Today most will agree that such self-knowledge is essential, that children need to understand how and why they may feel different from others around them…and what it means. In the absence of accurate information, all sorts of wrong conclusions may automatically fill in the gaps, which negatively affects a person’s self-knowledge. Now the question has changed to “How do I tell my child that she is autistic?” I have developed these guidelines in the years since 1990 when I first tried to explain autism to a 10-year-old boy, one of my former students. The method you use must be autism-friendly! These ideas are visually clear and orderly and feature the familiar process of sorting concrete pieces of information into two categories.

Read on for ideas about when and how to tell your child about ASD.

When to Tell Your Child

Timing. Some people recommend that the time to tell your child is at the time you discover the child’s ASD diagnosis although many parents prefer to first give themselves time to learn more. Some parents have introduced ASD to their five-year-old child. Some wait until the child is seven or eight. Many have first told their child at nine or ten years of age, or later. You know your child best. Follow your instinct.

Listen to your child. If you haven’t yet, you will know for sure that it is time to introduce the subject when he says or does something that indicates that he feels different from other children. Of course, he might not ask directly. For example, one seven-year-old boy came home after school and told his mother, “Buy me a new brain!” Keep in mind that by the time he says something aloud, it might have been on his mind for a while. For some children it may take many conversations throughout the year or the following years before they embrace, or even remember, the information. For others it clicks right away, and they feel a sense of relief!

Before puberty. Some parents do not observe any indication that their young child wonders about herself compared to peers. In any case it is usually best to tell her before puberty, even if she does not ask or indicate a question. Waiting for the time “when she is older” to tell your child will make it more difficult for both of you. There are too many new things to adjust to during puberty and adolescence. Most teenagers resist their parents telling them something that might be uncomfortable to hear at that stage – especially if it is perceived as being different than others. Of course, if you are just now discovering ASD and your child is a teenager, you did not have the option to tell her earlier. You should not wait any longer to tell her. This is information that she needs to have as she strives to make sense of daily experiences. It is important to remember that in these days of increased autism in the media, in TV, and movies, autism has been introduced to the public at a rapid rate. The chances are good that someone in your child’s life may “guess” that he is autistic, especially if aspects of his personality are like what his peers or neighbors may see on YouTube or watch in videos.

How to Tell Your Child

Familiarity. Familiarity makes things easier. Let your child hear and see the words autism or Asperger’s early on, as young as possible. Simply let him hear you and other family members use these words as part of everyday conversation. You do not necessarily have to define it when you are talking—just use the words. Related books, magazines, and videos about autism can be made visible around the home.

Write lists/get perspective. Help your child see that every person is unique with their own strengths and challenges. Help him develop perspective about his strengths and challenges—that he is not the only one who has challenges or strengths. With your child’s help print the name of each family member (and/or other significant children and adults) on separate sheets of paper. Draw a line down the center of each page, dividing it in half. Use one side for strengths, the other for challenges. Define strengths as talents – good skills – activities that might feel natural, easy, and enjoyable. Define challenges as activities that need more practice or more time to accomplish—things that may feel difficult or uninteresting. After making these lists of strengths and challenges for each person, write your child’s name at the top of another sheet of paper. (See the diagram at the end of this article.)

On your child’s paper follow the same procedure. On the “strengths” side, you then list what is true in his case – it is having a great memory or being an excellent speller-of-words. Do the same for the “challenges” side (e.g., handwriting, making friends, or whatever is true in his case.)

Then go on to add “autism” in the strength list. Use the term that is most accurate in your child’s situation, or the one that you feel most comfortable with—it may not be autism; it may be autism spectrum, ASD, Aspergers, or another term that has been given. When adding “autism” (or another term) to the list, explain that one of the reasons he has some of his strengths is that he has an autistic style of thinking and learning, which is another thing about him that is a strength. Then add the same diagnostic term to the list of his challenges. Explain that his challenges are because autism affects other parts of life that may be more difficult. Here you can also refer to him in the lists of challenges that were faced with other people in his life. Help him see that he’s not alone; everyone has challenges as well as strengths.

In good company. You might also write a list of famous people throughout history and current prominent individuals who are thought to have had characteristics related to autism. You can make similar lists (strengths and challenges) for these famous people. For example, Einstein had difficulty making friends and he had a narrow focus of interests. Be careful to make it clear that most people on the autism spectrum are not famous nor are they geniuses. Searching the Internet will reveal many well-known personalities thought (or known) to be “Aspies”. More celebrities and people in the media are sharing their own diagnoses of autism.

Ask for help from those you trust. Some parents prefer that a trusted friend, family member, or therapist introduce this information, especially if the newly diagnosed person is a teenager. Depending on your child, it may be easier for both of you if someone else introduces the diagnosis.

Type or write. Try sitting side by side at a tablet or computer and have a written conversation in silence by taking turns typing.  Ask your child, “Do you want to just read and type, or read and listen at the same time?” Remember that reading makes added information more easily digestible for autistic processing. The bonus is that you can print out the conversation and give it to her so she can read it again on her own time, in her own space. It is highly recommended for you to learn to author Social Stories™ to help you share information accurately, in a clear and respectful autism-friendly writing style. (There is a lot of misinformation about the process of writing and using Social Stories, so make sure you look for books and workshops that are authorized by Carol Gray and Team Social Stories™…and look for the trademark (TM) attached to the title.

 Lifelong process. Self-knowledge is a process that continues throughout every person’s life. Do not try to explain everything you know about ASD to your child all at once. Speak and write in a reassuring and calm manner. Keep it straightforward, simple, and clear. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Say “I don’t know. Let’s try to find the answer.” Continue the discussion as your child matures. Use my book, Autism…What Does It Mean to Me? and Communication: What Does It Mean To Me?, as well as other helpful publications and websites. It is particularly important for older children, teens, and adults to read what autistic writers have written, or lecture about. Meeting and listening to adults with autism is important both for parents and children, alike.

Self-advocacy. Knowledge is a precursor to helping your child learn to advocate for himself as he grows. He must understand his strengths and challenges—and what can help. Help him learn when and how to ask for help, and whom to turn to when he needs assistance. Educating key people in his life is also a necessity. For some teens and adults, educating others about autism, with the altruistic purpose of contributing to the betterment of society in general, has become a source of purpose, pride and accomplishment.

Self-knowledge is a lifelong process. Help your child on her journey of self-understanding in a positive, autism-friendly way.