Resources
Where are you right now?
Guides
32 guides
Recognition
- Early signs of autism by age: 12, 18, 24 and 36 monthsPointing, response to name, shared gaze, play and language are observations to discuss with a professional at 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. A single sign is not a diagnosis.
- M-CHAT-R/F explained: what the toddler autism screen meansWhat the M-CHAT-R/F screens for, what a positive or negative result means, and how to discuss it with your doctor or CLSC in Quebec.
- Lost words or skills: preparing for an assessmentYour child no longer uses some words, gestures or skills they had. What to write down, what to tell a health professional, and where to start in Quebec.
- What to say to your doctor about autism concerns in QuebecWording to prepare for the appointment, what to bring, and the first steps in Quebec (CLSC, family doctor, Agir tôt). Questions to ask if you are offered to wait and reassess later.
- Girls, quiet kids and masking: why autism gets missedWhy autistic girls and quiet, compliant children are recognized later, what to notice across settings, and how to discuss concerns when school says all is fine.
- Autism, ADHD, language delay: the overlap at age 2At 2, autism, ADHD, language delay and global delay look alike and the label can shift. Why that lowers the stakes, and why the supports overlap too.
The Quebec pathway
- Waiting is not wait-and-see: what to start now in QuebecOn a 6–24 month autism assessment queue in Quebec? Agir tôt, CLSC early stimulation, daycare support and parent strategies can start before any diagnosis.
- Public or private autism assessment in Quebec: comparing the two routesPublic assessment through your doctor and CLSC (Autisme Montréal cites a 6–24 month wait) or a private clinic (cited at $1,600–$4,200). How to compare the steps, fees, delays and what a report would actually change.
- Who does what: autism professionals in Quebec, explainedPediatrician, psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, orthophoniste, ergothérapeute, psychoeducator, TES, social worker: who diagnoses, who treats, which door first.
- Agir tôt, CLSC, CPE and school: the Quebec map for ages 0–7The main entry points in Quebec for a young child: Agir tôt, the CLSC and the DI-TSA-DP access desk, daycare integration allowances, and the school plan d'intervention. The steps can overlap; each service has its own criteria and documents.
- The first 100 days after an autism diagnosis, Quebec editionA flexible planning guide for Quebec parents after the report: understand it, check benefit criteria (SEH, DTC), coordinate CLSC and daycare support, then make room for family needs.
- Decoding your child's autism assessment reportWhat the sections of an autism assessment report mean in plain language, what to ask about scores and DSM-5 levels, and how to share what each service needs.
- Autism-related financial support in Quebec: applications and conditionsSEH from Retraite Québec, the federal Disability Tax Credit (T2201), Child Disability Benefit, RDSP and medical expense credits: what each one is, who runs it, and what to confirm before applying.
What actually helps
- What Helps Early: Parent-Mediated Approaches ExplainedPACT, JASPER, ESDM and ImPACT coach you, not just your child. What the evidence says, what it looks like at home, and how to ask for it in Quebec.
- AAC, Signs and Devices Do Not Delay SpeechSigns, picture boards and speech devices do not stop a child from talking; reviews across decades found no evidence that they do, and often small gains in speech. The fear, and what to do instead.
- The Hours Myth: Intervention Intensity vs FitResearch has not shown that 40 hours a week beats a well-matched program. What the meta-analyses actually say, and how to judge fit instead of counting hours.
- ABA: A Fair Page for Quebec ParentsWhat ABA is, what changed, why many autistic adults oppose it, a good program versus red flags, and how ICI works in Quebec's public system.
- Diets, Supplements and Biomedical Claims: Honest TableGluten-free diets, omega-3, vitamin D, B6, probiotics, chelation: what we can say, what we can't, and what people claim anyway. Cochrane-sourced.
- Screens and Neurodivergent Kids: Honest ClaimsScreens do not cause autism. They do push bedtime later. What the evidence supports, what it doesn't, and rules that respect a family running on empty.
Regulation
- Sensory Systems and the Regulation LadderThe eight senses in plain words, why some children over- or under-respond, and a simple ladder parents can use at home to spot overwhelm early and help.
- Meltdown or Tantrum? Preparing a Support PlanTelling overload from a tantrum, preparing what to do during and after a difficult episode, and making a support plan for your family and the people who care for your child.
- Movement and the Developing Brain, 0 to 6What the evidence really says about movement, attention and regulation in young autistic and ADHD children, what is overstated, and what to do at home.
Daily life
- Sleep in Autistic and ADHD ChildrenWhy sleep is hard for so many autistic and ADHD kids, what actually helps (routine before gadgets), what to know about melatonin in Canada, and what to try this week.
- Music and Autism: What the Evidence SupportsWhat music therapy research really shows for autistic children, what it does not, and how to use music at home without turning it into therapy homework.
- Nature, Water and Calm Outings in MontrealWhy green time helps attention and regulation, why water safety is non-negotiable for autistic children, and a calm-morning outing model with Montreal options.
The family system
- Parent burnout: your nervous system is the toolWhy parents of autistic children burn out, what parent-support trials actually show, and concrete ways to steady yourself first. Quebec help included.
- Telling family, grandparents, and your child about autismScripts for telling relatives, handling the 'he'll grow out of it' grandparent, and explaining autism to your child, younger and plainer than you expect.
- Siblings and fathers: two family members who can get overlookedWhat the research says about brothers, sisters and dads of autistic children, what may help them, and what to say. Written for Montreal families.
Identity and the long view
- Is that me? Heredity and a parent's own diagnosisRecognizing yourself while reading about your child's autism or ADHD is common: both are strongly inherited. What it changes, and why it may be an advantage.
- What autistic adults wish their parents had knownStimming, masking, autonomy and honest prognosis, from what autistic adults keep telling parents. Affirming, without pretending support needs away.
Montreal and community
- Montreal autism and neurodiversity directory for parentsMontreal access points, organizations, English parent groups and private-clinic cost ranges for families of autistic children. Reviewed every six months.
- Choosing autism books, podcasts and communitiesFind a useful starting point for autism books, podcasts and autistic perspectives, with a curated directory grouped by medium and parent needs.