The appointment is over. You are sitting in your car. And you do not know what to do next.
The pediatrician said the words. Maybe you expected them. Maybe they came as a complete surprise. Either way, you probably walked out of that office with a piece of paper, a referral, and a feeling that can only be described as: now what?
An autism diagnosis opens a door into a world most parents have never had to navigate before. A world of acronyms — ABA, BCBA, IEP, IDEA. A world of waitlists and authorizations and evaluations. A world where you are suddenly expected to become an expert in something you have never studied, for someone you love more than anything.
The good news: you do not have to figure it all out today. But there are specific questions that will help you move forward faster, more confidently, and with less wasted time. And your pediatrician — the person who just handed you this diagnosis — is one of the most important people to ask them to.
The first appointment after a diagnosis is not the end of a process. It is the beginning of one. Come prepared.
Before we get to the questions: understand your pediatrician’s role
Your pediatrician is not an autism specialist. They are a general practitioner who identified developmental concerns and connected the dots early enough to get your child evaluated — which is genuinely valuable and important.
But the road ahead requires specialists. Behavioral analysts. Developmental pediatricians. Educational advocates. Speech therapists. Your pediatrician’s job is to point you in the right direction. Your job is to know which direction to ask about.
Here are the seven questions that will help you do exactly that.
Question 1: What type of autism diagnosis did my child receive, and what does it mean for their development?
Since the DSM-5 consolidated autism subtypes into a single spectrum diagnosis in 2013, most children receive a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder — sometimes with a noted severity level (Level 1, 2, or 3) or co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, or language delay.
Ask your pediatrician to explain what specifically was observed in your child’s evaluation, what developmental areas are most affected, and what that typically means in terms of the kind of support your child will need. This is the foundation for everything that follows.
Question 2: Should I pursue ABA therapy — and how soon?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most extensively researched behavioral intervention for autism spectrum disorder. It is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and covered by most insurance plans in Florida. For many children — particularly those under 6 — it is the recommended first-line intervention.
Ask your pediatrician whether ABA is appropriate for your child’s specific profile, what age range and developmental stage tends to respond best, and whether there are any reasons to prioritize a different intervention first. In most cases, the answer will be: start ABA as soon as possible.
Question 3: What documentation do I need to begin ABA therapy?
Starting ABA therapy requires documentation. Specifically: a formal written diagnosis from a licensed clinician, your child’s developmental and medical history, and in many cases, a referral letter from the diagnosing physician.
Ask your pediatrician to provide whatever documentation they can at this appointment — and to clarify what additional records you will need to gather. Having your paperwork ready before you contact an ABA clinic significantly accelerates the intake process.
Question 4: Will our insurance cover ABA therapy in Florida?
Florida law requires most commercial insurance plans to cover ABA therapy for children with an autism diagnosis. Medicaid also covers ABA services for eligible children. But coverage details vary significantly by plan, and the prior authorization process can be complex.
Ask your pediatrician whether they have experience working with families navigating ABA coverage in Florida, whether they can provide a letter of medical necessity (often required for insurance authorization), and whether they can refer you to a clinic that handles insurance coordination on the family’s behalf.
Question 5: Are there other evaluations my child needs right now?
An autism diagnosis is often the beginning of an evaluation journey, not the end of it. Depending on your child’s profile, additional assessments may be recommended — a speech and language evaluation to assess communication needs, an occupational therapy evaluation for sensory and motor skills, a neuropsychological evaluation if cognitive or learning differences are suspected, or an educational evaluation if your child is school-age.
Ask your pediatrician which additional evaluations they recommend, in what order of priority, and whether any of them need to happen before ABA therapy begins or can run concurrently.
Question 6: How do I navigate the school system for a child with autism?
If your child is school-age — or approaching school age — the educational system is about to become a significant part of your life. Children with autism are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which includes the right to an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Ask your pediatrician to explain your child’s educational rights and to recommend whether you should request an IEP evaluation from your school district immediately. The evaluation process has legal timelines — and starting it early matters.
Question 7: What should I expect in the next 90 days?
The period immediately following a diagnosis is often the most disorienting. Families are flooded with information, referrals, recommendations, and decisions. Having a clear short-term roadmap makes an enormous difference.
Ask your pediatrician to give you a prioritized 90-day plan: which steps to take first, which can wait, and what milestones to aim for. A good pediatrician will not just hand you a referral list — they will help you sequence it.
One more thing: find an ABA clinic that does not make you wait
You will leave your pediatrician’s office with a referral for ABA therapy. What you do with that referral in the next 48 hours will matter more than almost anything else.
The most common mistake parents make at this stage is waiting. Waiting to feel ready. Waiting to understand the insurance. Waiting for the right time. Meanwhile, the weeks pass — and the research on early intervention is unambiguous: the earlier ABA therapy begins, the better the outcomes.
At WeClinic Health, we built our intake process specifically for families who have just received a diagnosis and need to move fast. One phone call. Insurance handled by our team. Initial BCBA evaluation within days. First therapy session within two weeks.
You do not need to have it all figured out before you call us. That is what we are here for.
Ready to learn more? WeClinic Health offers BCBA-supervised ABA therapy across South Florida with no waiting list. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation or verify your insurance benefits.
📞 (305) 429-9092 | 🌐 weclinic.us