When your autistic diagnosis isn't enough to qualify you for a disability discount at the gym!

I see. Supports my point that the diagnosis is only the first step, and that subsequent support using the diagnosis should only be done by medical professionals.

The gym run special classes, swimming & gym sessions that are exclusively for people with a disability and are even promoted to be an Autistic safe environment with fewer people around, less noise, more staff on duty and personal assistance if needed, however only available to members with a Disability membership. 

I wish you all the best in  everything you do. It sounds good, and i am sure it will have an added positive effect on your mentality too.

But if you agree that not all diagnoses are the same, then why should they be recognised? A one size fits all approach cannot work here. I don't require any assistance but others might. The diagnosis should be a gateway to further help, and it's at that point that somebody in the medical profession may decide that one should be afforded additional assistance. I'm not saying the system as it currently stands is perfect, but the diagnosis is not enough. And we can't ask every organisation to read one's individual report and determine what concession one can or cannot be given!

That would appear to be correct however they also have concessions for being on Universal Credit, income support, housing benefit,  being a student, being a senior, being junior etc etc and each one includes a different set of membership benefits, e.g. some you can only use their services at off-peak times whilst others are fully inclusive and you can use all the facilities all of the time. My main point here is that an Autism diagnosis does not seem to count when it comes to these bodies and organisations deciding whether you have a disability or not and I believe that it should, it's the same for many autistic people not being able to access a Freedom travel pass on buses and trains. It's not always about the money, life would sometimes be easier if we were recognised as someone with a disability as you say Midlands Monkey each diagnosis is different but sometimes you might really need some assistance somewhere, like with the police, transport - having a meltdown on a train etc there are so many variables.... 

I agree

Probably true, I don't know enough about it. My main point is that I don't think the diagnosis is anything more than that - a report which diagnoses your condition. It isn't a certificate to claim certain rights or benefits. But also, each diagnosis is different so I would not require the assistance that others might.

Is it not more that,  you need to be on a certain benenfit to qualify rather than having a disability?  (Many places give concessions for those who are claiming benefits and so are on reduced income - this could be for those with disabilities or those without).

With a spectrum disorder there's not a simple one size fits all approach that would work. For example, I don't think I need any of the above, so a diagnosis may not be enough.

This is a common approach to a lot of discounts. For example, many places won't accept institutional student ID and will only accept an NUS card for student discount. 

In relation to disability, if companies focused on the label rather than the impact it has on someone's life that means a significant part of the population would be eligible for a discount. For example, they reckon 1 in 10 have an SpLD, such as dyslexia, 1 in 4 have MH conditions that are often classed as disability under the Equality Act.