There is a decent possibility that the diagnostician will observe the challenges related to observed Autistic traits as severity level 1 and will grant a diagnosis of ASD (level 1).

A diagnosis of ASD of severity level 1 does constitute a documented disability, but there is minimal support granted to those with this diagnoses.

A concerning note, a diagnosis of ASD of any severity can profoundly limit your rights, freedoms, autonomy, and opportunities.

Alternatively, Autism is highly comorbid with various neurological and physiological disabilities.

It an Autistic person is seeking documentation of disability, for example, in pursuit of accommodations, it is extremely likely that they will qualify for a diagnosis of one of any number of highly comorbid conditions.

- The list of disabilities comorbid with Autism is quite extensive.

- Most of these disabilities are far easier to get an DX for.

- Most of these disabilities will have minimal impact on your rights, freedoms, autonomy, and opportunities if/when you get a DX for them.

Now, lets summarize all of this with some memes.

Self Identifying as Autistic is akin to any self assessment of personal neurology such as identifying as left handed or hyperlexic

At this time, no individual and no test can conclusively confirm or deny that you are or are not Autistic.

Self Diagnoses of ASD (or similar) is following one of the established agreed upon diagnosis methodologies used by diagnosticians to diagnose disorders related to Autism.

During both a Self DX and Professional DX of ASD a person will check for a minimal number of agreed upon observable traits associated with Autism. If the minimal is met and the observed traits cause a clinically severe impairment, the DX is granted.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing either a self identification of Autism or a self diagnosis of ASD.

There is a persistent and ongoing misunderstanding by many that self identifying as Autistic or beginning to suspect one might be Autistic should lead to seeking a professional diagnoses of ASD.

This is a logical fallacy.

The purpose of a diagnosis of ASD is not to confirm Autism, but is instead to codify that a person has clinically severe impairments related to Autistic traits.

It establishes medical documentation of disability for the purposes of accommodations and other services.

If an Autistic person does not need or seek a documented disability or services related to such, there is no justification for obtaining a diagnosis of ASD.

Their self identification of Autism is as valid, if not more so, than the the diagnosis of ASD.

If an Autistic person is seeking a documented disability or services related to such they should be made aware of the following facts before pursuing a diagnosis of ASD.

If an Autistic person reaches maturity without previously receiving a diagnosis of ASD, then it is likely that a diagnostician will not observer the challenges related to their Autistic traits as clinically severe and will not grant a diagnosis of ASD.

@actuallyautistic #Autism #Autistic