Quick Answer
While waiting for therapy to start, get on multiple waitlists, do at-home activities to support development, connect with parent support groups, and check in regularly with providers. Waiting is frustrating, but it doesn't have to be passive.
You've done everything right. You recognized the signs. You got an evaluation. You found a provider. And now you're stuck on a waitlist for three months. Six months. Maybe longer.
It's infuriating. It's heartbreaking. And it's unfortunately very common.
While you can't control how long the wait is, you can control how you use that time. This guide gives you practical, actionable steps to support your child's development and stay proactive while you wait for services to start. For context on waitlist timelines, read: Average wait times for autism assessments in 2026.
Get on Multiple Waitlists
This is the single most important thing you can do. Don't wait for one provider to call you back before reaching out to others. Get on as many waitlists as you can manage, then choose the first one that has availability.
Some families feel guilty about this, worried they'll "take a spot" from someone else. Don't. Providers expect cancellations. Your job is to get your child into services as quickly as possible.
- Contact every in-network provider in your area.
- Ask to be added to cancellation lists (slots open up more often than you'd think).
- Expand your search radius if possible — sometimes driving 30 minutes farther gets you off a waitlist months sooner.
- Consider telehealth providers, which often have shorter wait times.
At-Home Activities
You don't need to be a therapist to support your child's growth. There are evidence-based strategies you can use at home right now.
For Communication Development
- Narrate everything: Talk to your child constantly. Describe what you're doing, name objects, model simple phrases.
- Use visual supports: Picture cards, choice boards, or simple sign language can help children communicate before they have words.
- Read together daily: Point to pictures, ask simple questions, let your child turn pages.
- Pause and wait: Give your child time to respond or initiate. Don't rush in to fill the silence.
For Social and Play Skills
- Join your child's play: Get down on the floor and follow their lead. Imitate what they're doing, then add one new element.
- Practice turn-taking: Use simple games like rolling a ball back and forth or stacking blocks together.
- Arrange playdates: Even parallel play (playing alongside other children) is valuable social exposure.
For Sensory Regulation
- Create a sensory toolkit: Fidget toys, weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, chewable jewelry.
- Build a calming routine: A consistent bedtime routine, a quiet corner with pillows, or a sensory bin with rice or beans.
- Observe patterns: Notice what calms your child and what overwhelms them. This information will be useful when therapy starts.
For Motor Skills
- Encourage movement: Climbing, jumping, running, dancing, swimming — all build gross motor skills.
- Practice fine motor tasks: Playdough, stickers, crayons, puzzles, pouring and scooping activities.
Connect with Parent Groups
You are not alone in this. Other parents who've navigated the same waitlists, the same frustrations, and the same system can be invaluable sources of support, information, and encouragement.
- Join local parent groups (many are organized by diagnosis or therapy type).
- Find online communities on Facebook, Reddit, or other platforms.
- Attend workshops or webinars offered by autism organizations, therapy centers, or advocacy groups.
These groups are often the best source of local knowledge: which providers have the shortest waits, which ones accept Medicaid, which ones are worth the drive.
Check In with Providers
Don't just sit on a waitlist passively. Call or email your waitlisted providers once a month to check in. Be polite but persistent. Providers are more likely to prioritize families who stay engaged.
When you call, ask:
- Are there any cancellations or earlier openings?
- Has my position on the waitlist changed?
- Is there anything I can do to move up the list (provide additional documentation, be available on short notice, etc.)?
Early Intervention (Under 3)
If your child is under age 3, contact your state's early intervention program immediately. These programs are federally mandated, free or low-cost, and often have much shorter wait times than private providers.
Early intervention services can include speech therapy, OT, PT, developmental therapy, and family support — all while you wait for a formal autism diagnosis or private ABA services to start.
To find your state's program, search "[Your State] early intervention" or call 211.
Educate Yourself
Use the wait time to learn. The more you understand about your child's diagnosis, therapy approaches, and your rights as a parent, the better equipped you'll be to advocate once services start.
- Read books and blogs written by parents and professionals.
- Watch videos of therapy techniques so you know what to expect.
- Learn about your insurance rights and EPSDT coverage (for Medicaid families).
For foundational knowledge, start here: Types of pediatric therapy services.
Take Care of Yourself
This one is easy to skip, but it matters. Waiting is stressful. Parenting a child with developmental challenges is exhausting. You can't pour from an empty cup.
- Ask for help from family, friends, or respite care services.
- Join a parent support group for emotional support, not just logistics.
- Be kind to yourself. You're doing everything you can.
The Wait Won't Last Forever
It doesn't feel like it right now, but this wait is temporary. Services will start. Your child will make progress. You will get through this.
In the meantime, every interaction you have with your child, every book you read together, every moment of play — it all matters. You're not doing nothing. You're doing everything you can.