Autism Evaluation Guide
This guide is here to walk you through each step of the journey to an Autism Evaluation for your child with clear information, helpful resources, and compassionate support. We've included a free 17 page printable workbook full of resources to help you keep track of the important details. We know first hand how overwhelming this process can be, and at North Haven, our passion is linking arms with parents like you to lighten the load. If you never feel as stressed as we did, we know we've done our job well.
Things to Consider
BEFORE SEEKING A DISGNOSIS
Before stepping into the autism evaluation process, it’s important to build a strong foundation for your family. Think of this as preparing for a long hike—you wouldn’t just walk out the door and hope for the best. You’d pack a backpack with water, first aid supplies, and snacks to ensure you’re ready for the journey ahead. The same mindset applies here. Taking proactive steps now will help you navigate this process with confidence and resilience.
Seeking an autism diagnosis for your child can be an emotional and demanding process, filled with uncertainty and tough decisions. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed at times, but taking care of yourself is just as important as caring for your child. When you prioritize your well-being, you’ll have more patience, energy, and clarity to advocate effectively.
Therapy, self-care, and plugging in to a community who understands what you're going through can provide invaluable support. Speaking with a therapist—whether individually or in a support group—can help you process emotions, manage stress, and develop strategies for handling challenges. Parent coaching or family therapy can also offer practical tools for communication and problem-solving.
Beyond professional support, simple self-care practices can make a big difference. Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help you stay grounded during stressful moments. Physical activity, like walking, yoga, or even dancing in the kitchen, can reduce anxiety and boost your mood. Taking small breaks, journaling, or connecting with friends who understand your journey can also provide much-needed relief.
Most importantly, your ability to regulate yourself directly impacts your child’s ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors. When you manage stress and stay calm in difficult moments, you create a sense of safety for your child, helping them feel more secure and supported.
Raising an autistic child often comes with unexpected expenses—specialized therapies, adaptive equipment, and additional educational support. Establishing a solid financial foundation now can help reduce stress later.
Five Rings Financial in Oklahoma City offers valuable resources to help families navigate financial planning, including a free class called Money 101, held once a month, which covers essential financial literacy topics like saving, investing, and protecting your wealth. They also provide free financial advising services to help families create a personalized strategy for long-term financial stability.
If you’d like to learn more or get connected with Five Rings Financial’s classes and services, enter your name, phone number, and email address, and we’ll reach out with more information!
As parents, we do everything we can to protect and provide for our children, especially when we suspect they may face unique challenges. If you're considering seeking an autism diagnosis for your child, one thing you may not have thought about is the importance of securing life insurance before a diagnosis is on record. It’s not just about planning for the unexpected—it’s about ensuring your child’s financial future, maintaining their insurability, and providing a safety net for any medical or care needs that may arise. Having a policy in place early can lock in coverage before any official health conditions impact eligibility, giving your child lifelong financial protection and security.
In a situation like yours, it's vital to understand that not all life insurance policies are created equal. Traditional policies only offer a payout in the event of death, but newer policies with Living Benefits provide financial support while the insured is still alive. These modern policies allow access to funds in the case of serious illness, injury, or medical conditions, offering a crucial safety net for families facing unexpected health challenges.
Here’s why choosing a policy with Living Benefits before an autism diagnosis can make all the difference in your child’s future.
1. Locking in Coverage Before Potential Ineligibility
Many life insurance policies consider autism a pre-existing condition, which can make it difficult or impossible to secure coverage after diagnosis.
By obtaining a policy before diagnosis, you ensure lifelong coverage that cannot be denied later due to medical conditions.
2. Living Benefits Provide Financial Support for Medical and Therapy Costs
Some policies come with living benefits, which allow you to access a portion of the death benefit while still alive in case of a qualifying illness or condition.
If your child requires specialized therapies, treatments, or care due to autism, you may be able to use these benefits to help cover expenses that insurance may not fully support.
3. Ensuring Future Insurability
Once the policy is in place, your child will have coverage even if their medical condition changes.
Many policies include options for increasing coverage over time without requiring additional medical exams.
4. Protection Against Lost Income and Caregiving Costs
Parents of children with autism may face higher caregiving demands, which can lead to reduced work hours or lost income.
Living benefits from the policy can provide a financial cushion to help parents focus on their child’s care without severe financial strain.
5. Potential for Cash Value Growth
If the policy includes a cash value component, it can grow over time and be accessed for future needs like education, medical costs, or support services.
6. Peace of Mind for Long-Term Care Needs
Children with autism may require lifelong care, and having a financial safety net ensures they receive the best possible support, even if parents are no longer around.
Want to learn more?
Enter your information below to be connected with a Living Benefits specialist from
Five Rings Financial.
As parents, we do everything we can to protect and provide for our children, especially when we suspect they may face unique challenges. If you're considering seeking an autism diagnosis for your child, one thing you may not have thought about is the importance of securing life insurance before a diagnosis is on record. It’s not just about planning for the unexpected—it’s about ensuring your child’s financial future, maintaining their insurability, and providing a safety net for any medical or care needs that may arise. Having a policy in place early can lock in coverage before any official health conditions impact eligibility, giving your child lifelong financial protection and security.
In a situation like yours, it's vital to understand that not all life insurance policies are created equal. Traditional policies only offer a payout in the event of death, but newer policies with Living Benefits provide financial support while the insured is still alive. These modern policies allow access to funds in the case of serious illness, injury, or medical conditions, offering a crucial safety net for families facing unexpected health challenges.
Here’s why choosing a policy with Living Benefits before an autism diagnosis can make all the difference in your child’s future.
1. Locking in Coverage Before Potential Ineligibility
Many life insurance policies consider autism a pre-existing condition, which can make it difficult or impossible to secure coverage after diagnosis.
By obtaining a policy before diagnosis, you ensure lifelong coverage that cannot be denied later due to medical conditions.
2. Living Benefits Provide Financial Support for Medical and Therapy Costs
Some policies come with living benefits, which allow you to access a portion of the death benefit while still alive in case of a qualifying illness or condition.
If your child requires specialized therapies, treatments, or care due to autism, you may be able to use these benefits to help cover expenses that insurance may not fully support.
3. Ensuring Future Insurability
Once the policy is in place, your child will have coverage even if their medical condition changes.
Many policies include options for increasing coverage over time without requiring additional medical exams.
4. Protection Against Lost Income and Caregiving Costs
Parents of children with autism may face higher caregiving demands, which can lead to reduced work hours or lost income.
Living benefits from the policy can provide a financial cushion to help parents focus on their child’s care without severe financial strain.
5. Potential for Cash Value Growth
If the policy includes a cash value component, it can grow over time and be accessed for future needs like education, medical costs, or support services.
6. Peace of Mind for Long-Term Care Needs
Children with autism may require lifelong care, and having a financial safety net ensures they receive the best possible support, even if parents are no longer around.
Want to learn more?
Complete the form below to get connected with a Living Benefits Specialist at Five Rings Financial
Before booking an evaluation, call your insurance provider to understand what’s covered. Some providers may be in-network, while others require out-of-pocket costs. Knowing this upfront can help you narrow down your options and avoid unexpected expenses. Make sure you have your insurance card handy!
Use the Hold Music & Health Plans resource on pages 4-5 in your workbook to make the call to you insurance company just a little more bearable!
Check Insurance
Coverage First
Keeping track of multiple providers and all their information can quickly become overwhelming. Stay on top of everything by keeping a dedicated record of the providers you contact, including their contact information, waitlist length, insurance acceptance, and referral requirements. Having all the details in one place will help you compare options easily and make the process feel more manageable.
In true North Haven fashion, we've done the leg-work for you. Take advantage of pages 5-7 in your workbook to help you keep your ducks in a row.
Stay Organized
Keeping track of multiple providers and all their information can quickly become overwhelming. Stay on top of everything by keeping a dedicated record of the providers you contact, including their contact information, waitlist length, insurance acceptance, and referral requirements. Having all the details in one place will help you compare options easily and make the process feel more manageable.
In true North Haven fashion, we've done the leg-work for you. Take advantage of pages 5-7 in your workbook to help you keep your ducks in a row.
Stay Organized
Not sure what to say? Here's a simple script:
"Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m just starting the process of getting an autism evaluation for my child.
I have a few questions for you:
1. What is your current wait time for an appointment?
2. Do you accept [your insurance provider]?
3. Do you require a referral?
4. Is there anything else I would need to do before scheduling with you?"
Wait times for autism evaluations can vary from weeks to over a year. Set aside time during regular business hours to call multiple providers to ask about their waitlist times and how long it will take to get your child scheduled. And don't forget to charge your phone!
Be Ready to
Make Calls
NORTH HAVEN PRO TIPS
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Knowing which providers have shorter wait times will help you act quickly.
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You’ll come to your pediatrician prepared with options for referrals.
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Being proactive ensures your child is placed on a waitlist as soon as possible.
The Oklahoma Autism Provider Directory contains a list of providers across the state offering autism evaluations and diagnoses. This resource will help you locate specialists near you.
"Why should I do this first?"
Finding an Evaluation Provider
Step 1
Getting Support NOW
Step 2
Early intervention is key to helping children build important skills and reach their full potential. By getting connected with the right resources, you can ensure that your child has the best possible support while you pursue an autism evaluation. Starting now means you’ll have more resources, more guidance, and more opportunities to help your child thrive.
Choose the dropdown option below that best represents your child's age to learn more about how to get the ball rolling.
What is SoonerStart?
SoonerStart is Oklahoma’s Early Intervention Program for children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities. The goal of SoonerStart is to provide early support that helps improve developmental outcomes, including communication, motor skills, social-emotional development, and overall learning.
No autism diagnosis is required to qualify for SoonerStart services—eligibility is based on developmental delays. If your child is showing signs of delays, starting intervention early can make a huge difference.
What Services Does SoonerStart Offer?
SoonerStart provides free in-home or community-based services, which may include:
✔ Speech Therapy – Helps with communication and language development.
✔ Occupational Therapy – Supports sensory processing, motor skills, and daily activities.
✔ Physical Therapy – Assists with movement, balance, and coordination.
✔ Developmental Services – Helps promote learning and social engagement.
✔ Family Education & Support – Provides coaching to help parents support their child’s development at home.
What is SoonerSUCCESS?
SoonerSUCCESS is a statewide resource program that helps families navigate services for children with special needs. They provide personalized guidance to connect families with medical, educational, and community-based support. SoonerSUCCESS does not provide direct therapy or evaluations, but they help families understand their options and connect with the right resources quickly and efficiently.
How Can SoonerSUCCESS Help?
✔ Assist in navigating SoonerStart and other early intervention programs.
✔ Help families understand and apply for SoonerCare (Medicaid), therapy services, and other healthcare options.
✔ Guide parents through developmental screenings and referrals for autism evaluations.
✔ Provide information about financial assistance, respite care, and in-home support.
How To Get Connected
Fill out the form below to request a referral to SoonerStart and SoonerSUCCESS from North Haven. Once submitted, we’ll help guide you through the next steps so your child can begin receiving the necessary services as soon as possible.
SoonerStart and SoonerSUCCESS
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, we encourage you to take action early. In Oklahoma, there are two key programs that can help guide you through this process and connect your child with essential services.
Understanding Your Options For In-School Support
Get Connected with SoonerSUCCESS
When navigating school-based services, SoonerSUCCESS is an invaluable resource. SoonerSUCCESS does not provide direct therapy or evaluations, but they can help you understand your options and get connected with the right services faster. It is a statewide program that assists families of children with special needs by connecting them with educational, medical, and community-based services.
How Can SoonerSuccess Help?
✔ Help families navigate school-based services like IEPs and 504 Plans.
✔ Provide referrals for autism evaluations and therapy services.
✔ Assist with SoonerCare (Medicaid) enrollment for therapy coverage.
✔ Connect families with community support programs, respite care, and financial assistance.
Fill out the form below to request a referral to SoonerSUCCESS from North Haven. Once submitted, our team will help guide you through the next steps so you can access the services your child needs.