if they’re going full Bloodstone episode of Steven Universe where Ronaldo is being loud & wrong, then yes. if they’re just like HERE I AM and going insane over having a new identity or finding a space where they can unmask (maybe a little too much), then i wouldn’t say there’s much harm in getting to know why they’re so comfortable. 🤷🏼‍♀️

19

Diagnoses are expensive and sometimes minorities are misinterpreted- also, who kinda cares if they’re undiagnosed if they’re getting the resources they need?

14

anyone who is diagnosed with autism were still autistic before they got their diagnosis. autistic people who aren’t yet diagnosed still have to live with the symptoms and challenges of the disorder and still have the lived experience of being autistic, but without the label of diagnosis. if someone speculates that they have autism from extensive research and self reflection and they find it helpful or validating to be in autistic spaces or access resources, then why should we deny them that?

12

Autistic psychiatrist here. Self-diagnosis is pretty commonly accepted in the autism community bc of how expensive & difficult it can be to get a diagnosis. Also, the vast majority of ppl that seek a diagnosis for themselves are in fact autistic & knew they were, often bc of the pattern recognition thing.

8

Yea god forbid the spaces be comforting? Doctors aren't gods

5

I have so many other diagnoses that eventually they just gave me a “traumatic brain injury with multi LD” to provide a nice little umbrella. And now this administration is making specifically that diagnosis extra scary.

2