How to Share Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis with Their School

A guide for parents / carers:

If your child has been diagnosed with autism, it’s important to talk to their school. This helps the school understand your child better and support them in the right way.

Here are some tips on how to talk to the school and involve your child in the process.

Talking to the school

• If your child doesn’t have a support plan, ask to create one with the school. This plan should be reviewed regularly and updated as needed.
• If your child already has support, check if it needs to be updated after the diagnosis. Use any recommendations from the autism assessment to make changes.
• Bring your child’s diagnosis report to the meeting and highlight the areas where your child needs support. This will help the school staff understand their needs.
• Go through the report before the meeting and write down any questions you have. This can help you stay focussed.
• It can be helpful to bring another person to the meeting for support.

Involving your child

• If your child is old enough to understand their diagnosis, involve them in meetings and discussions. It’s important for them to share their thoughts.
• They might need support during these meetings. For example, they could attend online, use fidget toys, have snacks, or have a list of the meeting points to help them feel comfortable.
• If your child doesn’t want to attend, ask for their opinions beforehand and share them with the school during the meeting.

Remember

Your child’s diagnosis report includes information about their strengths, challenges, and recommended support. This can help you and the school make a plan that fits your child’s needs.