Hi JasmineNicoleLemin,
That first step of getting an autism diagnosis is highly emotional for the family. You are right to ask for information about what to look out for.

I recommend that you consider reviewing these two resources: the Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit and the M-Chat Revised. What are these? The 100 Day Kit is an excellent, free resource that will help you make the best use of this time. You can download it from this link: https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/to...

The M-CHAT Revise is the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers/Revised.. This is a well-regarded and widely used checklist. You can go through it yourself and use it as guideline when speaking with medical practitioners or an evaluation team. See https://www.m-chat.org/about.php.

The bottom line is to get your daughter into intensive intervention with an ABA (Applied Behavior Analsysis) program as soon as possible, and to get parent training for you and her dad, so you are both on the same page in terms of increasing her productive skills.

Best wishes to you and your family as you go through these tumultuous days.

Martha Gabler
www.autismchaostocalm.com

I'm also curious about the process for that visit. My son has the same type of appointment on the 10th and I'm so nervous.