The first 90 days after an autism diagnosis

01The short answer

You don’t have to do everything at once. In the first two weeks, gather the report and start a records folder. Over the next month, request early intervention or a school evaluation and get on the developmental disability lists that have long waits. By day 90, have childcare and support that fit your week, and a simple way to keep track of it all.

You can start early intervention or school referrals while you’re gathering records; you don’t need to wait until day 15.

This guide covers the practical steps in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Your child’s clinicians guide decisions about therapy and treatment.

02Days 1 to 14: records and questions

• Get the written report. Ask for a copy of the full evaluation, not just the summary, and any recommendations in writing.
• Start one folder. Paper or digital: the report, school records, insurance cards and letters, and a running log of calls with dates and names.
• Write down your questions for the clinician who made the diagnosis: which services they recommend, how often, and who provides them.
• Check your insurance for what it covers for the recommended services, and whether referrals or prior authorizations are needed.

03Days 15 to 45: early intervention, school and waiting lists

Under age 3: early intervention

Early intervention is for children from birth to age 3. You don’t need a diagnosis to refer, and parents can refer directly.

• Maryland: refer online at referral.mditp.org, or call Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers at 240-777-3997.
• DC: Strong Start DC Early Intervention, (202) 727-3665 or eip.osse.dc.gov.
• Northern Virginia: Infant & Toddler Connection of Fairfax–Falls Church 703-246-7121, Alexandria 703-746-3363, Arlington 703-228-1630.

Age 3 and older: your school system

From age 3, evaluations for special education go through the public school system. In Montgomery County, MCPS Child Find screens children from age 3 until kindergarten (240-740-2170). For a school-age child, put your request for a special education evaluation in writing to the school and keep a copy.

Developmental disability agencies

Applying early matters because waits for waiver services are long.

• Maryland: apply to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (Montgomery County families: Southern Maryland Regional Office, (301) 362-5100). To join the Autism Waiver registry, call 866-417-3480. The state reported a wait of seven years four months as of February 4, 2026. See our Maryland DDA and Autism Waiver guide.
• DC: the Department on Disability Services runs DC’s IDD and Individual and Family Support waivers, which serve eligible adults age 18 and older. For a younger child, DDS is part of planning for adulthood rather than an early step. Intake: (202) 730-1700 or dds-dda.intake@dc.gov.
• Northern Virginia: the first step for Virginia’s DD Waivers is your Community Services Board. Fairfax–Falls Church 703-324-4400; Alexandria’s Children and Youth Developmental Disability Program 703-346-9893.

Want help sorting this out for your family? Send us a question

04Days 46 to 90: care, support and money

• Childcare that fits. Think about the hours you need covered and what a caregiver must know about your child. Our guide to choosing between a babysitter, a nanny and specialized childcare walks through the options.
• Respite. County programs, waivers and private care each work differently. See respite options compared.
• Money. Childcare that lets you work can often be paid from a dependent care FSA. See our FSA guide.
• Other parents. Family Ties of DC offers parent-to-parent support, (202) 459-4002. DC Health’s program for children and youth with special health care needs includes family navigation, (202) 442-5925. In Montgomery County, the Community Support Network is at 240-777-1216.

Write a short care plan before anyone new looks after your child. It helps grandparents, sitters and new providers alike.

One-page care plan template

Write down what any caregiver needs to know about your child: communication, routines, what helps in hard moments, safety and handoffs.

Download the template1-page PDF · 96 KB

05A 90-day checklist

06If you’re still waiting for an evaluation

Waits are common. In a national survey of autism centers, 61% reported waits longer than four months. While you wait:

• Refer to early intervention if your child is under 3. A diagnosis isn’t needed.
• Ask to be placed on more than one waitlist, and on cancellation lists.
• Local programs include Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation in Baltimore ((443) 923-9400, option 1), Children’s National’s Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Rockville (301-765-5432; currently accepting referrals only for children under 6 or for gender and autism care needs) and Inova Children’s Developmental Pediatrics in Fairfax (571-472-4300; new patients up to age 16).

07Where Novinway can help

Navigation Services can help you work out what to do first and take on the practical work, so the next steps actually happen. You make the decisions. Care Services provides specialized in-home childcare from Care Specialists prepared for your child, so you have time for the rest.

Sources

Program rules, phone numbers and figures change. We checked each source below in October 2026; confirm details with the program before you rely on them.

• Maryland Autism Strategy annual report (July 2026), February 4, 2026 waitlist data
• CDC: Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder
• Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program referral
• Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program
• MCPS Child Find
• Strong Start DC Early Intervention (OSSE)
• Fairfax–Falls Church Infant & Toddler Connection
• Alexandria Parent Infant Education program
• Maryland DDA eligibility and application
• MSDE Autism Waiver fact sheet
• Maryland Department of Health report on waiver waitlists (2025)
• DC DDS: How to apply for services
• Virginia DBHDS waiver services
• Fairfax–Falls Church CSB developmental disabilities intake
• Kennedy Krieger CASSI appointments
• Children’s National autism referral guidelines
• Inova Children’s Developmental Pediatrics
• CMS: Wait times for autism diagnostic evaluations (survey report)