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Doctor stated that Autism is not a medical condition.

asrcool

Hi.

I have Aspergers and yesterday an occupational health doctor stated to me that Autism is not a medical condition and as such does not warrant any workplace adjustments.

I am outraged by this and very confused, can anybody clarify if this is correct? 

Remploy have asked for a few minor adjustments at work, given my difficulties, however my workplace referred me to the occupational health doctor for clarification and the doctor just played down any difficulty that I had.

He is writing a report to my workplace stating these things and I am most upset about it.

Can anybody tell me if this is correct and if it is not, can anybody point me in the direction of a website/information that clearly proves the doctor wrong? I am currently getting a letter together to send to him/his manager to complain.

Thanks.

Parents

  • Thanks for the replies. I do fall under the equality act and I understand that workplaces have no legal obligations to implement adjustments unless the worker falls under the equality act.

    The act only comes into play in a court/tribunal as it is ultimately for a Judge to decide if someone is covered by the act. A doctor can only state that a person 'may' fall under the act or that in 'their opinion' they do fall under the act, but they cannot definitively state that a person does fall under the cover of the act.

    The barrister at my case stated that it would be rare for any Judge to deem that anyone who falls within the spectrum of Autism, not be covered by the equality act 2010.

    Sorry I went off on a bit of tangent then and didn't explain myself clearly before, I really only wanted to know if Autism was not considered a medial condition amongst medical people. I know that it isn't a learning difficulty nor a mental health issue as the doctor stated, but what does it come under, does anybody know?

Reply

  • Thanks for the replies. I do fall under the equality act and I understand that workplaces have no legal obligations to implement adjustments unless the worker falls under the equality act.

    The act only comes into play in a court/tribunal as it is ultimately for a Judge to decide if someone is covered by the act. A doctor can only state that a person 'may' fall under the act or that in 'their opinion' they do fall under the act, but they cannot definitively state that a person does fall under the cover of the act.

    The barrister at my case stated that it would be rare for any Judge to deem that anyone who falls within the spectrum of Autism, not be covered by the equality act 2010.

    Sorry I went off on a bit of tangent then and didn't explain myself clearly before, I really only wanted to know if Autism was not considered a medial condition amongst medical people. I know that it isn't a learning difficulty nor a mental health issue as the doctor stated, but what does it come under, does anybody know?

Children
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