It really depends on a whole lot of factors. "mild to moderate ASD" ranges from people like me (I'm an active member of society, thankyouverymuch), some of the (self-proclaimed) Aspies who populate so many websites, to some of the people my girlfriend works with - who live in assisted housing, need outside help for basics like shopping, can't work in a "regular" job but need to be placed in "asisted" work houses,...
It's a very, very broad diagnosis, with some overlap but still a lot of wiggle room. If he's 7 years old now, that's, in some ways, a good thing - some of the worst excesses can be seriously mitigated or avoided with early detection and good follow up.
VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT TRUST EVERY RECOMMENDATION YOU GET. There are a LOT of bottom feeders out there capitalising on people's fears surrounding autism. There are also a lot of good-intentioned nutjobs out there. You'll hear about "solutions", "cures", and "causes". Whether it be paying/praying to the right church (I'm not saying Divine Intervention can't work, but it's kind of a longshot and probably not worth spending all your money on
).
Remember, always, that someone with autism is NOT inherently smarter (as some - especially abovementioned Aspies would have you believe) or dumber (as they are sometimes branded since they can have serious issues with seemingly "simple" tasks, commands or agreements) than a "normal" person. They just work slightly different. Also try to remember that autism isn't necessarily something you should try to "cure". Depending on the level he can operate at, he may get (incredibly) frustrated because of it at times, because it's
hard to fit into a world that seems to operate by rules you just don't see or understand. He may lash out and show hostility/anger. Scrap that -he
will show hostility and anger. Try to understand that this is mostly anger at himself, and at the world for failing to make sense, for things being hard, at his own failure to "cope" or to work the same way others do.
Lastly (ok, I could write a novel full of self-help crap about this but who wants to read that?), accept that you're only human, yourself, too. His problems
will lead to problems for you. His anger
will make you angry. You
will get tired of this shit and wonder why you're blessed/cursed with such a child. That's ok. Taking it out on him isn't, obviously, but you're not a bad person or a heathen or a sinner or whatever else you might think of yourself for thinking about giving up or wishing he wasn't there or anything like that (more than likely you'll be thinking the exact opposite often as well, especially if it's a more pronounced form of autism - while not as much as Down children, children with heavier autism can be
awesome at making you happy and showing you love). Sometimes you'll need help. Sometimes people around you won't understand.
While experience teaches support groups aren't always great for the person with autism himself (because different people's issues can go counter to one another - if one insists a door is opened 4 times before passing through and another insists you can't open a door without someone entering or leaving, hilarity ensues...or not.), they can be a great help for parents/guardians/close relatives.