Your Child Just Received an Autism Diagnosis in the UK — Here Are Your Next Steps

The moment a clinician tells you that your child is autistic is rarely straightforward. Even when you have been expecting it — perhaps even hoping for it, because a diagnosis means answers and access to support — it can still bring a rush of complicated emotions. Relief, grief, clarity, overwhelm, love, worry. All of these are completely normal responses, and all of them can exist at the same time.

When you are ready — and there is no rush — this guide will walk you through the practical steps that follow an autism diagnosis. You do not need to do everything at once. Work through this at your own pace.

Give yourself and your child time to process

Before doing anything else: pause. The diagnosis is not an emergency. Taking a few days or weeks to absorb what you have heard is not wasting time. Talk to your partner if you have one. Talk to your child, if they are old enough and it feels right. Give yourself permission to feel whatever you feel.

Many autistic children, when told they are autistic, describe feeling relieved — finally having an explanation for why things have always felt harder. Others need time to process. There is no single right reaction from your child either.

Make sure you receive and understand the report

If you were assessed privately or through the NHS, you should receive a full written diagnostic report. Read it carefully. Make sure you understand what it says and what it recommends. If there is anything you do not understand, contact the assessing clinic and ask for clarification.

Keep this report somewhere accessible. You will use it repeatedly in the years ahead — for school applications, EHCP processes, DLA claims, CAMHS referrals, and every time a new professional becomes involved in your child’s care. Keep both a physical and a digital copy.

Tell your child’s school

Notify the school as soon as you feel ready. Share a copy of the diagnostic report with the SENCO. Ask for a meeting to discuss what support will now be put in place. A diagnosis significantly strengthens a request for additional resources and specialist provision.

If your child was already on the SEND register under SEN Support, the diagnosis may prompt a review of what support is in place. If they were not previously on the register, ask for them to be added now and for a support plan to be developed.

Consider applying for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

An EHC plan is a legally binding document that sets out your child’s educational, health, and care needs and the specific provision that must be put in place to meet them. Not every autistic child needs one — many are well supported under SEN Support — but if your child has complex or significant needs, an EHCP provides stronger legal protection and access to more specialist provision.

You can request an EHC needs assessment from your local authority at any time — the autism diagnosis will support the request. The local authority has six weeks to respond to your request and must complete the assessment process within 20 weeks. Your local SENDIASS can advise you on whether an EHCP is appropriate for your child and support you through the process.

Register the diagnosis with your GP

Ask the diagnosing clinic to send a copy of the report to your GP, or share a copy yourself. Ask your GP to add the diagnosis to your child’s records. This is important for future NHS referrals, medication reviews, and accessing health-based support.

If the diagnosis was private, your GP cannot refuse to add it to your child’s records, provided it was made by a suitably qualified professional.

Apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Many autistic children in the UK are entitled to Disability Living Allowance — a non-means-tested benefit that helps meet the extra costs associated with a disability or health condition. An autism diagnosis, combined with evidence of the impact on daily life, frequently supports a successful DLA claim.

DLA is not automatic — you need to apply. The form is long and detailed. Organisations such as the National Autistic Society and Contact (the charity for families of disabled children) offer guidance on completing it. SENDIASS can also help.

Ask for referrals to NHS support services

Your GP can now refer your child to relevant NHS services based on the diagnosis. Depending on your child’s needs, this might include:

• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) — for mental health support, anxiety management, or emotional regulation
• NHS speech and language therapy — if communication support is needed
• NHS occupational therapy — if sensory processing or motor coordination is a concern
• Community paediatrics — for ongoing health management and medication assessment if relevant

Be aware that NHS waiting times for all of these services are currently long. If your child needs support sooner than the NHS can provide, private therapists are available. The SEND List directory covers speech therapists, occupational therapists, and autism specialists across the UK.

Connect with other families

One of the most valuable things you can do after an autism diagnosis is connect with other parents who have been through it. Local parent support groups, online communities, and charities can provide practical advice, emotional support, and a sense of not being alone.

The National Autistic Society has a comprehensive online community and helpline. Many local areas also have parent carer forums that can link you to local resources and family support workers.

Tell family and friends — on your terms

There is no obligation to tell anyone about your child’s diagnosis before you are ready. Think about who needs to know and how much to share. Some families find it helpful to share widely; others prefer privacy. Both are valid.

If you decide to tell extended family, some may respond with support and understanding immediately; others may take longer to adjust or may express views rooted in outdated ideas about autism. Prepare yourself for a range of reactions, and remember that you do not need to educate everyone at once.

Think about your child’s strengths

The period after diagnosis can feel like a long list of challenges, referrals, and forms. Amid all of this, make time to recognise and celebrate who your child is — their interests, their humour, their particular way of seeing the world. An autism diagnosis is a description of how your child’s brain works, not a ceiling on who they can become.

Useful guides for next steps

• What to do while waiting for an autism assessment (if you are still waiting)
• NHS autism waiting lists: your options
• Autism and ADHD together: what to know

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