this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2023
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Autism
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A community for respectful discussion and memes related to autism acceptance. All neurotypes are welcome.
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Of course self diagnosis is valid. But you can’t expect everyone to accept it - that’s just life, but people do not have the right to tell you that you are wrong either.
However without a formal diagnosis there are no legal workplace supports, access to certain services (I live in Australia so YMMV) no access to certain medical services and medication and other things that actually require a formal diagnosis.
I am dubious though when people self diagnose but refuse to tell anyone other than the internet about it because they feel they will be discriminated against at work or by their peers…..because for the rest of us who ended up with a formal diagnosis as a child we didn’t get that choice…so in that sense that view is a little bit privileged in that you get a choice many in the rest of the community did not….
I didn't realize that I was autistic until I was much older. Shortly after realizing it, I signed up for a local program that supports autistic individuals. During the intake, the specialist pointed out that a lot of peculiar experiences between me, school, teachers, and my parents were likely part of a school program for autistic students. It would also explain why I was put in a special school, and in that school, in special classes. However, I don't have definite proof of this, so I'm considering contacting my grade school to see if they still have my records. I think it would help me make sense of my childhood if I have proof that my parents and school knew I was autistic.