California · from the day you first wonder
You do not need a diagnosis to start. You do not need a doctor's referral. You do not need to wait for anything.
Almost everything that goes slowly in the first year goes slowly because a family waited for permission that was never required. This is the order to do things in, what to say, and which clocks start when.
pays someone to help care for your child at home. Most families of autistic children never hear about it, and the part that matters most to them is a category inside it called Protective Supervision — for a child who needs watching because of behaviour that could hurt them, such as running from the house or lack of danger awareness.
Protective Supervision can be authorised up to 283 hours a month. And since 19 February 2024, the rules that stopped a parent being paid as their own child's provider no longer apply. Ask your county social services office to assess for IHSS, and use the words "Protective Supervision" explicitly — it is assessed separately and is often not offered unless asked for.