Published on 12, July, 2020
Hey folks,
I'm a 52 year old chap who has successfully navigated life without a formal ASD diagnosis. I recently had to deal with Social Workers and became very confused when they started accusing me of being 'manipulative and controlling' towards them. Having recently lost my wife my two teenage chdren and I have been seeing a therapist who suggested that it was probably my ASD behaviours being misinterpreted.
Having done some googl'ing I can see how a need for detail and clarity could be misinterpreted so I mentioned this to the social workers.
The social workers refused to accept this idea, demanding a formal diagnosis. Having got the diagnosis they now insist on me providing the research to show the link between ASD and THEM feeling controlled!??! I'm not a specialist or a researcher... has anyone been able to navigate a situation like this???
I'm worried that this could rapidly get out of control and suggestions made that I am 'manipulative and controlling' towards my children!
Any advice will be gratefully received.
Cheers,
Mark
It just seems like they accused you of something, ended up with evidence to the contrary, but instead of backing down, they're continuing to believe what negative things they believe about you, because they just want to be right about it. Everything they're doing just seems unprofessional and unethical, and discriminatory as well, because you've shown your formal ASD diagnosis to them, and they still refuse their services to you, even though their services are public services, to provide help for those who are at a disadvantage, and having ASD is disadvantage because it's classified as a disability.
And the next thing they ask for as evidence for how your diagnosis is affecting them feeling controlled? What? How is your personal diagnosis about yourself, going to show anything about them feeling controlled? If anything, they're pulling all the strings here, trying to make you show evidence of this and that, instead of just helping you with what you went to them for.
Their behavior just seems so unprofessional to me. If there's someone higher up you could speak to, or a place that you can file a complaint for breach of ethics, I think you should do that, rather than trying to prove your innocence, because they've already made up their mind about you, even when you showed them the formal diagnosis, they didn't care. So I'd advise that you stop interacting with them, and speak with one of the higher ups or file a complaint and explain what happened to you.
Thanks Hullabaloo!
You raise many points that have been racing thru my mind. I'm trying to find a balance between antagonising them and trying to help them understand something about ASD that they clearly don't currently.
I do find it sad and concerning that professionals are not more ASD savy though.
Thanks for your thoughts!