Anyone go to NAS conference today?

[lisad123]

OMG I have never been so depressed in my life !

[tiredmummyneedswineandsleep]

Oh :( why? Are more cuts due?

[lisad123]

No not cuts, just loads of info on what should be done but we aren't getting!
Also loads of terrible stats on risks to girls with Asd

[amberlight]

Please tell me more? What sorts of risks?? I've asked for info but couldn't get there myself today thanks to the medical stuff I'm having...

[lisad123]

It was alot about risks of offernding behavours in girls with undx ASD, but also risks of misdiagnosis of MH issues, rather than asd.
Also about self harm, eating disorders and education. :(
They normally put it on the NAS website later

[amberlight]

lisa, yup re misdiagnosis - I suspect most of us have the same experience I had - misdiagnosed with all sorts of things to start with, which just adds to the stress on us. But good that they're talking about the issues. If only they'd get better diagnostic stuff out there to spot women.

[lisad123]

they were talking about how they are working with police and prison services to stop misdiagonisis.
I just felt there was alot of neg talk with not a lot of practical advice, which is what we need as parents

[amberlight]

and negativity based on the reality that if you're not sure how to diagnose a group of people, the only ones who get a diagnosis are the ones whose behaviour is a problem (the minority). The rest are ignored.

[lisad123]

there was a great lady at the end who became a prof at bristol uni but could have done with a few more positive ladies. In my mind, the likelyhood is, there are people there who have ASD or who are the parent of a child with ASD (and quite poss have it too) and they dont need the negative, we live it everyday. 2 of my friends left early in tears and ended up in the pub!

[amberlight]

Oh blimey, that's not good.
For what it's worth, I know a lot of women on the autism spectrum and not one of us has ever been in trouble with the law.
If the right services are in place, and the right diagnosis happens, then life is very navigable and can be very good indeed for us. But yes, sounds like they desperately needed positive examples. Thing is, those of us who offer our help to such conferences or press releases etc as a more positive example are almost never contacted - I think there's more money for charities and the press if they portray everything as a nightmare (cynical moment).