Caroline Estrella describes a model of support she has devised for the families of young people newly diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder

The author of this article, a nursing student, proposes a model of support for families in which children have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition. The proposed six-stage model is designed to help parents move from the sense of bewilderment that often follows a diagnosis of autism to a sense of empowerment, thereby increasing the chances of normal life for their children.