I got a diagnosis. What now?

[Ifixfastjets]

I got the results from my autism assessment today.
I scored very high on each of the sections.

What can I expect to happen now?
I am female, 40 something, england. If that makes any difference?

Well done Ifixfastjets!
Now you can understand yourself so much more and be relaxed about who you are.

In my area there's a step 2a in your list for adult diagnoses, it's a screening appointment by the Mental Health people to determine whether you have any MH problems. If they deem you do, you stay with them, if they deem you don't, you're referred to the autism diagnosis team.
If you have anxiety related to your autism, it's worthwhile being able to explain that to them.

Some do like to interview a parent or close relative about your childhood development, but for people who don't have anyone to do that, or who don't want anyone else to know, definitely make notes on any different behaviours you had as a child.

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/diagnostic-criteria/all-audiences

The criteria for autism are still very male-orientated, so if you can, do ask to see someone who is well known for diagnosing autism in women.

No post-diagnosis advice but my assessment is on the 19th of this month so just here to offer some solidarity and well wishes.

I’ve found the process to be more invasive and anxiety-inducing than I’d expected! My ADHD assessment is blowing in the wind so I still have that to look forward to 😂

Thanks for all the good wishes!
And good luck to those on the way.

Do any of you have any suggestions for adjustments that have been useful for you at work?
I think work are likely to be helpful, but I am not sure what would actually help me.
I know we are all different, but some starting points would be a help.
I will be asking for a slight change to my uniform. Uniform is a logod polo.
I'm not that comfy in a polo. The material is scratchy. And the collar gets in the way in overalls. Too many clothes!
I will be asking if I can have logo tee shirts.
Nice soft cotton and no collar.

Adjustments - do you have an appraisal? If so, it is worth talking properly about this there and documenting the discussion to link with any future ones.

By far the highest issues for me (have a related condition) have come when managers have changed or restructures have happened. An appraisal record can help as they most probably won't look at a CV or know about a past diagnosis. The disarray has affected me for months sometimes and relationships can be very hard.

Look up some of the autism and work advice out there - if you are a woman, particularly on women with autism.

Hope that you feel more ok with it before long. The first confirmation does have a big impact and brings up 50 shades of hindsight.

I am fine with it.
I sort of suspected it for a while.
Yes, we have appraisals.
I think they are supposed to be every year.

@Ifixfastjets

what is your job? Might help with suggestions about adjustments
unless you really do fix fast jets!

My job involves sitting at an isolated desk, (in a row of desks).
With lots of interesting test equipment.
Working through long, detailed instruction books.
I cant have food or drink at my desk.
I can have my radio on.
I am free to walk around as needed/wanted

I can go to my locker for a drink or snack at any time.
I do have a lot of background noise to deal with at times (store people wrapping pallets, fork lifts)
We have to wear overalls
My boss is sometimes ok, other times he overloads on instructions

I try to get him to write down things I need to remember. 20-30 % of time he will do
If the phone goes, other people usually answer it, as my desk is furthest away.
I have a little bit of computing, but not much.
Work supply us with polo shirts to go under overalls. But they we can wear any top.

I am thinking of asking for...

Instructions for one job at a time from my boss
Written instructions when needed from my boss
Logo tee shirts instead of polos as I hate the collars.

So what really causes you stress about this setup ?

the noise seems to be an issue, if you can have a radio on can you wear headphones? I know it became a bit of a joke upthread but I did get my team member noise cancelling headphones

I wouldnt have a problem with a t shirt instead of a polo.

As a manager I would find it a bit of a pain to dish out single jobs but what I would do is email you a list with clear instructions and give you the priority - would that work for you? I put everything in writing so everyone is clear whats required.

I don't understand why some MNetters are so negative about adults having autism asessments. Doesn't make sense to me.

Ted

I wear my own non-logo tees quite a lot of the time as it is. So do quite a lot of others. Nobody minds. But if you pick up something oily when you are wearing a pale summery tee... and it seeps through your overalls, it was your choice to wear it.

No problem at all with desk set up. I quite like it, to be honest.

General noise levels are pretty quiet. Until someone uses nails to secure a box.
Or the giant rolls of packing clingfilm.

Having the radio on helps. It provides something to actually listen to. To concentrate on. To mask the background noise.
I'm not sure about wearing headphones. Others do, it is allowed. But I "hyper-concentrate". Which is good for the detail involved in my work. But it startles the living daylights out of me when all of a sudden, my boss is right next to me (covid limits) and he speaks.

I dont need my work breaking down in to each individual job. I am not good at explaining...
My actual work is listed on a computer. Filtered by date requirements.
Easy to follow.
But boss comes over with random stuff
Hey jets, can you sort this on computer please?
Start dealing with computer...
Hey jets, have you seen the blue box with 3 wires out of one end?
Yes, it is on the middle rack
Oh great, can you grab it and put it on my desk?

Jets wanders over to get the box, now forgotten how far along the work task she is, and also how far in to the computer thing to sort

made up example; just the style of the way boss works

He thinks he efficient doing 29648 half-jobs instead of doing one job properly.

As well as asking others to write things down, you need to do the same.
If you get interupted, before you go off to do something else, just write down where you got to

or you could say is it ok to get the blue box in 10 mins when I’ve finished this bit

For real work, I do write things down
And make lists and cross off as I go.
Work even give me a notepad.

Any other supervisor/deputy boss/area manager would be fine with "yes, I will bring the blue box when i have entered this item on the computer"
But my immediate boss cant see that it's a problem for me to keep switching tasks.

Ideally, i would like a better boss. But i guess that's not a "reasonable adjustment'?

Because he is doing 27 jobs at once, he cant see any reason why the rest of the team are only doing one job.

I would like to ask him to calm down or even slow down. I know I cant change his personality. Wouldn't want to. Not my place to.
But I need to be allowed to finish the job and thought train that I am running through

In the blue box example, biss would not give me the half a minute to write anything down. That's timewasting

Sorry, my replies all seem negative.
They are not!
These are all useful suggestions and ideas
Thanks.

well he can learn to be a better boss

my son has ASD, t thats why I spotted there might be something going on with my team member.
but being a mum to a child with ASD is different to being a manager of someone with ASD
we had to learn together - for some things we had to try different approaches before we hit on the right strategies.
Now you have a diagnosis, use it to make him listen to you.
I’m not a perfect manager, if I was really busy sometimes I ‘d forget things we’d agreed, so he would remind me - which was fine.
one thing that was useful was my tean member did a presentstion to the team to explain what having ASD meant, the impact it has and the ways in which we could help.
But that depends on how open you want to be. But I would at least have a conversation with your manager to say look, I have this diagnosis, this what it means, this is how my brain works, this is what I need from you.
Give him something to read about autism, Educate him and ask for what you need, and that includes him changing his behaviour

My dd has adhd/autism among other things.
I spotted hers before my own!

There is no way I could stand up and give a presentation in front of anybody.
I now feel physically sick, just thinking about it.
Most of my team are pretty cool/relaxed about each other. We all have our own jobs. Help each other as needed.
We all tolerate each others quirks and oddities.

I have been doing my job for well over 10 years. The job is great for a highly focused person. Until mr seagull manager comes flapping around... he has not always been my manager. I would probably have found a different job if he had!

I expect there is not a lot work could do for me, I cant think of much.
That's why I hoped people would offer suggestions that I hadn't thought of.

Uniform is an easy change. Even if I go to asda for some plain dark tees.

I guess I will just plod on quietly in my little corner

I was diagnosed as an adult. It was a case of 'yes you are autistic' and that was it.

On a personal level there was a lot of analysis of my life and all the relationships/friendships I had previously had.

Flashy
That is what I dont want...
The being left to get in with things.

I dont expect much to change; but I would like this to be my choice!

I posted on this thread to say I had an autism assessment coming up.

It was today and after a longgg session, the psychologists conferred and when they came back they said that their immediately consensus was dyspraxia rather than autism. Apparently it's one of the very few times in 30 years of working together that they were both thinking the same thing during an assessment

They went through this with me and after some research, I think they are 100% on the money with that. It covers both the autism and ADHD traits I have, plus many more that describe me to a tee.

Sorry to derail, just thought I'd come back and update

Thanks amused.
My dd is dyspraxic. Still waiting for her formal assessment. Along with adhd and autism

I have my follow up later this week, should get a bit more info then.
All these things are apparently linked.
Glad you have a diagnosis of something.