Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,
PLEASE I have an upcoming assessment outcome meeting this upcoming Wednesday and need tips on how to prepare for it, to make the most of the 30-45 min call.
PLEASE HELP! i need tips, guidance, quesitons to ask etc at the outcome meeting as have been waiting years for this assessmeent and dont have anyone attending with me.
Thank you in advance!
SOME DETAILS ABOUT MY CASE & ADVICE I NEED:
- Assessors came to conclusion very soon after my assessments.
- I was referred for assessmnent as i seem to show female traits of ADHD and hence may have associated ASD. I dont think i have autism but aparently am reading that you only get diagnosied if symptoms are severe enough - not enough to have symptoms themselves. i find this is odd! what if you've been masking even withouht realising to ensure you're great at things - not the outsider - or the "thick" one etc.
If i get a negative diagnosis, is this because my ASD traits dont cover ALL categories (e.g dont think im obsessive, and no issues with authority, but do have "masked" building & MAINTAINING relationships/friendships issues, and can ave very strong opions/morals, NEED a template/order etc to enable me to draft a document etc)?
Can i still have "mild" autism for which i can get some guidance/advice/tips /tools, that will help me a) in PERSONAL aspects of my life (relationships, how to organise activities/work so head is clearer, etc), b). in the WORKPLACE (i.e. to ask for "Reasonable Adjustments" more dove-tailed to MY need (to avoid workplace prejudice and instead get some simple but effective adjustments for "office" work e.g. ways of working, how to give me tasks, giving me more structure etc) - These being my MAIN REASONS for asking for diagnoses after a coma a few years back) as i started to notice i could no longer MASK the extra work i was doing to "behaive" exceptionally well at work, especially with being at home (so no one to copy/mimic from)?
i fi DONT have ASD at all, can i ask for any other support or sing-posting etc. or is that it? my famiy dont remember me as a child, so i cant get a FORMAL diagnosis anyway, even for Mild/moderate autism. my younger bro is the severest end of Autism & learning disabilities so is non-verbal but IS quite well behavied and displays many NON-typical autistic traits (in that way, like me, as siblings). This is WHY i believe i am NOT autistic at all compared to him.
Thanks so much - all adice welcome. I've looked so much that i am word-blind right now so want to hear form ASD people themselves! :)
Autism is autism regardless of gender.
There is no such things as mild autism.
You will get a diagnosis is you display that you meet the criteria. It if affects how you live, and limits you in areas, then that’s a valid reason for wanting a diagnosis, and to learn about yourself better.
Regarding support after diagnosis, there really isn’t much at all for us adults.
And if you don’t get a diagnosis, then you need to ask why, and ask if they took into account a lifetime of masking and trying to fit in, it matters not if your parents gave information, and in no way means you can’t get a formal diagnosis.
thank you so much for your comments.
I will definitely write a few questions up and also try to re-check my own traits as I seem to be firmly in denial probably because of my experience with my brother any other autistic children with very obivious symptoms (hence also in boarding school for autistic children like my brother was).
The joke has been that I "got away" from it [autism]- i.e i had a few issues, speech issues for which went into SEN school. However as i seem to be ok after that, popular, had "friends", came across as confident (or WAS because i was oblivious to others views of me), and did well (having always craved human company since being "neglected" or left behind all the time as a child).
Thanks for informing me abut Formal diagnosis - that i can stil get this even without family input. Since mum died and sisters dont recall anything, ive been really worried. But i'll just see what happens.
Support is the main thing I need - to understand what reasonable adjustments i may need at work, to help lower any significant detriments - Depending on what they say tomorrow, I will try to ask about this.
Good luck I hope you get some satisfaction wirj the outcome
Hi
It has been interesting reading. I had my assessments last week and this evening and awaiting my outcome appointment date.
I will make some notes to help prepare. It's been an exhausting process demonstration my dififculties especially when there are no parents available to give family history.
I am female 46 and have been in mental health services for 10 years. It was NAS professional training that made me realise I had autistic traits and needed to speak to a GP for an assessment referral. 5 months later here I am