We believe that the gap between research and what reaches families is one of the most costly failures in autism support. We are here to close it — one page at a time, in plain language, for free.
Our Mission
Nesto is an autism support app built for parents and caregivers. Our goal is to make evidence-based autism knowledge accessible to every family in the world — regardless of language, income, or geography.
We build two kinds of things: an app that helps parents observe their child, track milestones, and learn evidence-based home activities — and a library of educational content that helps parents understand autism before, during, and after diagnosis.
Everything we publish is free. Everything is available in multiple languages. We do not gate useful information behind subscriptions.
Every claim traces to a peer-reviewed source or established clinical guideline. We do not publish content based on anecdote or trend.
Autism looks the same in a child whether they are in Mumbai or Manchester. We write for parents everywhere, with local notes where systems differ.
Our content reflects the current scientific understanding of autism — including what researchers agree on and where genuine uncertainty exists.
We write for parents under stress who need clarity, not jargon. Honest, warm, and direct — without minimizing what is genuinely hard.
How We Create Our Content
Every article on Nesto goes through a structured process before publication:
We prioritize questions that parents are actively searching for — particularly those where existing content is thin, inaccurate, or unnecessarily alarming.
We read the original research, not summaries. Where we cite a study, we have reviewed the actual paper — not a secondhand account of it.
We cross-reference with CDC, AAP, DSM-5-TR, and NICE (UK) guidelines. Where guidelines differ by country, we note that explicitly.
We rewrite clinical content in language a parent can act on. We do not oversimplify — but we do eliminate jargon that obscures rather than clarifies.
Every article lists the specific studies and guidelines it draws from. Readers can verify any claim by going to the original source.
Primary Sources We Use
Our content draws primarily from the following:
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) — developmental milestone guidelines, autism prevalence data, early identification resources
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — screening recommendations, well-child visit guidelines, clinical practice guidelines for autism
- DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition, Text Revision) — diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions
- Peer-reviewed research — including work from Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Simon Baron-Cohen, Geraldine Dawson, Connie Kasari, Sally Odom, Patricia Howlin, and other established researchers in autism science
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) — US special education law, IEP process, parent rights in schools
- NICE guidelines (UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) — autism diagnosis and management, referenced for UK-based readers
What We Do Not Do
Clear boundaries matter in health content. Nesto does not:
- Diagnose. No app or website can diagnose autism. We explain signs, support evaluation decisions, and guide next steps — but diagnosis requires a qualified clinician.
- Recommend unproven treatments. We do not endorse chelation therapy, dietary cure claims, facilitated communication, or bleach/MMS protocols. These are not evidence-based and some are actively harmful.
- Use fear to drive engagement. Parents of autistic children are already under enough stress. We do not manufacture alarm to get clicks.
- Sell your data. We do not sell personal information to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Our App
The Nesto app helps parents observe their child's development, complete structured screening questionnaires, log milestones and behaviors, access guided home activities, and track progress over time. It is available on Android in 19 languages.
The app is designed as a bridge between professional therapy sessions and daily home life. It does not replace a therapist — it helps parents do meaningful things in between appointments.
Questions, corrections, or feedback?
If you find an error in our content, believe a claim is inaccurate, or want to suggest a topic we have not covered, please reach out. We take accuracy seriously and will review corrections promptly.
Contact us via the Nesto app or through the feedback option in the app settings.