Hey there.

I'm not sure where you are in VA, but I can tell you as a preschool teacher in the DC Metro area, having the official diagnosis is quite a big plus...as long as you can navigate the system. It's one of the few formal diagnosis codes they will assign to a child prior to entering school. Otherwise, for things like ADHD, they will wait until 2nd or 3rd grade and use a blanket "Developmental Delay" label. Without an IEP, allowances cannot be made...and I don't think coddling is good either, but if your child say....needs to wear sunglasses inside or use earplugs or be able to leave the room for a moment to do breathing exercises if he/she becomes overstimulated...you need a formalized plan in the public schools.

Luckily, you have a few years to get in with Early Intervention before having to deal with all that. Which means you'll have time to get to know your child's unique combination of sensory issues. Working with a specialist will allow you to find out what extra tools he'll need in a classroom environment to function.

However, in some locales, it's harder to get in with ChildFind and get what you need without the runaround. Let me know if I can help.