Diagnosis disadvantages

Thank you all for your responses! To clarify I am aware of many advantages, my favourite being the autistic community that you all illustrate! The most obvious disadvantage I was aware of was stigma and discrimination which is mentioned on the NAS site, so I was surprised to learn that there were also more legal implications such as around where you cannot emigrate to. I found some 10 yr old threads here, but was after more up to date info as laws obviously change. Maybe this hasn't really been done because the advantages and disadvantages vary from person to person depending on needs and circumstances, but surely we deserve an honest discussion around all the implications of a diagnosis. 

The UK has been mentioned in external forums linking to articles, but to clarify again I haven't seen anything that definitively says autistic people aren't allowed, although again I have interpreted it as a layperson that it depends on what your support needs are and whether you would be able to support yourself (and possibly pay for private health care). 

Apologies if I alarmed anyone, again I'm keen to find the facts out to prevent causing accidental alarm!. I also appreciate the experiences you've shared.

Absolutely, we need to discuss this honestly.  And for some the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and each must make their own choice.

People can be self-identified and welcomed to this forum.  We respect that not everyone wants to go through the stress of an assessment and self-identification is usually right and valid.

Stigma remains a real problem for many.  Whereas for many older adults the diagnosis is liberating and validating, I have also spoken with younger autistic people who wished they had never been diagnosed.  They feel their life would have been 'normal' without the label.  It wouldn't, of course, because they are still autistic in a world that isn't exactly autism friendly, but I get where they are coming from in as much as some of their problems can be caused by other people's limiting or prejudicial attitude toward them because they are aware of their diagnosis.

Identification as autistic will have nothing but advantages the day the whole of society has an attitude which says:  "OK, so your brain works differently and you need to do stuff differently.  Cool, how can we help?"  Sadly, we're a long way from there.

Absolutely, we need to discuss this honestly.  And for some the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and each must make their own choice.

People can be self-identified and welcomed to this forum.  We respect that not everyone wants to go through the stress of an assessment and self-identification is usually right and valid.

Stigma remains a real problem for many.  Whereas for many older adults the diagnosis is liberating and validating, I have also spoken with younger autistic people who wished they had never been diagnosed.  They feel their life would have been 'normal' without the label.  It wouldn't, of course, because they are still autistic in a world that isn't exactly autism friendly, but I get where they are coming from in as much as some of their problems can be caused by other people's limiting or prejudicial attitude toward them because they are aware of their diagnosis.

Identification as autistic will have nothing but advantages the day the whole of society has an attitude which says:  "OK, so your brain works differently and you need to do stuff differently.  Cool, how can we help?"  Sadly, we're a long way from there.