This study used qualitative methods to examine parental influence in pursuing or avoiding diagnosis of ASD. The goal was to explore the meaning of ASD diagnosis for parents, and study whether a diagnosis affected how parents observed ASD. Seventeen parents participated in an in-depth semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using thematic and grounded theory approaches. Data analysis discovered parental dilemmas: whether to act to keep the ‘normal’ status of the child or to ‘normalize’ the child through diagnosis and pursue treatment. Parents who received an ASD diagnosis for their children became proactive in trying to reduce stigmatization of ASD extensively, and in some cases actively advocating ASD diagnosis to other parents. Therefore