Autism

[Clairecarebear]

I didn’t notice this comment before but it’s pretty fucked up, when you think about it, that an educator would say “I would have treated you with empathy if I had known you had a condition.” These dickheads should have been treating primary school kids with empathy anyway…it’s not a case of “if only we knew back then what we know now.” Anybody of a certain age who was taught by nuns or Christian Brothers knows how many sadistic apes working as teachers had no business being in the job.

I always believe it is wrong that people are often only given validation when they get a piece of paper, as if they themselves have somehow become worthy of understanding and support.

I encounter it often with parents of teens who are diagnosed. Suddenly they are giving the things that the teenager needed for support all along, but were seen almost as societally wrong.

Sadly, adults who receive late diagnoses, primarily males, often say they feel no support or understanding. Usually tied to the opinion already formed of them.
In family situations, especially separations, I have come across adults who have been diagnosed, especially on the back of a child being diagnosed, and they say that the child receives support and understanding from the other parent, but they don't receive the same.

 

[White Van Man]

I always believe it is wrong that people are often only given validation when they get a piece of paper, as if they themselves have somehow become worthy of understanding and support.

The blame has to lie squarely with government institutions.

Yes, the piece of paper is the ticket to SNAs and other accommodations in school. Getting seen in the public health system takes forever, and going private can easily cost €1,000+ for a diagnosis.

In family situations, especially separations, I have come across adults who have been diagnosed, especially on the back of a child being diagnosed, and they say that the child receives support and understanding from the other parent, but they don't receive the same.

Yes, very true - many adults are only diagnosed after their child is diagnosed (if the child is lucky enough to be diagnosed..see above), or when they enter the justice system (where the statistical prevalence of ADHD among inmates is something like 20%, compared to 5% in the general population).

The child is in for a rude shock in terms of treatment when they turn 18 also, as they're no longer CAMHS' responsibility. Our health system isn't fit for purpose.