Hi all. Bear with guys as this is a huge post.
Just recently been diagnosed with autism, at 40 years old. Got diagnosed with ADHD back in January after a few daft choices that landed me in a mental care unit. After reading that autism can be classed as a notifiable change for PIP I felt it best that I tell them of my diagnosis.
So as a "high functioning" autistic, to look at me you can't tell that im autistic. there's subtle hints but I've become that good at masking it's not noticeable to the untrained eye. (My Psychiatrists words). However. I never leave my house, because I just don't like people. I hate conversating and don't deal with societal interactions well at all. Im absolutely useless with money and impulse spend as soon as I have spare money in my pocket. My partner now deals with all the aspects of finance because I just can't be trusted with it.
I wasn't this bad until last year when I got arrested in tesco. I was having a massively bad day and didn't wanna leave the house but need to go food shopping. Forced myself out and got through the whole shopping trip without a hitch, but at the checkout my card declined because my partner had not transferred enough cash over. Finally paid after apologising to both the cashier and the gent behind me who muttered something under his breath and then rammed his trolley into me. Instantly lost my rag because someone had touched me and I can't stand people touching me.
Got into a fight and tesco wanted to charge me for criminal damage. ( don't remember it happening but apparently I punched this guy into the wall and his head made a hole in it. )so I got arrested. Because of this i don't leave the house now unless I absolutely have to. I go to the gym but that's because my local gym is a small independently owned one which is open 24 hours so I'll wait til about 1am to go so I know its empty and the streets are dead.
Today I received my review back. They've extended my daily living to 2029. As far as my autism goes they've not even acknowledged that I have it. Nowhere in my review does it state they've taken this into account, even though I sent the the 12 page diagnostic report from mind professionals. The things I struggle with daily, such as leaving the house, financial responsibilities etc, they've totally disregarded what i said and decided that they know better.
My question is do I have the right now to claim that not treated me equally/ discriminated against me? I feel like they have because they haven't even mentioned in my review statement that they acknowledge I have autism and it affects my life. I do have a mental health practitioner that I have monthly meetings with to discuss issues I may be having but we've changed it now to ad hoc meetings.
I kinda feel now that im making it all up and that it's all in my head. Was making really good progress with my life but now it's just knocked me back down.
Has anyone else had the experience, and what did you do to alleviate the problems?
Thanks in advance guys and sorry for the long rant.
