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Wes Streeting's move against autism - NAS - time to step up

mrs.snooks

I'm aware that this discussion may get a little heated, but I hope that it stays away from getting too much so. I do not mean to cause offense or lead to any arguments. So here goes.

I woke up to this morning's headlines: 

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is to launch an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services in England.

I haven't added the link to the article as I know this will trigger a delay to having this posted. But I'm thinking you will have seen this this morning. 

I am so angry on so many levels. And I am hoping that the NAS is angry too and can respond to his move with a firm and robust response. Because.

Now, I am going to call it out. Mr Streeting, I think that this is what I would be calling: Discrimination. Discrimination with a big, fat capital D. Discrimination against a marginalised group. A vulnerable group. That deserves your protection and that you should have our back. As the HEALTH secretary. Shame on you. Shame on you.

I may not respond to any responses to my thread, if it gets too heated. And I am happy for the thread to get locked or removed.

It's time to Step Up.

Parents

  • Hey Wes. Here's your "review":

    Autism was, until very recently, studied only in relation to boys, and diagnostic tests and procedures, designed by observing them, therefore missed girls, women and others whose autism presents differently. The male to female ratio was allegedly 4:1, but is now thought to be 2:1 or closer. This means that generations of autistics were missed, women in particular. The current bottleneck is a matter of very simple MATHEMATICS. If properly addressed ASAP, it will subside. 

    And the most obvious reason you of all people should want to address this properly is ECONOMICS. Let me walk you through this REALLY SLOWLY. Steady now... hold my hand. Let me translate some of what we see along the way into the language you should understand. 

    To abandon people without access to ASD diagnosis is a FALSE ECONOMY. Why?

    Diagnosis can prevent the development of many secondary mental and physical, including chronic and autoimmune, health problems, by reducing stress, confusion, trauma and grief caused by undiagnosed autism, thereby saving the NHS money on medications and treatments of those secondary conditions. Also, as you may or may not know, autism itself is not a condition to cure or medicate. You should welcome us, if not for basic humanity, then because we're pretty cheap. Obviously big pharma is sitting over there, giving us dirty looks. Just ignore him, nobody likes him. 

    Also, some of us would prefer the endless discrimination at work to stop so we can get on with our careers, govt saves welfare spend, we pay taxes, but obviously such a minor issue, given 85% of us are unemployed or underemployed. 

    Anyway, I am now going to call your mother as you will need to stay for remedial lessons. Grade: Maths F, Economics F

Reply

  • Hey Wes. Here's your "review":

    Autism was, until very recently, studied only in relation to boys, and diagnostic tests and procedures, designed by observing them, therefore missed girls, women and others whose autism presents differently. The male to female ratio was allegedly 4:1, but is now thought to be 2:1 or closer. This means that generations of autistics were missed, women in particular. The current bottleneck is a matter of very simple MATHEMATICS. If properly addressed ASAP, it will subside. 

    And the most obvious reason you of all people should want to address this properly is ECONOMICS. Let me walk you through this REALLY SLOWLY. Steady now... hold my hand. Let me translate some of what we see along the way into the language you should understand. 

    To abandon people without access to ASD diagnosis is a FALSE ECONOMY. Why?

    Diagnosis can prevent the development of many secondary mental and physical, including chronic and autoimmune, health problems, by reducing stress, confusion, trauma and grief caused by undiagnosed autism, thereby saving the NHS money on medications and treatments of those secondary conditions. Also, as you may or may not know, autism itself is not a condition to cure or medicate. You should welcome us, if not for basic humanity, then because we're pretty cheap. Obviously big pharma is sitting over there, giving us dirty looks. Just ignore him, nobody likes him. 

    Also, some of us would prefer the endless discrimination at work to stop so we can get on with our careers, govt saves welfare spend, we pay taxes, but obviously such a minor issue, given 85% of us are unemployed or underemployed. 

    Anyway, I am now going to call your mother as you will need to stay for remedial lessons. Grade: Maths F, Economics F

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