Getting a diagnosis

Being in my early fifties when I was diagnosed I wanted answers as to why my life never quite worked out. I had labelled myself as shy for all my life to explain why I struggled in social situations and even communications at work. I am intelligent and am educated to doctoral level in my career field related to healthcare but really struggled in the numerous interviews I had over the last 30 years. I hoped that by being diagnosed would help me be accepted and maybe get reasonable adjustments to support me in work.

I was relieved to get my private diagnosis (I could not wait the years it would take via NHS in Scotland). Next I went through a long period of self reflection and grief by viewing my life and certain events via the lens of autism. I am now more accepting of myself and my limitations and being kinder to myself.

Two years down the road my life has turned upside down. I naively thought my employer (NHS) would be more understanding but I was told that my requested reasonable adjustments were in their eyes unreasonable and I could no longer remain in my post and therefore be redeployed. The issue is my qualifications are in a very niche scientific field and the prospects of achieving a position of commensurate salary are very limited and I could face my employment being terminated in the very near future. The good old NHS, a respectful, inclusive and disability confident employer? It is all for show and HR make what they want up from policies and ignore the law. In short I have been discriminated against and in the process of a employment tribunal claim. It seems that I am not alone in this situation.

I only mention my employment experience because you said you were a nurse. I just wanted to open your eyes and not be naive like I was and not to scare anyone out of getting a diagnosis.

In short the diagnosis has given me answers, a label that can be both beneficial or a burden, a new found community (here) and the confidence not to hide who I am and to fight injustice.

Being in my early fifties when I was diagnosed I wanted answers as to why my life never quite worked out. I had labelled myself as shy for all my life to explain why I struggled in social situations and even communications at work. I am intelligent and am educated to doctoral level in my career field related to healthcare but really struggled in the numerous interviews I had over the last 30 years. I hoped that by being diagnosed would help me be accepted and maybe get reasonable adjustments to support me in work.

I was relieved to get my private diagnosis (I could not wait the years it would take via NHS in Scotland). Next I went through a long period of self reflection and grief by viewing my life and certain events via the lens of autism. I am now more accepting of myself and my limitations and being kinder to myself.

Two years down the road my life has turned upside down. I naively thought my employer (NHS) would be more understanding but I was told that my requested reasonable adjustments were in their eyes unreasonable and I could no longer remain in my post and therefore be redeployed. The issue is my qualifications are in a very niche scientific field and the prospects of achieving a position of commensurate salary are very limited and I could face my employment being terminated in the very near future. The good old NHS, a respectful, inclusive and disability confident employer? It is all for show and HR make what they want up from policies and ignore the law. In short I have been discriminated against and in the process of a employment tribunal claim. It seems that I am not alone in this situation.

I only mention my employment experience because you said you were a nurse. I just wanted to open your eyes and not be naive like I was and not to scare anyone out of getting a diagnosis.

In short the diagnosis has given me answers, a label that can be both beneficial or a burden, a new found community (here) and the confidence not to hide who I am and to fight injustice.