Unable to get a mortgage/join army/police if you have ADHD or ASD?

[Whatevah]

I have heard this from friends over the years. You can’t join the army/police if you have ADHD or ASD.
Recently someone close to me said they were told not to have their child officially diagnosed with ADHD as it might prevent them getting a mortgage?!
Now I’m worried as one of my kids is diagnosed with ASD. They are very ‘ normal’ , have friends, go to grammar school, have hobbies etc. Mad about their own special interests obviously !
Just wondering if anyone has ever been turned down for a mortgage or job due to a diagnosis of these?
Had a look at police recruiting website and it said if you pass all the requirements and training and can fulfill the job requirements it wouldn’t be an issue?
Anyone come across this?
Thanks.

I've been in the forces and now the police. No the forces is a no no, obviously people do get diagnosed whilst in service so I imagine there are some in the forces with ASD etc but may get medically discharged as would anyone who was ill permanently and couldn't be sent away on detachment as it's simply not fair on those who can and do, as their turn comes around faster and more regular if there are less people to send etc and you simply can't be out in the field with a condition that could hinder you or another person, there's also normally only emergency medical staff on detachment etc. The police is slightly different I guess that if you were diagnosed in service you could be moved to an office job etc as is what happened to a friend who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Again you can't be put in a dangerous situation and need medication, it just doesn't work or is fair to colleagues. But again there is only a limited number of "desk jobs" they need as many hands on deck as they can get. There is no reason why you couldn't be police staff though. I.e. control room, admin etc

Military is a no go,
Not sure about police, tbh I've never heard of that one myself and I'm sure they do a OH check and consider on case by case basis.
It definitely does not impact mortgage 🤣🤦‍♀️ (I have both adhd and asd). The only impact on mortgage may be that sometimes those with adhd and asd may be lower paying jobs, worse work histories or not be in stable long term work. But actually having the disorders themselves have no impact.

As someone who wasnt diagnosed with asd or adhd until adulthood I would strongly advise AGAINST avoiding a diagnosis for these reasons as it caused me HUGE problems throughout school and work, ended up severly depressed by 16, as I didnt know why I was so different to others, got very bullied for it, and missed out on the opportunity to get pre 18 help and support as although its limited there is nothing available post 18.

I have adhd and have a diagnosis. It did not come up at all when getting a mortgage. Pretty sure it would be counter to the Equalities Act to discriminate against adhd or asd in financial transactions.
I'd have thought lots of police have adhd! Again the Equalities act states discrimination on grounds of disability is illegal and that reasonable adjustment must be made.
The armed forces are a different matter, theres a whole list on conditions that exclude people. No idea if adhd or asd are there.

Completely agree with littledragongirl regarding early diagnosis. NHS wouldn't assess me and won't fund medication for me.

I agree that the forces should be strict around recruitment.

I've heard GCHQ and MI5 actively recruit people with ASD.

No armed forces,no emigrating to most places that provide support (though Canada has relaxed on that one), declared on travel insurance etc, and disclosed to dla if you feel it’s relevant.

The list of medical issues which are a bar to joining the military is reassessed regularly. Some issues should lead to individual review to ascertain if the applicant is fit enough (some conditions can vary in severity or management required)

IIRC, you can only join if everything is in top two categories (higher for some naval roles). Falling into the third will prevent joning, but may or may nor lead to medical discharge for someone already serving. Going lower than that and it will be medical discharge.

ASD means refusal from Army. I know because Ds1 was told recently.
The mortgage thing is nonsense though.

I would have thought a significant proportion of young people military would have ADHD. That’s exactly the sort they pray upon.

The adverts are all ‘Did you not have a dad? Was school a bit shit? Join the army!’

Ds1's ASD diagnosis was disputed by school and I was accused of having munchausens. Yes. Really. He was never supported and it's been nothing but a nightmare for me, no benefit.

I was never sure about his ASD diagnosis, although there is no doubt he's difficult!

I considered asking for his diagnosis to be reviewed/reversed/re-diagnosed recently, just because I thought it was incorrect/wrong.

He wanted to join the marines. Hardest core to get into. He was refused.

I then asked about the diagnosis. They have refused to review.

I so wished I'd never got him diagnosed. It's been of zero benefit. Now it's a hindrance.

If your child is clearly/majorly ASD/ADHD and you get support/benefits post diagnosis, then great. But if you're borderline, or the schools are that objecting, and offer no support, then I suggest you think very carefully.

@NotYourHun I would counter that by saying adhd would be very difficult in the military due to needed to have a unquestioning subservience, timekeeping, organisation etc which someone with adhd would struggle to do. Also huge levels of self control are needed and due to reduced ability in inhibition being a defining trait of adhd again could lead to a lot of misery for the individual and officers in charge. Although it would depend on whether the individual has inattentive, hyperactivity, impulsive or combined subtype of adhd (Similar problems could/would likely also be found for those with asd).

My DP has ASD and has never had trouble with a mortgage. It's not on any forms I've seen that would influence a decision - last time I went through the process it was just things like cancer etc. My exh had a brain tumour when we got our mortgage and even that wasn't an issue - we even managed to get the insurance to cover him too.

Not sure about police, but my DP is a firefighter and he did get in trouble for not telling them he has a 'disability'. Someone thought he was weird and reported him for 'not getting jokes' etc. He was bollocked for not revealing it but his reply was that he isn't disabled, would never class himself as disabled and wouldn't expect any different treatment. As he was flying through his training and there was no issue with his work, they let it go. Im the only person he ever told about his diagnosis, even his parents don't know. He might come across as odd to some people but I'd say the majority wouldn't notice he has ASD so what's the point in telling them? He's excellent at his job despite only just being out of training, is incredibly clever and hardworking, has been assessed as being suitable for several promotions already - your son sounds like he won't have an issue, so why should he be limited to what he can do? If he can get away with not having to declare it, he probably shouldn't say anything.

OK I know i posted earlier but I’m posting again and doing the cringy ‘my DH says . . .’ Only because people keep repeating misinformation :

My DH is the course leader for a phase 2 training establishment and I can absolutely guarantee you that ASD/ADHD is not an automatic barrier to being in the forces DH has attended specific training about how to teach recruits with ADHD and they are planning on running similar for ASD , he takes a special interest when it comes up because our son has ASD and ADHD.

But it does depend on trade and of course individual personalities as well.

oblomov sorry it's been so crap for you and your Ds. My Ds is quite obviously autistic and nobody has disputed his diagnosis but there is zero support. The paediatrician gave us a handout at his diagnosis appointment and said there was nothing else she could offer. His recent camhs referral has just been rejected and as for school, it's bloody shit for for him.

He needed his diagnosis and I don't regret pursuing it but I'm astonished that there is nobody that is willing to help. We are absolutely alone. As for the army well apart from going to school (which he hates) he barely leaves the safety of his bedroom, he's hardly going to want to join up.

Royal navy website and the joint service publication of medical fitness both list autism as a bar to entry, exception seems to be if there is doubts about the autism diagnosis then it gets referred up the chain.