There may be a point when you, as a parent, are faced with the decision to disclose your child’s diagnosis of autism to your child.

In some families, ASD is discussed openly and freely, even during the assessment phase. For some, the label is unspoken for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons may be simply that the task of sharing feels daunting, and you may not know where to possibly begin. Of the families I have worked with over the last two decades, I have a strong belief that there are many different ways to achieve the same outcome, and whatever approach parents choose to take is always the best, as they ultimately know when and how is best for their family and child.

However, one thing to consider is to build the foundation of acceptance early and ideally share the diagnosis with your child before they hear this information from someone else. When a family asks me for input on how to discuss the diagnosis with their child, if they elect that is the best for their child and family, I tend to approach the discussion from an angle of acceptance, which can be a value-based, gentle introduction.

I propose to start from a place of acceptance of others. I may recommend children’s books that discuss diversity.
This link provides several books that address diversity and Acceptance.
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These books take a look at a giraffe who “can’t dance” due to his lanky body, a little girl, Cassidy-Li who is adopted, a story about Down Syndrome and how we all might have more in common than we think and a story where students describe their different families, including a classmate being raised by a grandmother and another growing up with two dads and more.

It may also be helpful to start with general discussions about the differences of each member of the family. What is mom great at that is challenging for dad? What can you do that your sister doesn’t like? The idea is instilling the value of acceptance of others early, celebrating individual differences, different abilities. If one can acknowledge and build genuine acceptance of others, when it comes time to discuss OUR and YOUR child’s different abilities, diagnoses, you have already instilled a sense of empowerment, strength and beauty indifference.