At Autism and ADHD Assessment Hub we believe an autism diagnosis is not the end point but the beginning of a journey. That is why we are proud to support AutiPocket, co-founded by Rosie and Charlie Weldon to provide connection and practical support for autistic adults.
This blog, written by Rosie, shares her personal experience of diagnosis and why post-diagnostic support is so vital. We are delighted to feature her story here as part of our commitment to supporting autistic people beyond assessment.
An autism diagnosis isn’t the end goal. It is just the start.
Did you know that 66% of adults that receive an autism diagnosis are considering ending things?
It’s the start of a lifelong journey of self-acceptance. It’s the start of building a future that is built on adjustments and support. It’s about building a life that isn’t just about surviving.
I was most definitely one of this 66%. In 2016 I saw no future. I felt worthless. Why could everyone else do the things that I couldn’t? Why was I so incapable?
I wanted to stop being a burden. I wanted it to all just stop.
And then I got my diagnosis. In 2017 I was diagnosed as autistic. And it felt like I could breathe for the first time. Except, nothing really changed. Because, as we know, the support for autistic adults is very limited. The only thing that changed, was self-acceptance.
I went, huh, that’s why. It’s not that I didn’t try hard enough. It’s not that I wasn’t strong enough. It’s because my mind does not work the same way that other people’s does. It’s because I am autistic.
My diagnosis saved me. I have no doubt about that.
Want to know another statistic? 77% of autistic people waiting for help reach crisis point before they get the help they need.
Another not so fun statistic that I fall into. I knew I was reaching breaking point. I did the right thing. I asked for help. The day that I had my first counselling appointment, was the day I woke up with self-inflicted concussion. They were too late.
So yes, a diagnosis saved me. But what came next? Where was the support?
I recently reached out to a company called Autism and ADHD Assessment Hub, to sponsor AutiPocket. With my business hat on I thought, they’d want to use my platform, this platform, to generate autism diagnosis sales. I was wrong. They were far more focused on wanting to help AutiPocket because they believed it was the right thing to do. That if they were going to diagnose autistic people, then they had to be a part of the support that followed. They wanted to help AutiPocket make sure diagnosed autistic adults weren’t sent off on their own, with no support.
I had done my research on them of course. I knew they offered fair and reasonable payment options. I knew they were providing a good service. I just didn’t expect it to come from such a genuine place.
We need private options for diagnosing autism because many people face long waits with NHS services. Autistic people deserve timely support.
Often what follows diagnosis is less visible in many services. Newly diagnosed autistic people, many of whom are already in survival mode, still struggle to access the help they need.
My diagnosis saved me. But a lack of support has left me beaten and battle scarred as I try to survive this world.
Autistic people need post-diagnosis support. I never expected a private diagnosis provider like Autism and ADHD Assessment Hub to so profoundly understand that.
I am so very proud to write this blog and go public with Autism and ADHD Assessment Hub’s support of AutiPocket, with this blog being sponsored by them.
References:
- 77% of autistic adults waiting for support, hit crisis point before getting it: www.autism-alliance.org.uk/breaking-point
- 66% of adults waiting for an autism diagnosis have considered suicide: Suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts in adults
- AutiPocket website: https://autipocket.com