of the diagnosis and some behaviors will | | | | A diagnosis is just a tool for parents to use. So |
| be ones that are typical for a lot of children. That | | | | going back to the original question 'Is your child |
| is always one of the things to look at, is the | | | | Autistic?'. Will the answer make a difference to |
| behavior for someone at my child's age or | | | | the way you raise your child or the way you love |
| developmental level. | | | | your child? |
| It also allows parents to start with a variety of | | | | Do not become overly vested in the diagnosis. |
| interventions that have already worked for other | | | | There are many other tasks for the average |
| people with that diagnosis. Basically parents of | | | | parent. Of course there are extra tasks when |
| children with Autism will not always have to start | | | | you are the parent of a child with Autism. |