NT people don’t exist

That’s not what the autism spectrum is. How many times does this need to be said for gods sake! The autism spectrum is like the colour spectrum, not a linear scale from mild to severe.

I know plenty of people who are successful in their chosen fields because they didn't limit themselves to what the 'real world' demanded of them. They followed their skills and passions and quite often the very act of deviating from what is the norm is what made them so successful.

I mean, if everyone had always stuck to what was normal or expected we'd never have had the advances in human achievement that we take for granted now.

Out of the box thinking; let your kids get on with it, they're probably a lot more capable than you're giving them credit for.

By the very definition of a “spectrum”, being a scale between two points of extreme (poor choices of words in this context but you get the point) then everyone must be on that spectrum, with the majority in the middle of it. Therefore the people in the middle, who are not close to the “extreme” are NT.

Yeah sorry, this is my real kid in the real world. I'm not dicking about with his future for some head in the clouds not going to happen fantasy land.

If you believe that, that's exactly how it will be. Doesn't have to be though.

Because we live in the real world where not having GCSEs etc makes everything a million times harder. Contrary to popular belief, not being v academic doesn't automatically mean a person must be therefore really creative or practical or artistic. Once a person is an adult, if they want to buck the system and go do their own thing that's ok, but if, with a little bit of help, my ds can get some qualifications and more importantly, stay in school with friends, I'm going to do that.

Debilitating by whose assessment? This is my point, it sounds like people are expecting your children, and making your children feel, like they should be something or someone else. I don't think they should be made to feel that. It's unfair to expect them to be someone they're not. That's where the troubles begin. They should be allowed to be themselves and lean into their interests and preferences without prejudice. If they don't focus for more than 15 minutes, so what?
They will find their own way and their people if they don't have to keep correcting course to what is 'normal'. Dividing people into ND/NT is so narrow and limiting. Why do you think it's a good thing?

I didn't say GP, although in some instances they probably could prescribe, they already prescribe sleeping tablets, anxiety meds etc.. which again would be helpful.

You can be disabled and a lovely person, but also disabled and a self-centered person. The same goes for able-bodied people. I'd say it's ableist to insist otherwise.

A GP absolutely couldn’t. Because of the complexity of my dc’s autism and adhd they are on a variety of meds which need careful handling. It’s crucial my dc have psychs prescribing to nitrate and monitor side effects, impact on their concerning difficulties and other meds and the risk of over medication.

Also many GPs don’t even take on shared care re ADHD meds and adhd meds are controlled drugs for a reason.

I agree that I wish a GP could access the process. Now that it is much more well known it would help enormously with wait times. I really don't get what the issue is with naming it.

A good doctor would be able to prescribe meds for symptoms if allowed to do so without the need for diagnosis. Meds are not diagnosis specific, they have been developed to treat symptoms so it's a shame the diagnosis now needs to come first in a lot of instances. Eg. Most medications used in the treatment of ADHD are essentially stimulants. If someone would benefit from a stimulant medication and the doctor feels this would be appropriate for them, then it's a shame they have to have a label to get it. Labels are very hard to take off once they r on.

So people with disabilities and let’s include visible disabilities who meet the threshold of disability are selfish.Wow! Do you not realise how ableist that is.

If they think and say that they are the only ones who e.g. struggle with social situations, then that does come across as quite self-centered. That is different to selfish.

Wow so my disabled dc are selfish now for having their disabilities diagnosed. Who knew! Only on MN.

Someone can have crippling shyness without being autistic. Someone can have a repetitive habit along with deep interest in their chosen field without being autistic.

Someone with autism has a collection of a range of symptoms that occur all together, but a NT person might have just one or two of those symptoms and so wouldn't meet the diagnosis criteria.

That doesn't mean that only an ND person can ever have "persistent restricted, repetitive and inflexible patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities that are clearly atypical or excessive for the person’s age and sociocultural context" or whatever other symptom you care to name.

I suppose that's one thing I find quite annoying about this debate. Some people with autism or their family members speak as if they're the only ones who ever have any difficulties. It can sometimes come across as very self-centered.

You can get adjustments for exams without diagnosis. Schools do their own testing and put in for extra time etc based on need but (rightly) meds should not be given for an undiagnosed condition. It just shouldn't take so long.

Then you are hugely ignorant diagnoses are needed , particularly with meds. it’s crucial.My dc take several meds.

I think it should. Going through life not understanding their struggles or having their diagnosis was killing them.

Are you suggesting physical disability diagnosis should be normalised and dismissed too.

Indeed. It's a shame people.need a diagnosis in order to receive support, adjustments etc.. I don't think it should be like this.

I don't object to them and am happy.your DS finds them helpful.

I do think there are other ways people could cope if the education system was better, but I'm not against meds completely. Definitely not. Some people find them helpful. I am against the need for diagnosis to get support, including meds

Well, my ND child sees things that me and my NT child would not notice so perhaps! And that is interesting ie. the person who coined the term. However, I think it's widely accepted at this time that it is the autism umbrella for want of a better way to express it (I am aware ND is not just autism).

Not at the person I am quoting, but in general on this thread, I think the distinction is important for people who are ND. Like I said, we absolutely do all have strengths and weaknesses but that doesn't make all of us ND, not in the way the term is used now. I was an anxious child, I didn't enjoy school - sure the system is not set up well for everyone but I could navigate it even if I didn't enjoy it. Even if I didn't find it easy.

That is not going to be the case for my ND child. He would not navigate the school system at all, could not in fact.

I completely agree that changes to the state system would benefit many kids hugely. However, would you deny someone headache tablets, an ice pack for a sprain, a cast for a broken limb? ADHD meds don't build up in the system..DS can decide not to take them on non school days if he wants to. He's got ten weeks off after his exams..if he wanted to stop then he could. If he ends up as an adult doing a job that he can do without them, he may, though I doubt it. It's not just about fitting in or coping, it's having less chaos in his thoughts, more calm. The meds are well tested and safe..I don't really get why you object to them.

My children absolutely needed their diagnosis. One has 5 NHS diagnosed conditions. ADHD and autism are no different than the other conditions. They wanted answers and knowing why they have struggled so much over the years is helping massively. Both diagnosis have helped with medication prescriptions, treatment adjustments, informing professionals, reasonable adjustments etc.

https://www.lifdb.com/2025/01/31/think-you-have-adhd-you-need-to-read-gillian-lynnes-story/