• Replies 60 replies
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 9800 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

People who self-diagnose gaining access to services

Shek

A major autism organisation is giving access to groups/services for adults with Asperger's and high functioning autism to adults who self-diagnose.

Those who self-diagnose are highly motivated, unlike many adults with autism where motivation can be an issue.  They are more likely to attend groups than those with significant problems. These self-diagnosed adults as service users have a say in how services are run.  In this organisation, they want groups set up that exclude those with Asperger's and high functioning autism who have more problems than they do.

This mirrors what has happened in some online groups for people with Asperger's that have been dominated by those desperately seeking a diagnosis.

What other condition allows those that self-diagnose to be given access to services?  It could be argued that everyone as some autisitic traits i.e. is on the autism spectrum.  But surely the point of diagnosis is to identify those that are in need of support services.  To be given a diagnosis, there must be 'significant impairment'.  Many of those desperate for a diagnosis do not meet the criterea.  For many 'Asperger's Syndrome' seems a trendy diagnosis - it doesn't have the baggage of many conditions linked to the mind/brain.  They have little awarenees of the many difficulties faced by those living with Asperger's/high functioning autism.

I believe allowing people who self-diagnose access to services makes diagnosis meaningless.  In the long term, it is likely to have a negative affect on funding for services for adults.

What are your thoughts?

 

Parents

  • Well what's your evidence that this is happening?

    Are services being offered to people who donb't have a formal assessment?

    When did I argue that people who just think they have aspergers or autism should have access to services?

    All I said was that sometimes when more people identify with a problem that brings money into the system. People self diagnosing are raising the profile.

    The big problem for people on the spectrum is that they are not a strong voice for change. Only a small percentage have a secure job. Very few therefore have funds. 

    Parents' groups do have the funds, and to a large extent making organisations like NAS possible. But the flaw is that they are still mainly concerned about children. There is nothing much for adults, except in as much as NAS has raised this in recent years.

    Dyslexia, even quite severe dyslexia doesn't prevent people getting employment, having good incomes, being able to raise funds. Aspergers/Autism is very particular in creating an adult group without much clout.

    My concern about an "exclusive club" was that some correspondents on here were claiming there were too many people getting diagnosed because of falling diagnostic standards. I do perceive here an element of "shut the doors....don't let anyone else in". And I do think it is appropriate to challenge that kind of thinking.

    I think also paople on the spectrum, however disadvantaged they feel, have to have a more realistic philosophy about how to win friends and influence amongst the NT population.

    Because if you keep moaning - unjustifiably - you'll only get ignored.

Reply

  • Well what's your evidence that this is happening?

    Are services being offered to people who donb't have a formal assessment?

    When did I argue that people who just think they have aspergers or autism should have access to services?

    All I said was that sometimes when more people identify with a problem that brings money into the system. People self diagnosing are raising the profile.

    The big problem for people on the spectrum is that they are not a strong voice for change. Only a small percentage have a secure job. Very few therefore have funds. 

    Parents' groups do have the funds, and to a large extent making organisations like NAS possible. But the flaw is that they are still mainly concerned about children. There is nothing much for adults, except in as much as NAS has raised this in recent years.

    Dyslexia, even quite severe dyslexia doesn't prevent people getting employment, having good incomes, being able to raise funds. Aspergers/Autism is very particular in creating an adult group without much clout.

    My concern about an "exclusive club" was that some correspondents on here were claiming there were too many people getting diagnosed because of falling diagnostic standards. I do perceive here an element of "shut the doors....don't let anyone else in". And I do think it is appropriate to challenge that kind of thinking.

    I think also paople on the spectrum, however disadvantaged they feel, have to have a more realistic philosophy about how to win friends and influence amongst the NT population.

    Because if you keep moaning - unjustifiably - you'll only get ignored.

Children
No Data