Simon Baron-Cohen can stuff right off

[Smunder Woman]

So, I had my appointment yesterday and was not diagnosed because my traits are below their clinic level for diagnosis. But, they focused a lot on outdated autism research, so I told them I accepted they have clinical criteria to meet, but what they were saying to me was not in line with current autism research, and they were perpetuating myths which are hugely damaging to a lot of women. They told me to go and seek mental health help for a depressive personality.

Anyway, long story short, the guy I challenged is a baron who's been commended by Gordon Brown for his autism work, I posted on Twitter and the creator of some of the contemporary stuff tagged the CEO of Scottish Autism, and I've now arranged to discuss my concerns with her. I'm clearly not fucking around with who I'm complaining too

[H1ppychick]

Brilliant, smunder!

[Kenickie]

Good for you, Smunder!

[Bat Macdui]

You are bloody smashing.

[Ruby]

They told me to go and seek mental health help for a depressive personality.

What the fuck?! Light a fire under that cheeky bastard.

[Smunder Woman]

They told me to go and seek mental health help for a depressive personality.

What the fuck?! Light a fire under that cheeky bastard.

The irony of this is that the most common misdiagnosis of autistic women is BPD. So they've literally thrown all of the stereotypical bullshit at me at once.

[Zoomer]

Wow, Smun! Savage him, the patronizing git!

[Figaro]

Can you ask them for a copy of their full report? At least in my area it’s usually 10+ pages so would hopefully be quite informative as to how they’ve reached their conclusion. If they are being difficult they can make you make a formal request but usually they are happy to email it to you. If you think it would be helpful, you can always ask for a second opinion via the NHS. They can refer you out of area. I’m sure you already know this but all NHS services follow the NICE guidelines so these are the methods of assessment they will use.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142/ ... 9567475909

In my area there are some private psychologists and psychiatrists who use different methods.

[Smunder Woman]

I will get the report sent. The NHS don't do adult diagnosis in my area. Trust me, I've fully looked into this :))

[Smunder Woman]

So, after chasing, I have my report and the letter.

The letter says "sorry you're not happy, we could address your points, but it's more important to say sorry it wasn't a positive experience"

The report contains some massive assumptions on their part, about things they didn't ask me about, and says I have definite sub-clinical autistic traits, but am highly intelligent and laughed at a joke. They actually said I have theory of mind so cannot be autistic. I don't know if I want to cry or cut a bitch. Oh, and amusingly, I'm going to their conference on innovative theory and practise tomorrow.

I can't really bring myself to seek re-assessment just now. I have too much in my head, but I'm not ruling it out for some point in the future.

[Tits McGee]

That sounds absolutely infuriating, smunder.

[Bat Macdui]

You really need to properly heckle them. :verm: I am so angry for you. And about the service in general. I think it's even more cross inducing because they talk such a good game about being up to date and women and girls and all that. Utter bullshit.

[Smunder Woman]

As you know, Bats, I interviewed a prominent autistic academic yesterday, and he was 100% on my side, which was nicely validating. I totally want to heckle them today. Not least for the letter which is two pages of "sorry you reacted that way".

Anyway, I discussed it with the academic yesterday, and he said that writing it as a case study is probably quite useful in terms of research, so I am going to do that. It contains a fuck ton of details, shitty wording, and is addressed to me and about me, so I can publish it to make my point :))

[Bat Macdui]

Sit there with it on your knee and give them a Shoe Cutting Look all the way through. :))

[Smunder Woman]

Totally will :))

Btw, it did say I have a lot of autistic characteristics, but not enough for their liking. This will be wholly unsurprising to everyone

[Lily]

I read this, and thought of this thread. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51475739

[Bat Macdui]

For anyone who is interested and may have the time right now, Future Learn are running their online Understanding Autism course and their ADHD one again, both starting 20 April. I'm going to sign up to the ADHD one. I started the Autism one a couple of years ago, but didn't finish, which was less about the quality of the course and more about the whole ADHD thing. :)) The Autism one is pretty good, from my experience and from reports, and also has a cameo appearance from Smunder's mini academic crush, Damian Milton. :)) The ADHD one has input from King's College, who are doing some really good work on this at the moment.

Future Learn Autism

Future Learn ADHD

[Cerise]

Thanks, Bats.

[Smunder Woman]

Full blown academic crush, more like :))

Thanks, these could be useful. I'm currently feeling a bit over autism, which is handy in the middle of an autism-related PhD

ETA: I have just realised this is the same course my supervisor sent me a link to recently, saying "obviously, if this is nonsense, it is your duty to educate them, but be kind". It's good to know I probably won't need to kick off :))

[Bat Macdui]

My level of Spesh Interest has definitely waned. :)) In favour of Richard III. "Autistic people only like trains and maths" my fucking arse.