Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello, my name is Rayne. I was recently diagnosed as autistic level three.
It's answered many questions for me and for my parents, and so I thought it would be a good idea to familiarise myself with an online community.
I feel free and like a new brilliant chapter of my life has opened. It's a good feeling, unlike any other I've experienced before.
I will customise my profile later on. For now I'm going to go for a walk. See you later!
Welcome to the community Rayne
You mentioned the autism level diagnosis you received. I'm assuming that was either private diagnosis or you aren't in the UK? As far as I know the NHS diagnostic process doesn't use the DSM-5 Levels. I know I wasn't given a level.
One thing that most autistic adults agree on is that there isn't any support available. Yet according to the DSM-5 criteria all three levels require support, to varying degrees:
Level 1 ‘Requiring support’
Level 2 ‘Requiring substantial support’
Level 3 ‘Requiring very substantial support’
For anyone unfamiliar with the levels, there is a summary table with more detail here:
https://embrace-autism.com/decoding-autism-in-the-dsm-5/
I hope you don't mind me asking but is your level 3 diagnosis the magic key to accessing support for adults that we are generally told doesn't exist?
Autonomistic said:I hope you don't mind me asking but is your level 3 diagnosis the magic key to accessing support for adults that we are generally told doesn't exist?
Hello,
Yes it could be actually as I do get more than enough support for my autism. Mostly my main difficulties are with mobility and verbal communication, which I don't think the majority suffer from. I do get support for these and have a special nurse who assists me for my mobility. I had a speech therapist at one point but sadly there wasn't a lot she could do.
But being supported emotionally isn't something I get professionally other than my nurse.
I hope this helps. Any questions at all please feel free to ask I'll help if I can.