Essie Jul 8, 2023

If you're considering a professional autism diagnosis, it's worth researching what a diagnosis would do for you.

Depending on individual circumstances, an autism diagnosis can put people in danger and I can't recommend it.

A diagnosis doesn't really give you more information on autism, it just confirms you are autistic. It can mean you get accommodations for school or work, and help you get disability pensions and the like. For those things a diagnosis would be required. You don't need a diagnosis to understand the condition, be part of the community, or start making changes to your life.

So why might a professional diagnosis be bad? It depends on where you live and how marginalised you are as a person.
During 2020 there were many reports out of the UK of diagnosed autistic people being given involuntary Do Not Rescusitate orders by their doctors, to compensate for COVID hospital overwhelm. Some people did die. Autistic people across the world were also put lower on triage lists and received less care when hospitals rationed healthcare in that time. They were given lower priority for ventilation and other life support. This was the case for multiple countries, not just UK.

In the UK and some USA states, having an autism diagnosis can prevent you from accessing gender affirming care (trans healthcare), because of rising rhetoric that autistic people cannot do informed consent (which is bullshit). The expectation is this could get a lot worse and expand to more elective surgeries and treatments. So you need to consider how laws might become worse in the future.

I have heard anecdotal evidence of an autism diagnosis being used as evidence against autistic parents and then having children removed from the family. Sometimes after court the children are returned, but it's an awful process.

If you are a thin, white, cishet man who is unlikely to be thrown under the bus in a medical setting, you are probably pretty safe. If you have concerns about the other things I spoke of, then I would talk to more people and look at the laws where you live that may impact you. I urge BIPOC folks especially to consult the BIPOC autistic community on this.

To clarify, a diagnosis of autism in a vacuum is not dangerous. It's not different to a diagnosis of other things. However due to recent politics, there are risks attached and for some people its a considered decision.

#autistic #autism #actuallyAutistic #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #disability #NEISvoid #disabled
@disability

Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKJul 9, 2023
@essie_is_okay another risk in UK is that depending on the opinion of a GP, an diagnosis of autism or ADHD (especially if meds are prescribed) can be notifiable to the DVLA (driving licence authority) - and by extension insurers) - this can result in a licence being suspended pending medical assessment and higher motor insurance premiums (and mistiming meds can result in a DUI charge)
Show threadEssie Jul 9, 2023
@vfrmedia
Damn another thing I'll add to the list of things to warn about I guess. Thanks for letting me know.
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKJul 9, 2023
@essie_is_okay I was lurking on a UK motoring forum and there was a thread about drivers with autism - which pointed out many are *more* focused than neurotypical drivers) but also had anecdotes of young adults with autism being covertly notified to DVLA by unknown persons and their GP being contacted (luckily the GP replied to DVLA that there was no risk from the patients driving)
Show threadEssie Jul 9, 2023

@vfrmedia

Driving has got much much harder for me since I went into autistic burnout. Being aware and alert constantly and make precision movements without looking at your hands or feet. Anticipating how others drivers will act, reading all the signs, processing the signs, making decisions to change lanes or overtake. It's all so much. A lot of autistic people can't drive but taking away a licence based on diagnosis alone and not actual driving ability is plainly discrimination.

Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKJul 9, 2023
@essie_is_okay I only learned in my 40s (after some false starts in younger days, when I simply got overwhelmed and scared off the whole idea). I decided to drive a car with an auto 'box to reduce some of the cognitive load (+ being older and finding the clutch aggravated my knee) - I enjoy driving most of the time but it does take a lot of spoons, I have to plan long journeys like a military operation >>
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKJul 9, 2023
@essie_is_okay the biggest potential hassle is to those with both autism and ADHD who are prescribed stimulant meds - although the permitted bloodstream level for these is a fair bit above that of partydrugs (due to their legit prescription) its not something you could test at home (unlike an alcotester), which leads to the risk of a DUI charge (with a 1 year ban, and 11 years higher insurance premiums!)
Show threadEssie 
@vfrmedia
That's awful
Jul 9, 2023 at 12:26amWeb
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKJul 9, 2023
@essie_is_okay the govt have created a situation where its only worth getting diagnosed and/or meds if you live in a big city area and don't have to drive (this is also a consequence of the DUI laws being used to goldplate the war on drugs over and above what is legitimately required to ensure road safety...)