Published on 12, July, 2020
To me there still seems to be a gap in the market, with most resources focussing on autistic children and young adults and hardly anything for older people. So it makes a change to see a video on the experience of older autistic people. We could really due with resources that cover the whole lifespan, I think, including end of life care (my unidentified autistic dad died on a busy, noisy ward (radio 2 blaring constantly, as if this would automatically be helpful to patients) which, even though I wasn't aware of our neurodivergence even just a few years ago, I know would have made him much less comfortable).Dad enjoyed peace and quiet, or maybe a little Radio 4 and I remember thinking that it was a pity he wouldn't wear earphones (great difficulty putting up with anything around his head or face, including glasses). We all need and deserve much better as we grow older. www.youtube.com/watch
I'd like to see some analysis of the cohorts used in these studies. I've seen the figure of 54 bandied about too. It's good in a way, as it draws attention to the difficulties we face and obviously charities will use it for that reason. However, it can also be very anxiety provoking. If I took it seriously (I really don't), I guess I'd be led to believe that I'm living on borrowed time!
I think this is the basis of it. A large Swedish study, leading to teh article
by Hirvikoski et al.
Not sure how flawed or otherwise the methodology is, my brain isn't good with that stuff.
I'd have to have a good look through but at a glance I'd suggest that the figures are already out of date and have been superceded by a new understanding of what autism actually is, as well as a sudden surge in diagnostic rates which includes a lot of people who were previously missed. Things have changed a lot, even in just the past 10 years.
These days there seems to be more opportunities for self-employment or "portfolio" working. The downside is the unpredictability and having to manage your own diary, keep records. do tax returns, etc. The upside is being able to choose work that interests you.
I am not too happy with heat, so today I have taken a few hours off and will do my paperwork this evening when it is cooler. My clients may get emails which I sent at 2.00 am - so what? They can reply when they are ready.
I agree it's not easy. If you require help from the State due to disability it's an extremely flawed system.Despite being someone with at the time several decades of SMI I was only successful with my 3rd claim for DLA(I had help with the 3rd claim) , Meanwhile I knew from an online ng there were those who'd only had health problems starting in their 50s who were getting it. These people planned their claims like a military campaign. Successful or failure shouldn't be about how well you can present your claim, but about the things you struggle with. If you don't have a system that does you have a flawed and to some extent dishonest system.