Why are the politicians and media such ***** to people with Autism and ADHD?

Because we are witnessing the rise of the far right 

Alexa said:

I'm now confused whether you're saying it's remarkably easy to get any private diagnosis and that's what Farage means, or whether you're saying that diagnosing by zoom is dodgy.

It is remarkably easy for you to speak to your GP, for them to give you the contact of a private practice that offers a fast turnaround and not to be too rigid on following the rules around the criteria required and for you to get the diagnosis.

Not all GPs are sticklers for the rules so will do this to get you off their back and potentially save their practice the cost of the assessment.

The diagnostic process by zoom is much less thorough than the recommended in-person process and from hearing from the people who went through this zoom process, it is largely giving the result you ask for so long as their AQ-50 results gave this indication.

There is less in-person observation, no need for a witness and less steps overall, so it could be considered dodgy - or streamlined, all depending on your point of view.

So going back to the point you ask about, your GP is giving you the contact for the zoom rather than doing it themselves, and you have to shell out a few grand for the process.

Iain said:

it is remarkable easy to get a diagnosis the way it was stated

And I was disagreeing that it is remarkably easy to get a diagnosis, regardless of the medium, (face-to-face, zoom etc. I am saying that there may be people who sell a diagnosis for money, regardless of whether it's true or not. Farage's "get it over zoom from your GP" is a lie, in any case. 

I'm now confused whether you're saying it's remarkably easy to get any private diagnosis and that's what Farage means, or whether you're saying that diagnosing by zoom is dodgy.

Let me offer some context.

What we are witnessing in a number of countries is a rebirth of fascism. What fascists do is identify 'out-groups' they can unfairly blame for everything that isn't right - often the unequal distribution of resources.

They tell lots of untruths and half-truths both to wear people down into indifference and to foment discord.

Then they persecute the out-groups, drawing out the bile of some of the disaffected wider population into hatred and violence. In turn, this leads them to claim that only they can bring back control or law and order.

This is all deliberate. It gives them power and more resources. Those behind it are working across countries to destabilise. 

Neurodivergent people are not the only out-group being identified at present. Witness also women (rampant misogyny), black and brown people (racism and hate crime), migrants and asylum seekers (xenophobia), Muslims (Islamophobia), etc. 

Solidarity is the best response. We are all people and have hugely more in common than that which divides us. Love more and live boldly.

#nopasaran

B said:

You can't get a diagnosis that way and there is NOTHING easy about getting a diagnosis.

You can. I personally know 3 people who have done it this way using 2 London based practices. The cost was over £2k and the process used several multiple choice test questions (similar to AQ-50) and a one-to-one video call with a psychiatrist.

This is not the same process that the NHS use but the diagnosis was still given and was accepted by the NHS onto the patients records. 

Is it fair or correct - no, but it was a way for the people to get a formal diagnosis and start getting some of their needs met.

I'm sorry if this does not match your experience or expectations but to label it as misinformation is wrong - it happens, especially where money is involved. 

Iain said:

The point I was making is that it is remarkable easy to get a diagnosis the way it was state

You can't get a diagnosis that way (see my reply to you) and there is NOTHING easy about getting a diagnosis. 

I wish you wouldn't spread misinformation. 

Alexa said:

it might be unfair to both the practitioner and the person diagnosed to assume every diagnosis by zoom = fraud.

I agree completely. The point I was making is that it is remarkable easy to get a diagnosis the way it was stated so it is not surprising we are being criticised for the process itself.

This is nothing of our (as a group of autists) doing, but we are suffering as a result none the less.

The system needs to change to solve this but there is nothing better (and viable) yet available to replace it with.

Iain said:

I do know 3 people in the UK who received their diagnosis after a zoom call

Virtually the only way to get a diagnosis in parts of Scotland is privately. I picked someone who had been a team leader in ND in Glasgow for a couple of decades and decided to become self-employed. She was one of very few psychologists who were willing to assess older women. We did both assessments (childhood and adult) by zoom, which is not rare in Scotland due to distances between places/lack of public transport etc. I hate zoom calls and prefer face to face, but I had to concentrate so much I even managed the very long adult assessment without a break, which is a first for me.

My assessor split the assessments because she wasn't willing to bother with the adult part if I didn't pass the childhood part. And no, being in my 70s with no close family left alive, there was no one to say what my childhood was like. 

So, if you like, I am a fraud who consulted a fraud. Now, I'm not saying everyone in private practice is honest, but unless we know (personally or professionally) who is and who isn't honest, it might be unfair to both the practitioner and the person diagnosed to assume every diagnosis by zoom = fraud.

Iain said:

I do know 3 people in the UK who received their diagnosis after a zoom call - no in person meeting, no parent / family member to give historical info etc.

There will be many.

Mine was via two Zoom calls during Covid one of them being with a consultant psychiatrist. 

However much paperwork was completed alongside this.

I also didn't have anyone to give historical information. 

I gave this myself.

Iain said:

suspect this is a result of the long wait times and willingness of private practices to offer a diagnosis for the right price.

It is because of the NHS using private clinics under Right to Choose.

They offer an assessment not a diagnosis unless appropriate. 

The only involvement of the GP is the initial stage as they are Primary Care and are unable to supply a diagnosis. 

What you say doesn't substantiate NF's claims re you 'being fair' to him.

Billy87 said:

Nigel Farage things you can get an autism diagnosis over a Zoom call from your GP

I dislike Niggle Farage but to be fair on this subject I do know 3 people in the UK who received their diagnosis after a zoom call - no in person meeting, no parent / family member to give historical info etc.

All 3 were private assessments rather than GP referrals due to the long wait times.

I suspect this is a result of the long wait times and willingness of private practices to offer a diagnosis for the right price.

I think it says far more about Tice and Farage than it does about ND people, the likes of Farage and Tice are just nasty people, unfortunately nastiness seems to sell papers, but I do think there are a lot of people of people who really disagree and want a kinder world, we just don't get to hear about them as much 

Oh it’s over here in America, too. The MAHA movement (Make America Healthy Again), led by Health Secretary RFK Jr., is leading an appalling effort to rewrite what we know about health sciences, including all of the research that has already been made involving the [non-existent] link between Autism and vaccines.

RFK Jr.’s insane. Since he took the position he changed the Center of Disease Control’s website page on “Autism and Vaccines” to reflect MAHA principles. Even Republicans are wary of him, since he outright lied to a Republican senator that he wouldn’t adjust the members for the CDC’s main panel on immunizations. He fired the entire committee and replaced them with like-minded weirdos.

There’s apparently a congressional investigation on RFK Jr right now and the “Blue Wave” that happened during midterms may help, but yeah, the American government is rife with misinformation on neurodivergence right now as well.

Those are right-wing political parties. Most of our popular newspapers are owned by right-wing millionaires and told to run a right-wing media, which means that right-wing views get more exposure. On the other hand, centrral and left-wing media orgations tend not to be owned by millionaires and therefore struggle to pay for themselves and don't get as much exposure. 

The right-wing always push views that less money or resources or recognition to go to people in vulnerable groups protected by Equality legislation. One of their current favourite moral panics is about the cost of disability benefits and the rise in ND diagnoses. One of their favourite ways of attacking something is to say it's all a fashion and people are imagining it and "this will damage your children" (because they know they can frighten people with a threat to children).