Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello Everyone,
Delighted to have found this community, after an ASD diagnosis six months ago :))
Like many others, it was the diagnosis of a family member that led to my own lightbulb moment and subsequent diagnosis. I am happy to finally understand myself a little better and only wish my diagnosis had happened sooner, rather than at the ripe old age of 53, but better late than never!
I am studying a degree in creative writing via distance learning (currently battling SFE for a maintenance loan) and have just sent off the form to claim PIP - fingers crossed everyone! I am hoping for the best, but expecting the worst in terms of PIP. Reading the experiences of others on this forum has given me hope, and the determination to persist with PIP even if they initially reject me. Thank you to all those who have shared their PIP journeys, both the lows and the highs, knowing there is a supportive community here gave me the encouragement I needed to make my own application.
Like many here, I am a person of passionate interests ;)) I love listening to music and immersing creatively. It is such a relief to discover this lovely community - finally a place where I fit perfectly!
Hi Bramble, welcome. You will find lots of good support on here.
Bramble24 said:My hope for the future would be that no-one is left struggling through life because of missing out on diagnosis.
Well, I certainly endorse that sentiment.
Ben
Thanks MArt,
Really appreciate the encouragement and support.
I will definitely seek advice from the forum with any issues/stumbling blocks I might encounter. I can see there is a wealth of knowledge and experience gathered amongst this community. Thank you for the good luck wishes, it all helps :))
Hi Kitty,
Thank you for the encouragement and the warm welcome, good to hear you were able to get PIP after much perseverance. It's a shame that we have to fight so hard, and suffer so much stress and anxiety in the course of trying to make a claim. That's where supportive communities like this one really help, lifting each other up, offering advice and just standing together when things feel grim. So glad to meet you all :))
In terms of music my tastes are eclectic, I love world/folk/pop/quirky indie stuff and even enjoy a bit of drum and bass via my lovely children. They tend to monopolise the playlists in the car - and now I am habituated to most of the stuff they listen to!
Hi Roy,
Many thanks especially for the welcome home - I truly feel it at last :))
Thanks Amerantin,
Good to know there are others just beginning to reevaluate and reframe their perspectives after diagnosis :))
Hi Ben,
Thankyou for the warm welcome!
My hope for the future would be that no-one is left struggling through life because of missing out on diagnosis. I feel that diagnosis transformed my relationship with myself, which in turn means I can better understand others and can navigate life in ways that embrace my difference.
So glad to join this lovely community!
Bramble24 said:at the ripe old age of 53
Oh go on, that's not old...... I was 67!
But oh how I wish I'd known earlier.
Welcome to the forum.
Hi Bramble and welcome, 52/53 seems to be a very frequent age for us late-diagnosed people to find out who we are!
Welcome
Yes, the DWP & PIP can be a nightmare! So, even if they do initially reject you take it all the way to the tribunal, it’s unlikely that it’ll get that far as in my experience they have always backed down.
If you need any help advice post on here.
Good luck.
Hi and welcome, there are quite a few older autistic people here. Welcome home.
Hello and welcome here. I joined yesterday and I'm already really enjoying being here with everyone.
Don't worry about being rejected for PIP the first couple of times. It took me 5 attempts before they finally gave me PIP and I'm in a wheelchair! I read online from others experiences that PIP almost never do it on the first attempt.
What sort of music do you like?
Bramble24 said:It is such a relief to discover this lovely community - finally a place where I fit perfectly!
Wonderful.