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Hi.

Autumn75

Hi. I'm a 40 year old woman and I was diagnosed in February 2014. I have a high IQ, I'm great with numbers, but have specific learning difficulties. I have been under mental health services for 20 years but they shot me down 4-5 years ago when I suggested I had an ASD. They have been beyond useless and since my diagnosis have essentially told me to get over it and move on.

I have spent too much of my adult life in mental hospitals and was recently sectioned again with psychosis and catatonia. I also have dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder which were only diagnosed in December 2014 and I was privately diagnosed with ADHD in April this year. I am physically disabled and rely on crutches indoors and a powerchair outdoors. I get no support besides a visit every few weeks from a mental health social worker who knows nothing about ASD.

I have no family and I am socially isolated as I find it extremely difficult interacting with people in person or on the phone. I live in quite a rural area and find it very difficult navigating public transport, steep hills and roads without pavements in a wheelchair. Since they revoked my driving licence due to the volume of medication I take I now rarely leave the house. 

Yesterday I managed to go to the shops to buy food after going without for over 24 hours. Going out in the high winds and heavy rain has set my physical health back. I cannot care for myself, my living conditions are horrendous but I am not anyone's problem. If you don't have a family to fight for your rights and you can't fight for them yourself you get nothing from my local social services. Surely people who are too frail and too scared to shout for their rights are the most in need? 

I need to get across to people that if the right care and support was put in place I would be able to gain employment and contribute to society. I think I come across as NT on the few occasions I do interact with other people. I have started unconsciously stimming in public because I have come off of a lot of my sedating medication, I used to be able to control it. I unfortunately have had meltdowns in public when things go horrendously wrong such as my wheelchair breaking down. In the past I would be shipped off to a mental hospital which would turn a meltdown into something much more. 

I am waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment as I lost the paperwork from my private diagnosis. A small part of me hopes that getting that treated will improve things. I am definitely not expecting miracles. I'm sorry for the depressing essay but I am feeling very low, very alone and very frightened right now. 

Parents

  • Even if there isn't a local service it is sometimes worth contacting the nearest, even if that's out of county. They may know if something equivalent is available in your area.

    People with autism needs are everywhere. There are enough people needing support to justify greater outreach, just that funding, especially in the current economic climate means there isn't the supply to meet the demand everywhere.

    But it usually means someone has asked before, probably a good few, so there is potential need in evidence, so you may not be as isolated as you feel.

    I'm curious that if I google National Autistic Society, up pops Mencap "Autism-society", it only leads to their website list of learning disabilities which includes autism. Given they are so forward on this, why not ask Mencap for support. There are more Mencap resource centres around.

    Another option is to look on local community orientated websites like Mumsnet. They may, if you can find your way through the maze, identify local support services that are nearly relevant.

    If there is a university in your area, or a teacher training resource centre, they may hold information on local special needs resources, so it may be worth checking with them.

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  • Even if there isn't a local service it is sometimes worth contacting the nearest, even if that's out of county. They may know if something equivalent is available in your area.

    People with autism needs are everywhere. There are enough people needing support to justify greater outreach, just that funding, especially in the current economic climate means there isn't the supply to meet the demand everywhere.

    But it usually means someone has asked before, probably a good few, so there is potential need in evidence, so you may not be as isolated as you feel.

    I'm curious that if I google National Autistic Society, up pops Mencap "Autism-society", it only leads to their website list of learning disabilities which includes autism. Given they are so forward on this, why not ask Mencap for support. There are more Mencap resource centres around.

    Another option is to look on local community orientated websites like Mumsnet. They may, if you can find your way through the maze, identify local support services that are nearly relevant.

    If there is a university in your area, or a teacher training resource centre, they may hold information on local special needs resources, so it may be worth checking with them.

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