Right to Choose and Informant

The assessors really do need some pragmatism when dealing with our age group!

My parents were not an option. 

However, another assessor spoke with my Husband (who has lived in the same household as me for several decades).

Also, as soon as the assessor speaking with me realised that I could recall great detail around numerous issues I experienced attending Nursery School etc  - they lit up and asked me loads of questions about: school, friends, family, hobbies, social groups, pets, interests and problems and positives associated with me at ages: 3 / 4 / 5.

Before the assessment, I had taken some time to have a think about (ages: 3 / 4 / 5) what I remembered around my likes / dislikes and easy to follow / easy to learn / confusing / frustrating things, plus, included / shunned events and activities.

I also reminded myself who, if anyone, within my close and more distant relatives (across the different generations accessible to me in those days) I experienced as easy company.  It soon became clearer to me there were some "neuro-kin", not many but they did exist - and they just might not all have necessarily been from within my own siblings / cousins generation.

I was reflecting upon quite who of my relatives, when I was that young age (and since), made for company which I naturally found to be: fun, educational, interesting, relaxing, great-for-me gift giver (my passions not my age group), trustworthy company - the people with whom you didn't have to justify or explain yourself - the people who didn't find my language comment worthy in a negative way - the people with you could enjoy either doing complex practical things together (or each just reading their own choice of material) in near silence (if we were in deep focus) - the people around whom the concept of masking just did not arise.  They were in the minority.

(As opposed to; those relatives who back then - and throughout life - I found too: noisy, handsy, derogatory, scary, starting, unreliable - the people it felt like were deliberately misinterpreting my words, actions and passions.  The long things they valued and liked to do - with which I could never identify and around whom I found it safest to adopt masking to the maximum.  They were in the majority).

When I was thinking about "my people" within our family; I looked through some family photos.  I am not generally a "be-in-photo" fan.  It provided insight: with whom had I agreed to participate in a photo, what were we doing or celebrating, who was the photographer and depending who the person was - did I look comfortable / happy / natural ...or masking the best I could in the circumstances?

I received my formal diagnosis.

The assessors really do need some pragmatism when dealing with our age group!

My parents were not an option. 

However, another assessor spoke with my Husband (who has lived in the same household as me for several decades).

Also, as soon as the assessor speaking with me realised that I could recall great detail around numerous issues I experienced attending Nursery School etc  - they lit up and asked me loads of questions about: school, friends, family, hobbies, social groups, pets, interests and problems and positives associated with me at ages: 3 / 4 / 5.

Before the assessment, I had taken some time to have a think about (ages: 3 / 4 / 5) what I remembered around my likes / dislikes and easy to follow / easy to learn / confusing / frustrating things, plus, included / shunned events and activities.

I also reminded myself who, if anyone, within my close and more distant relatives (across the different generations accessible to me in those days) I experienced as easy company.  It soon became clearer to me there were some "neuro-kin", not many but they did exist - and they just might not all have necessarily been from within my own siblings / cousins generation.

I was reflecting upon quite who of my relatives, when I was that young age (and since), made for company which I naturally found to be: fun, educational, interesting, relaxing, great-for-me gift giver (my passions not my age group), trustworthy company - the people with whom you didn't have to justify or explain yourself - the people who didn't find my language comment worthy in a negative way - the people with you could enjoy either doing complex practical things together (or each just reading their own choice of material) in near silence (if we were in deep focus) - the people around whom the concept of masking just did not arise.  They were in the minority.

(As opposed to; those relatives who back then - and throughout life - I found too: noisy, handsy, derogatory, scary, starting, unreliable - the people it felt like were deliberately misinterpreting my words, actions and passions.  The long things they valued and liked to do - with which I could never identify and around whom I found it safest to adopt masking to the maximum.  They were in the majority).

When I was thinking about "my people" within our family; I looked through some family photos.  I am not generally a "be-in-photo" fan.  It provided insight: with whom had I agreed to participate in a photo, what were we doing or celebrating, who was the photographer and depending who the person was - did I look comfortable / happy / natural ...or masking the best I could in the circumstances?

I received my formal diagnosis.