Hearing that your child is autistic can bring many feelings at once: relief at finally having an explanation, worry about the future, grief for the path you imagined, and pressure from relatives with opinions. This page is for you, the parent. It covers what Mindara can offer, what it can’t, and where to go for the rest.
What Mindara offers, and what it doesn’t
On Mindara you can get:
- counselling for you as a parent, for stress, guilt, grief, worry about the future and strain in your relationship;
- parent guidance from providers who work with autistic children, on routines, communication at home, sleep, meltdowns and behaviour that is hard to manage;
- support for brothers, sisters and the wider family;
- help planning next steps, and follow-up support after an in-person assessment.
Mindara does not offer:
- formal autism assessments or diagnosis online;
- disability certificates;
- intensive daily therapy programmes, such as applied behaviour analysis (ABA).
These need an in-person team. Speech therapy and occupational therapy for young children are also usually best started in person with a local therapist. Online parent support works well alongside all of them.
Where to get an autism assessment in India
A formal assessment usually involves observing your child in person, structured play-based tasks and a detailed developmental history. It may be done by:
- a developmental paediatrician or paediatric neurologist;
- a child and adolescent psychiatrist;
- a clinical psychologist registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), often as part of a team.
Free and low-cost options include District Early Intervention Centres at district hospitals, run under the government’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), which list autism among the conditions they screen and support, and child development or child psychiatry services at government medical colleges. Take short videos of the behaviours that worry you, school reports, and notes on when your child reached milestones such as first words.
Autism spectrum disorder is one of the 21 disabilities recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. A disability certificate, issued by a government-notified medical authority, can open up support at school and government benefits. The team that assesses your child can explain how to apply in your state.
The first weeks after a diagnosis
- Take time to feel it. Mixed feelings are normal and don’t mean you love your child any less.
- It isn’t your fault. Autism is a difference in how the brain develops. It isn’t caused by your parenting.
- Learn your child’s profile. Every autistic child is different. Ask the assessment team about your child’s strengths as well as their needs.
- Start one thing at a time. You don’t need to begin every therapy in the first month. Ask the team what matters most right now.
- Be careful with “cure” claims. Autism is lifelong. Be wary of anyone who promises to cure it, or sells expensive treatments without good evidence.
Parent burnout
Caring for an autistic child can be intense, and many parents put their own needs last for years. Signs of burnout include constant exhaustion, irritability, poor sleep, feeling numb or hopeless, and pulling away from friends. Counselling can help you share the load, set limits with relatives, plan small breaks and protect your relationship with your partner. If that relationship is under strain, a couple session lets you both talk to the same counsellor, each joining from your own device if needed. On a hard day, our self-compassion break takes a few minutes.
Leaning on others is part of good care, not a failure. Our article on supporting someone without carrying everything alone has ideas for sharing the load.
Relatives, neighbours and well-meaning advice
After a diagnosis, many families hear a lot of opinions: that the child will “grow out of it”, that it is because of something the parents did, or that a particular remedy will fix it. You don’t have to argue with everyone. It can help to prepare one short, calm explanation, such as “Her brain works differently. We’re getting her the right support, and what helps most is patience.” A counsellor can help you decide whom to tell, what to say, and how to set limits with relatives who make things harder.
Planning ahead
Thinking about school, therapies and the long-term future can feel overwhelming. Break it down: what does your child need this term, and this year? Ask schools how they include children with different needs, and keep copies of all reports in one folder. Counselling can help you make these decisions one at a time, and look after your own wellbeing along the way.
Brothers and sisters
Siblings may feel proud, protective, jealous, embarrassed or left out, sometimes all at once. Explain autism in words that fit their age, give them some one-to-one time with you, and let them have their own feelings without guilt. A counsellor can suggest ways to talk about it, and help you notice when a sibling needs support too.
Getting started on Mindara
Book a session for yourself with a counsellor or psychologist who works with families of autistic children. If you want guidance that involves your child, add them under “Family members you manage” and confirm that you are their parent or guardian before booking. Read more on our child psychologist page, and see parenting counselling for general parenting support. Adults who wonder whether they are autistic themselves can read about neurodevelopmental conditions.
When to get urgent help
If you feel you can’t cope, or have thoughts of harming yourself or your child, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 (free, at any time) or 112 in an emergency. Asking for help is a way of protecting your family.
