Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi there,
My name's Gary and, at 49 years of age, I've been diagnosed with autism quite late in life.
What started the ball rolling with regards to eventually getting this diagnosis was that I was seeing a psychologist for counselling following my beloved foster mum's murder and it was my mentions of feeling strangely disconnected compared to how the rest of my family were that particularly interested her.
At first my psychologist was looking at PTSD and dissociation disorder, but then when I happened to mention that I went to a special educational needs school when I was young she became quite curious as to what diagnosis I'd been given way back then.
'Oh I wasn't given a diagnosis' I replied, adding: 'I was just told by everyone that I was slow - though that's never sat well with me, but hey, this was the 1970s. I have wondered whether there was something like an autistic spectrum disorder or ADD going on back then, though - something that would be recognised now, but "didn't exist" back then'.
...Anyway, that started the ball rolling with various assessments last summer and has led up to my eventual diagnosis this July.
I decided to have a look at this forum because I was curious to see if anyone has had a similar experience to me with regards to being diagnosed with an ASD relatively late in life.
Hi Aidie,
Thanks for the compliment. I only converted to digital art just over 2 years ago... before that I tended to work in acrylics a lot, but I must say I wish I'd made the transition much sooner as I find it amazing how fast I can get a pice of artwork done now.
Diagnosed in February at 59 years of age.
One of my old schoolfriends, John Tomlinson, edited both 2000AD and Judge Dredd comics in the 1990s.
Nero-Boss said:Ah, that's really interesting, as it's the other way around with a lot of people. Personally, I find things to like with both films.
I found the Stallone film more in keeping with the humour of the comics - the colour, the costumes - all very true to character (except him taking the helmet off - noooooooo!)
The second was just nasty gore and violence with the Dredd name loosely attached.
Hi Gary, welcome to the forum i love your artwork :)
thats good stuff ---- it a surprisingly handy skill ---- in my work we need it on a regular basis for logos and educational stuff as well
We normally go in costume too - wife likes to go as a Halo / Doom / Quake soldier- daughter goes as various Manga characters.
Well done sir
Hi BJS!
Nice to make your acquaintance.
Re: Photoshop... yeah, there is a bit of a learning curve... at least, as you say, it's quite straightforward with traditional photography (though I seem to remember failing the photography module when I wasat art college for some reason)
Plastic said:I'm also a huge fan of the Stallone film version - didn't like the later 'Dredd' version.
Ah, that's really interesting, as it's the other way around with a lot of people. Personally, I find things to like with both films.
Plastic said:We do ComicCon at Excel every year - seen plenty of DIY Batmen
I love Comic Con! It truly feels like I'm "amongst my tribe" whenever I go to one...here's a photo of me clowning around at Newcastle Comic Con a few years ago.
Welcome to the forum and cool graphics. I keep trying to learn how to use Photoshop to edit my photographs but just can't get into it, I did used to like getting into a darkroom with a load of chemicals.
No insult intended
I'm a 2000AD fan - used to have the comic from about 1990 to 2000 - I'm also a huge fan of the Stallone film version - didn't like the later 'Dredd' version.
We do ComicCon at Excel every year - seen plenty of DIY Batmen
Oh that's my mate Michael, Plastic... because he's a huge 2000AD fan I decided to depict him as a Mega City judge and in order to ensure that I didn't obscure his likeness I decided to forgo the helmet.
On the left is his younger brother Steve, who I've depicted as a "DIY Batman".
(Shame I have to squash down the size of these images on here - I tried to post some bigger resolution/more detailed images, but the page crashed on me.)
Very Cool! Dredd with his helmet off? 2050AD?
I'm a published illustrator.
- - - Currently not working because a combination of booze addiction and bipolar disorder made me pretty much unemployable for many years; however, now that I've got 8 years sobriety under my belt I'm keen to get into self-publishing webcomics.
Most recently I've really embraced digital art, getting into Photoshop big time and have been having fun doing some caricatures of friends.
Here's an example of the type of thing I do (hope these will load on the page okay).
What do you do? I'm a retired techy-nerd - I do lots of hobbies like making big RC models and classic cars - and lots of serious DIY.
Hi Plastic!
Great to make your acquaintance and it's good to know I'm not alone.
Hi Moon,
Great to make your acquaintance. It's good to know that I'm not alone.
moon said:assessment coming soon.
I hope everything works out okay for you. Because of things being slowed down thanks to Covid it took nearly a year before I got my diagnosis.
Hi Gary
Welcome aboard You're not alone - I was diagnosed in my 40s too.
Welcome.
There is a wide range of diagnosis ages on this board! Just in the last month or two I know there are several posts from people diagnosed 50+. Me - self-diagnosed a year or two back at 50, assessment coming soon.