How do I tell family members and friends about my child's new diagnosis?

While having conversations with family and friends about your child is a next step in securing supports for your child's disability after a new diagnosis, it may not be the easiest conversation. Most people won’t be able to understand everything you’re going through, and some may even be offensive or judgmental — whether they intend to or not.

Sometimes, it may take a long time for people to understand your child’s diagnosis, and with time, people may be more open to asking questions to understand. However, helping family members and peers understand your child's diagnosis and struggles can encourage them to include and support your child, and it can empower your child to talk about their disability.

To keep everyone updated, you can make a Facebook page or group, create group chat, or use a Google Doc to easily relay information to family and friends (instead of updating them one by one). You can also use the website CaringBridge, where you can log and share health updates, photos, and videos with friends and family.

This doesn’t mean you have to tell everyone right away. Some families need time to process on their own before sharing, and that's completely normal.

For more information, see our article Tips on Going Home with a New Diagnosis.