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Autism and Right To Choose.

Alex

Hello Forum, 

My apologises for this post. I am a little lost and confused around the right to choose scheme in the UK, regarding autistic diagnosis. 

I'll provide some back story to provide context. I have been under various mental health teams for the past 6 years, and was under Coventry and Warwickshire's waiting list for an autism diagnosis. 1 year ago,  I moved to Staffordshire and have been told I will have to start from scratch with my diagnosis pathway. 

I have been referred to, and am in contact with AAA, a Black Country and Staffordshire based provider for diagnosis but haven't been given a time frame for my assessment.

Prior to this, I was informed by my initial assessor in Coventry to self diagnose, due to numerous reasons and including my aq50 score of 43/50. I even scored 43/50 on my aq50 for AAA black country and Staffordshire. 

I've been waiting near 6 years for a diagnosis now and really struggle socially, finding work and feel like my life hasn't moved on in the last few years. would anyone have any support or guidance for me? 

Specifically on whether autistic diagnosis can make use of the right to choose scheme in the UK. I don't think I can wait another 6 years as I'm pretty much homeless and jobless as it is. 

Thank you for your time in reading my question. 

Kind regards,

Alex

Parents

  • Diagnosis doesn't seem to open ANY DOORS at all. (I hope to be corrected) 

    The only advantage to knowing seems to be a reduction in personal confusion, and reduced expectations all round.

    Concentrate on not being a pain in the backside to those who are close to you, and remembering that they have to make adjustments every day in order to not get annoyed with you. 

    Some NT's will "shield you" some will "enable" you & most will persecute you or obstruct your progress in some way because they don't like the cut of your jib. 

  • in reply to I Sperg

    Hi I sperg, I'm a similar age to you (56) and have just been diagnosed.

    I'd be interested to know, has being diagnosed made your life any easier in any ways?

    And have you disclosed to all around you?

    Has it affected the way they treat you for the better or worse?

    Regards

    Dave

  • in reply to Jazzydave

    Sorry for the late reply. Jazzydave. Diagnosis has made my life easier to live, but I also have to accept I have my limitations, whereas previously I always had the hope that I could "burst through".

    I disclose it to all and sundry. Sometimes apologetically, some times militantly! They treat me about the same, but seem to respect that I'm carrying a load that they are not.   

    I on the other hand, now no longer feel like a "Failure" in life, any more than a one legged man who loses an *** kicking contest should... 

    I find that the things that really annoy people and which are genuinely facets of the Autism are less annoying if people know why I am like that. 

    I am however MUCH less inclined to go to a wedding or do other "correct social behaviour" that causes me discomfort. I'm also less inclined to take any "guff" generally. In fact it's become my "line in the sand".. 

  • in reply to I Sperg

    That's interesting.

    I know what you mean about the burst through thing.

    I've survived, and done ok, some people would say, but it has been at a high cost in various ways. And although Ive sometimes been in a position to really burst through, something has always held me back. Something that others see, and I somehow don't.

    If only I'd known my limitations earlier, I wouldn't have put myself through a lot of unessesary Stress.

    I'm pleased I know now because if I see something similar in my kids I can guide them down an easier path

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  • in reply to I Sperg

    That's interesting.

    I know what you mean about the burst through thing.

    I've survived, and done ok, some people would say, but it has been at a high cost in various ways. And although Ive sometimes been in a position to really burst through, something has always held me back. Something that others see, and I somehow don't.

    If only I'd known my limitations earlier, I wouldn't have put myself through a lot of unessesary Stress.

    I'm pleased I know now because if I see something similar in my kids I can guide them down an easier path

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