I just got diagnosed Tuesday 31/05/22.. waited 2.5 yrs for my NHS appointment. I have to wait for my report 2-3 weeks then have a questions & support meeting this coming month. I’m glad I’m not crazy or mad like I was feeling before getting diagnosed. Intrigued to read the report. I did the Aspie Quiz, RAADS & AQ tests as part of my preparation for assessment. Finally I feel at peace and happy with who I am and I’ve found my tribe. Now the work to learn how to unmask everyday will begin, I’ve done it so long on auto-pilot for decades, it will be quite the journey and challenge.

Thank you, I feel better knowing what's going to happen when I go for my assessment.

It's very good that you stressed "you know what you are". Unfortunately the diagnosis process is too difficult for some people to access or their road to a potential diagnosis is blocked by some clinicians who are ill-informed or simply not interested or negative towards those with ASD. Even if this happens it doesn't stop that person being autistic. Where it becomes especially problematic though is when an official diagnosis is required to access support. The process shouldn't be so arduous and open to chance with some individuals receiving excellent service while others are utterly let down. Clinicians and "experts" need to ensure that they investigate a person's experiences and history exceptionally thoroughly and don't deny a diagnosis on some superficial grounds such as "this person made eye contact so can't be autistic". Neurotypical, masking-type behaviours have been incorporated by most with autism and there is a need to look beyond these.

Thank you for telling your story I found it very informative. I am 53 and have my ADOS assessment next Tuesday.

Like your drawings 👍

Super helpful thank you. I go for mine here in the US on May 1st. I'm super nervous and also kind of excited. I especially thank you for adding the part about being prepared but not too prepared. I am like you, I need to know everything ahead of time to prepare. It's going to be so hard not to try and find out every little detail 😅 I appreciate you sharing this ❤

lovely voice, sounds really authentic.

I'm waiting for my result and I'm so worried, because they didn't give me a sensory questionnaire and they only gave me the CAT-Q to fill out because I requested it, and I learned how to tell stories by watching my mum do imaginitive play with my nephews, so I feel like I did really well at the story telling and mime aspects even though i hated it and never played like that as a kid- i was just putting on my mums character. It was on teams so I couldn't give them the research I had collected and my notes and stuff. The whole thing was really stressful and overwhelming and I'm worried that I've now gone through it for nothing. I should have held out and tried to find an in person place to go to! I love that they gave you a fidget toy whilst you waited.

Helpful....yes. Very. Thank you. 😊

Great video. Thank you!

Hey I’m 17 and I’m getting my assessment next week I’m super anxious, I have to do it online because of COVID and I can’t find anything about the online assessment!! Update: I’ve been diagnosed with ASD for almost a year now and doing so much better than I could’ve imagined a year ago, although the process is hard it really does get better, you learn to really understand yourself!!!

Honestly thank you. I see a lot of myself in you. I have my assessment this month, after waiting since January 2020. I’ve spent today watching videos trying to understand what to expect, because I don’t want surprises, but the videos have been really overwhelming me to the point i was shutting down and started harmfully stimming. Over preparing definitely doesn’t help, you’re right. I’m just trying to calm my anxiety about it and I made it worse. Until I watched your video. It matched my experience thus far a lot more than other videos. The way you described it was so much less daunting. I don’t know why, maybe because it’s like seeing me on the other side of the diagnosis?
I’m still a bit of a mess right now, but your video was the perfect come down.

I have made notes, but it’s mainly any traits/experiences that came to mind during my 2 year wait - I jotted them down when I thought about it, then recently put it all together by typing it into lists. I’ll only refer to them to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. Hopefully they’ll give me that opportunity to add anything else that I hadn’t yet. But I know in those types of situations my mind can completely blank or my thoughts and words seem to be disconnected and I can’t string together sentences effectively.
The fact I feel on the verge of a breakdown just thinking about everything I’ll have to do, I’m concerned I’ll have a breakdown during the assessment. Or I’ll just shutdown

wonderful thank you

This video is extremely helpful thank you. Also your eyeshadow is pretty 💫

I can't get re assessed as had It when younger for reason. Xx

Thank you. It was helpful. I'm really nervous about my ADOS 2 next week and I am feeling a bit better about it now I know a little of what to expect.

Thanks for this video good to know what to expect. I’ve finally just spoke to my gp about getting an assessment and I’m hoping it’s quicker than a year 🙏🏼😐😐

Lol i could not articulate myself if my life depends on it

Im getting assessed this month 😬

Firstly, apologies..must comment on the wonderful Dogs, beautiful & well trained. Kudos.
Being tested in next two weeks, if I remember correctly, (open to misinformation on that date)
Edit: quite nervous.
Thankyou for this video.