Where to start

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Let’s walk through the first steps so you can feel confident, not confused.

“Something feels off. Now what?”

You don’t have to wait for someone to tell you something’s wrong. If your gut says something’s off, it’s worth exploring. Common reasons families start looking into services include:

• Speech delays
• Trouble with motor skills (walking, feeding, handwriting, etc.)
• Sensory issues or meltdowns
• Behavioral struggles
• Lack of eye contact or social engagement
• A diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) like autism or ADHD

“Start with your child’s doctor”

Your pediatrician is often your first stop. They can help refer you for evaluations, write prescriptions for services, or provide documentation for Medicaid or insurance.

What to say:

“I’m concerned about ___.”

“Can we get a referral for speech/OT/PT?”

“Do you think my child might need a developmental evaluation?”

“Next, schedule an evaluation”

Based on your concerns, you may need one or more of these:

• Developmental Evaluation – Checks overall development, usually done by psychologist or developmental pediatrician
• Speech, OT, PT, or DT Evaluations – Done by licensed therapists to assess specific delays or needs
• Autism Testing – In Arkansas, an autism diagnosis must be made by a team that includes a physician, a licensed psychologist (LPE or LCSW), and/or a speech-language pathologist. Any two of the three professionals can complete the process.
  Many teams use a tool called the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule). It’s a structured play-based assessment that helps providers observe how your child communicates, interacts, and responds to social cues.
• ABA Assessment – In Arkansas, ABA therapy can only be provided if a child has an autism diagnosis. Once diagnosed, an ABA assessment (often called a behavior evaluation) is completed by a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) to create a treatment plan.
• Medical Diagnosis – Needed for TEFRA, Medicaid, and sometimes school or insurance services

We’ll break all of these down throughout this site.

“Ask the right questions”

Knowing what to ask helps you get the support you need faster. Try:

• “Do I need a referral or prescription?”
• “Will insurance cover this?”
• “Can my child receive services at home, in a center, or at school?”
• “Are there waitlists I need to get on now?”

“Stay organized from the beginning”

Keep a folder—physical or digital—for all documents. Include:

• Referrals
• Evaluation reports
• Diagnoses
• Medicaid letters or forms
• Service authorizations

This will make life easier later when you’re applying for programs or re-evaluations.

“Still unsure? That’s okay.”

You don’t have to figure everything out all at once. Just take it step by step. The rest of this site is here to walk with you—from understanding funding options like TEFRA and SSI to choosing the right therapy setting for your child.

Real Life Resources is here to help you navigate this next journey—one step, one question, and one answer at a time.