Caregiver resources
Guides for parents and caregivers, from the first days after a diagnosis to everyday behavior support. They are general information, not medical advice.
Content pending BCBA review
Newly diagnosed
A new autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming. These steps can help.
- Learn about autism. Knowing more about autism and how it affects your child helps you make informed choices. Trusted sources include the Autism Society of America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Autism Research Institute.
- Build a support network. Reach out to other families and groups who know autism firsthand.
- Find the right professionals. Developmental pediatricians, speech therapists, occupational therapists and behavior therapists can all help. Look for people who fit your child's needs.
- Make a plan. Work with those professionals on a plan of therapies that support your child's development.
- Take care of yourself. Make time for your own rest, so you can keep caring for your child well.
- Focus on your child's strengths. Notice and grow your child's own abilities and interests.
- Stay hopeful. Keep a hopeful mindset while you find what works for your child.
Positive Behavior Support
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a research-based approach. It teaches and rewards positive behaviors instead of punishing challenging ones, and it prevents challenging behaviors by making the day structured and supportive. It is used at school, at home and in mental health care, and works especially well for people with autism. Here are six ways therapists and caregivers teach replacement skills, so positive behaviors take the place of challenging ones.
- Teach social skills. Practice greeting people, asking questions and sharing, through games and everyday moments, with an adult guiding.
- Adjust the space. Set up the room to support positive behavior, for example a work area with fewer distractions.
- Plan ahead for hard moments. If changes are hard for your child, prepare them early: explain what will happen, use pictures, or give extra time to adjust.
- Model the behavior. Show the behavior you want to see, like staying calm when angry or asking for help.
- Use visual supports. Pictures and visual cues show expectations, routines and instructions. They make things clearer and ease worry in new situations.
- Reinforce progress. Set clear, reachable goals and reward progress. For example, better focus can earn time for a favorite activity.
Questions families ask
Answers to common questions about ABA therapy: how long it takes, how often, school, insurance and how parents take part.