Need Help for My Maybe Autistic Daughter

Totally not the question you are asking, but have you tried working with sign language? Our youngest is on the spectrum and was very speech delayed, we started him on the baby signing times videos and he picked signs up very quickly. Also we started him on the PECs system, which is Picture exchange system. Being able to communicate more helps so much. I also can totally sympathize with the afternoon napping, Alex has given up naps now, but before he did he would nap for 3 to 5 hours at a stretch. The longer naps would be when he would have had major melt downs.
The school district should be able to point you in a helpful direction.

Start researching online. autisimspeaks.org (com not sure) has a great website with lots of info. My granddaughter is autistic and fortunately we are in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the pilot program for autisim. My granddaughter (almost 9) is in a therapy program for 20 hours a week. This program has helped her a lot.
My daughter just stopped over and I asked her she recommends that you talk to her ped about testing. You should also seek out a ped psychologist or clinical psychologist.
Also check into Headstart.

I'm a mom of an autistic child and the school needs to do their official evaluation and then do their summer reccomendations. If the school isn't helping you, you are entitled to get an advocate to fight on your behalf in regards to your I.E.P. You could also contact her pediatrician and ask them to write a Rx or referral for a pediatric therapy clinic so you can also get her evaluated through the therapy clinic and start services there while you are waiting to be seen by the Child Psychologist to give an "official" diagnosis. I hope this makes sense:)

I agree with Melissa and Heather. Until your child is 3 years old, you can work with your local Early Intervention services to get speech/Occupational (OT)/Physical(PT) Therapy, etc. depending on your child's needs. Early Intervention is available in each city for no charge. After your child is 3, these services will be transferred to and taken over by your local school district. My son is a little over 2.5 and has global developmental delays. So, this is based on how I understand it. Someone from the local school district will do a home visit to evaluate your child for her (special) needs and determine what type of services she needs. If you haven't contacted the local school district yet, I would do that now. Your pediatrician should also be able to direct you to the right contact. The school district will develop her I.E.P (Individualized Education Plan) and provide her with the needed services. I live in the Bay area and have had very good experience with neurologist, Ted Guarino in San Jose. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can provide any further help.

As I am not in your area my recommendations wouldn't help but I will say that once your daughter has been in the public school a semester or so it will seem to get better - it seems the transition from early intervention (what we call it in IL) to preschool is so fast and there is so much to do that no one seems to be able to catch their breath and realize what the need to do now. I have to say my son just finished his second year of preschool (he'll have one more year as he will be 5 in Nov.) and the progress I have seen in him and the help from the staff is fantastic. I hope you find someone to help this summer and once school starts in the fall I am sure things will settle as they should.