Aspies For Freedom

Okay, here you go, my two cents:
In general or depending on one's personal circumstances, reasons to seek include:
*access to services one would otherwise not receive
*a justification for asking people to be understanding or accomodating towards behaviors they might find odd (e.g lack of eye contact, perseveration, stimming, face blindness)
*legitimacy as a spokesperson for autism/AS
*self-understanding (now I know what is "different" about me)
*right to participate in research studies or clinical trials that might benefit others
*curiosity--you want to see what the testing process is about or how they do it

Reasons against include:
*possibility of discrimination in employment or insurance or who knows what might get cooked up in the future
*possible damage to self-concept (you're hoping you're not but turns out you are, or the converse--you hope you are but turns out you're not....so can't use the label as a reason)
*wanting to avoid having to lie in circumstances where disclosure could be harmful
*you distrust the diagnosis process, the meaning of the labels, the medicalization of behavioral traits, etc--i.e. ideological opposition to categorizing people into syndromes or conditions
*you don't think you need an official diagnosis--you already know who you are and it serves no purpose

(Note: I'm not officially diagnosed, and probably not diagnosable at this point.)

Sorry, Janet - I didn't notice your question earlier!

I'm not ignoring you, honest!

Actually, I cannot put it any better than energeia except to add a couple from a parent's point of view;

For: Your diagnosed child feels less alone, and knows that, however 'odd' autism may be in the wider world, at home it is normal!

Against: Risk of government organisations deciding that you are incapable by reason of your diagnosis to raise your children, and losing them.

I'm not listening! Speak up! - I've just realised I still have my headphones on from when I was watching a video earlier and didn't want to disturb my sleeping son (he's home sick )



As for your new question, I don't even know if there are any support services for adults here in Oz. As a temporary resident I don't qualify for anything!

Thanks - he was complaining of a tummy upset, but I thought it was just Monday-morning-itis until we got to school and he was still feelling dreadful.

And thanks for the compliments! Actually, my hair is really that horrible ratty shade that nearly black hair goes when it is 40% grey, so I cheer it, and me, up with Hypnotic Red by Schwarzkopf!

When my hair is completely grey, I intend to start wearing fluorescent colours in it! It is more than twenty years since I last had a full head of pink hair...

Thank you Naomi!

All these compliments... I'd better be careful lest my head should get (even) bigger!

Oh, and I have had a rare form of arthritis since childhood, too - Ankylosing Spondylitis. It wasn't recognised until I was 34, by which time, fortunately, I'd learnt how to cope with it (basically, face the pain and keep as mobile as I can). I also have two heart disorders that I've lived with since my teens, but weren't diagnosed until last year. And the medication I have to take for them means that I can't take anti-inflammatories. I sometimes have to upgrade from my 'granny-walker' & ask one of my menfolk to push me around while I boss them from the wheelchair!

Sadly, no. I can dream, though!

Doctor's orders - as I am on Warfarin, my blood takes two to three times as long to clot as normal blood. Even a minor accident could lead to horrendous internal bleeding. That is why we up-graded our old car to a slightly less old one with a driver's air bag.

And the lack of treatment for the arthritis means I cannot currently even ride my bicycle. My neck and right shoulder are too inflamed. Even driving, or walking on uneven ground are painful unless I wear a soft support collar - hence the daft bow ties to brighten it up!

When the weather is hot, I soak the collar in icy water before going out, but I can only tolerate the heat for a very short while before my heart plays up. Thank goodness for air-conditioned shopping centres!

Advantages:  

Without the official diagnosis, I somehow felt like a bit of a fraud saying I was Aspie (mostly because I was misdiagnosed as something else).  I have a problem with lying, so the official diagnosis enables me to say it with a clear conscience and without any qualifications.

Disadvantages:  

I think it's a declarable condition so far as the DVLC goes (British driving licence authority) and as such, getting affordable car insurance might be a problem if/whenever I return to UK.

I think there's also a very real problem when it comes to being Aspie parents if the social services get involved.  Not from the perspective that being Aspie means you can't be a good parent, but because I think the social services would potentially be biased and would discriminate against Aspie parents.

ED2003--thanks

Just out of curiousity, but how are you doing in Qatar?

I know--as an Aspie--I wouldn't be able to cope if I had to live in some strange, foreign country on my own.

I'm happy and giddy this week because I got an exceptionally high score from my boss on my annual performance evaluation.  He wrote out things such as saying that my peers see me as their leader and look up to me, that I'm very open to changes and new things, that I am very attuned to the needs of the rest of the company and turn out top notch work, beyond the call of duty.  

I've been working very hard on those things and others for the past couple years. My Significant Other has been coaching me on how to better communicate, write better memos, become more "visable", prioritize and abbreviate infomation to others instead of overhwelming them with details, navigate office politics and behave more like a team player.

There were many times that I felt frightened and overwhelmed. Those were the times I toyed with the idea of "coming out".  But now that I've suceeded to rank high at their own game it feels sooooo much sweeter because they do not know I'm spectrum. I'm so glad I didn't come out.  It is sweeter to know that my ratings are based on the same measure as everyone else.

I admit I almost feel indignant as I read this... how will your "not coming out" help the lower functioning Aspies, who cannot "emulate all of the above" to the extent that you have (and successfully)?  In some ways you should be glad to come out, and not so elated to hide something that you shouldn't be ashamed of, in the first place.

For crying out loud, people.

Although, before I make a fool of myself, I can understand why you would be proud of the accomplishment.  It's nice to be seen as an equal to your coworkers.

I guess my complaint comes from knowing I won't always be able to hide my AS-related deficiencies from people, coworkers especially.

1.  personal comfort that I am not to blame, neither my family for any negative aspects of autism or problems due to discrimination ( eg. depression, anger)

2.  access to accommodations or services that I would not be eligible for without an official diagnosis (which I have not received or know nothing about)

3.  protection under human rights code of my province to prevent discrimination against people with disability  (labels me with a disability) (but there is no protection offered to those from personality discrimination often found in employment screening.)

4.  being able to advocate for children with autism because I could relate having had autism and not diagnosed until young adulthood. (I could do that with or without a valid diagnosis anyway.  There is always the LF vs HF debate anyway.)

5.  Doctors only keep their files for ten years.  I don't know if any record of my diagnosis still exists.  (so I suppose I am an expired aspie, not retired.)

sorry, I don't have more points at the moment.

If they were good Christian singles, wouldn't they have seen past the overweight to the person underneath?

What? Can an autism dx work against health insurance? What about if you're say 18 but still on your parent's plan? Or an adult on your own getting your own insurance? If there's a restriction, does it just restrict "mental health coverage" or in general???