To find this view re autism frustrating

It wasn't intended as either. I'm trying to understand.

Do you not want some of those to be classed as needing mh support? Some of the sensory suggestions i've made are because we implement them for my son. I won't subject him to a supermarket and do get shopping delivered, why would I take him to somewhere with loud noises knowing it would hurt/ upset him. Surely that's common sense.

I don't even know what to say to this as it's just so incredibly offensive and dismissive.

You find it dismissive because you classify everyone else as ‘neurotypical’ and without need.

I don't even know what to say to this as it's just so incredibly offensive and dismissive.

It’s hugely harder for verbal people with autism to access and manage therapy. Diagnosis is crucial.

Are we aloud to split learning disability from autism if you’re going to do that with comorbities such as MH difficulties that often occur with autism?

Why does non verbal mean severe?All my children have severe autism with outcomes that have severe need. My children that presents as non verbal has less need than my other children who are verbal.

Much of what you describe I would think comes under mental health; burnout, stress, overwhelmed etc. I appreciated that sensory needs may play a big part too but surely those needs can be managed eg having your weekly shop delivered, not going to somewhere loud if you struggle with loud noises.

Workplace adaptations is interesting, what adaptations? Do you mean things like being able to work from home if the environment is going against sensory needs? Surely you'd look for employment that suits you so not working with loud machinery if you have an aversion to loud noises?

Many people without autism need support for medical situations, I would actually say that's pretty normal. My brother doesn't have autism but has a fear of needles he has to have all sorts of things put in place for him as he won't go near a hospital. I think he'll need sedation if he needs surgery.

Now THAT is a superpower! Imagine how incredible they’d be at ballroom dancing.

There are lots of ways people with "mild" autism could need support.

Sensory aids.
Workplace adaptations.
Understanding that many of us cannot work full-time without going into burnout.
Support in medical situations when you might get overwhelmed even though you appear articulate and intelligent.
Support with day-to-day situations that are overwhelming and stressful for us, like shopping or dealing with loud situations.

I think it depends on what you class as severe autism. I know some people who are verbal etc who class themselves as having severe autism because they say autism causes them anxiety, intrusive thoughts etc or others who have linked eating disorders with their autism so say their autism is severe. I class these more as mental gealth needs.

The severe autism I mean is non verbal/ very limited communication, help with all aspects of daily living because they can't do it not because they need prompts or reminding, very little understanding of the world/ no idea of danger etc (old school autism diagnosis). This group may have mental health needs but because of the way they present the mental health services aren't a suitable service. Talking therapy isn't going to work on somebody who struggles to communicate etc

It does occur to me that it seems the majority of people who want the diagnosis splitting are those who support people with what autism was previously (severe as I described earlier) and those who want to keep the diagnosis together are those who are higher functioning for want of a better term. I accept that there will be outliers. Is this for lagitamacy reasons? Not aimed directly at you Sirzy, I'm just pondering.

I should add I don't care if those with severe autism end up with a completely new term to describe their disorder, I just think it's really sensible for these people to have their own diagnosis.

I know what you mean my son goes to a special school for children with severe and profound learning disabillities
But he amazes me sometimes
And whats with the spinning
He can spin extemely fast in one spot and never fall over or get dizzy!

Genuine question. What support needs does somebody who isn't severe and doesn't have mh needs have please?

If you don't mind me saying you seem very articulate and clearly able to back yourself/ challenge?

Maybe that's where the old Aspergers diagnosis worked well.

And those of us without mental health needs who still need support but not to the level that those with severe autism do?

And those of us without mental health needs who still need support but not to the level that those with severe autism do?

You can have severe autism and mental health needs though.

this is the problem when people try to put people into ever decreasing boxes it doesn’t work because it’s too complex.

I asked my ds' paed to diagnose learning disability when he was 16 to protect him as he moves over to adult services. This means he can access the services he needs to as he has severe autism. The autism services are now geared towards mental health needs which he doesn't need. He thought it was a sensible idea. Upto that point ld had never been suggested as the autism diagnosis covered him. Now autism means anything, the diagnosis is a waste of time.

I think the autism diagnosis needs splitting, those with severe autism should have a separate diagnosis to those who have mental health needs or have no needs and can get by in life quite well.

I asked my ds' paed to diagnose learning disability when he was 16 to protect him as he moves over to adult services. This means he can access the services he needs to as he has severe autism. The autism services are now geared towards mental health needs which he doesn't need. He thought it was a sensible idea. Upto that point ld had never been suggested as the autism diagnosis covered him. Now autism means anything, the diagnosis is a waste of time.

I think the autism diagnosis needs splitting, those with severe autism should have a separate diagnosis to those who have mental health needs or have no needs and can get by in life quite well.

Also there's an assumption that non-verbal autistic children are not intelligent.

However hard we try as teachers and parents, it's extremely difficult to get into the mind of our charges/children. But I'm absolutely convinced that at least one of my pupils was very intelligent. I don't believe he had a learning difficulty. He just want able to communicate it show learning in any way that we know it. And his extreme behaviour (often self-injurious) demonstrated his frustration at not being able to communicate. But he showed his intelligence in other ways

I remember at a parents evening, his mum saying that she half expected that if he ever spoke, it would be to tell us the meaning of life. And I know exactly what she meant. But if she took him along to an autism support group, she and he would not be welcomed.

I asked my ds' paed to diagnose learning disability when he was 16 to protect him as he moves over to adult services. This means he can access the services he needs to as he has severe autism. The autism services are now geared towards mental health needs which he doesn't need. He thought it was a sensible idea. Upto that point ld had never been suggested as the autism diagnosis covered him. Now autism means anything, the diagnosis is a waste of time.

I think the autism diagnosis needs splitting, those with severe autism should have a separate diagnosis to those who have mental health needs or have no needs and can get by in life quite well.

DS1 is now 28 & autistic. He is highly intelligent and, as an adult, works in a job which suits his skills.

His school years were an absolute freaking nightmare. I don’t think either of us would call it a “gift” although he is now totally comfortable with who he is & what his limitations are socially.

I hope you're right if we end up with a reform government I'm not so sure. They seem to always go for autism and anxiety disorders.

I hope you're right if we end up with a reform government I'm not so sure. They seem to always go for autism and anxiety disorders.