10 Tips on How to Process Your Child's Neurodiverse Diagnosis

10 Tips on How to Process Your Child’s Neurodiverse Diagnosis

By the Guiding Bright Minds Team

?If your child was just diagnosed with a neurodiversity, you may have many conflicting emotions. You may feel relieved to finally have a diagnosis. You may feel overwhelmed and exhausted. You may feel nervous about what is to come, or how the diagnosis will impact your lives. All these feelings are normal, and you are not alone in them. Thousands of families have gone through this and are on this journey with you.

?Learning about learning disabilities and figuring out how to best support your child can be a lifelong process of discovery for you and your family. Here are 10 steps to get you started.

1. Take care of yourself:

Give yourself time to process any feelings and emotions, whether through therapy, support groups, or trusted friends and family members. Surround yourself with the right community support, professionals support, and peer mentoring/group support. It is okay to grieve and to feel lost, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help.?Let others help by cooking meals, providing childcare, or helping with errands so you can find time to do the things you love.?Whether it is taking a 20-minute walk, reading a good book, meditating, watching a movie, going to a spa,…find ways to recharge, relax and experience pleasure and joy. Find a support system of parents who have a neurodiverse child. They will understand firsthand the journey you are on.

Podcasts for parents:

Parenting Your Challenging Child ,

TILT Parenting: Raising Differently Wired Kids ,

The Blissful Mind ,

In It: Supporting Kids Who Learn and Think Differently

You can do this! And remember, even if you feel unqualified and lost, you are the best person to give your child the love and support they need.

2. Share the diagnosis with your child:

If you haven’t already, you may need to explain the diagnosis to your child. You can start by discussing your child’s strengths and difficulties, and then introduce the concept of neurodiversity, and basic information about it.?Assure your child that neurodiversity is something they have, not the sum of who they are. Every family’s conversation around this will look different, and that is totally okay--you know your child and what they need best!

3. Share the diagnosis with others:

You will also need to explain the diagnosis to other siblings, family members, and perhaps your child’s peers and friends. Although this can be nerve-racking, many friends and family members will likely be very accepting of the diagnosis and will want to do all they can to support you and your child.

4. Get your information organized:

A great way to do this is with a simple binder and dividers, or even a Google Drive.?Some sections you might want to include are:

○????Contact information for service providers/caregivers

○????Diagnosis information like medical documents and prescription information

○????Therapy information about each service that your child receives

○????Individualized Education Program (IEP) information, with documents related to your child’s IEP and time in school

○????Insurance information and paperwork

Another thing you will want to create is an organized daily/weekly planner, to track any appointments, deadlines, or program dates.

5. Complete evaluations:

?Evaluations can be a great source of information about your child’s strengths and needs. You may be put on a waiting list for a complete evaluation, in some circumstances. Don’t be discouraged by a long waitlist! This can be common, but there are plenty of things you can work on while you wait. You should also contact your child’s school about special education services and get started with the evaluation process involved for that.?Understand the different evaluations: The Difference Between a Medical Diagnosis and an Educational Diagnosis

6. Look into treatment options:

Speak with your child’s providers and research online to learn about treatment options. Make sure that your research comes from trusted sources, such as websites ending in .gov, .org, or .edu. Any treatment option you choose should be evidence-based and verified to be effective through reputable scientific studies. Other families of children with NEURODIVERSITY can also be a great resource for finding methods of treatment that may work for your family.

7. Find out about insurance:

Call your health insurance to find out what therapies they will cover. Everything in your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan, through the public school system), will be fully covered under federal law. However, your child may require additional support outside of school that may or may not be covered. Track all insurance claims in your binder.

8. Begin building your child’s team:

It is important to develop a team of trusted providers to support you and your child on this journey. This team may include health care providers, therapists, caregivers, teachers, and other service professionals.

Guiding Bright Minds has partnered with several local professionals to make your search easier. All the providers in our community have gone through a screening process to ensure that they meet the industry’s highest quality standards, and that they align with our mission to recognize the brilliance of each child. Visit our DIRECTORY today.

Other families can be a great resource for finding providers, or you can use the resources of a non-profit organization like CHADD, Understood or the PEAK Parent Center to find providers near you.

It is important to ensure that all the people who work with your child act as a team with regular communication, aligned goals, and cohesive methods of teaching and behavior management. A good way to start strong is by setting up a team meeting for everyone that works with your child to discuss communication methods, how often you will be in touch, and the measurable goals that you will prioritize.?

9. Set up a safety plan:

Putting precautionary measures in place can ensure that your child will remain safe if this type of incident occurs. Depending on each situation and circumstance, you may want to inform your local police and fire department about your child’s needs. This is important if they wander off or could harm themselves or someone else. Look around your house for possible safety hazards, or triggers that may cause your child to wander. You may want to inform your neighbors about your child’s needs and install childproof locks around your house and yard. Finally, discuss your concerns with your child’s school. Ensure that all issues are documented in the IEP, and that the school has proper measures in place to keep your child safe. Make sure that this is an early goal for treatment in and outside of school.

10. Take extra time for yourself:

?The initial work involved in learning about your child’s needs and how to care for them can be immense. Leave extra time in the next few weeks to get some space, either alone, with your partner, or with close friends/family members. You don’t have to be with your child all the time and taking care of yourself will give you the strength and energy you need to support them. Engage in fun, relaxing activities that you used to enjoy before the diagnosis. Celebrate your progress and appreciate yourself for all the hard work that you have done.

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