Anyone else noticing the uptick in open hostility towards people with ASD?

[FFSakeDrinkSake]

As the title says. It feels like it's open season recently. In the last few weeks alone I've seen many threads questioning the validity of Asd, the credentials of those diagnosing the condition, the 'explosion' of diagnosis', the 'fact' that you qualify for extra benefits if you are autistic and/or have ADHD, the apparent drain on resources kids with ASD have on the educational sector depriving others and most recently the idea that someone (self diagnosed) can 'outgrow' autism. Most of which contain the worst misinformation about what we're trying to deal with on a daily basis and making it sound like we're just trying to .. i dont even know tbh.. scam our way through life?

Disclaimer NATAAT.

Yes it's appalling hatespeak a lot of it.

I agree with you about the hostility with a lot of people seeing adult autistic women as attention seeking and following some kind of fad when the truth is that there are a lot of us out there who really struggle.

The non diagnosed woman guessing she might have had an autism diagnosis as a teenager and she would now be cured is really annoying!

I haven’t noticed it’s particularly worse recently. Self diagnosis has always created difficulties as has the merging of Asperger’s autism and PDD(NOS), into ASD and the even more woolly “ND” umbrella.

There has definitely been an increase in hostility towards many vulnerable groups in recent years, including disabled people.

I keep hearing "ugh everyone has it nowadays..." but these people are ignoring the fact that we simply enabled ASD to go undiagnosed in schools in the past.

I'm sorry that our generation of parents won't just tolerate their children being branded as "naughty kids" and left behind by schools.

@FFSakeDrinkSake What does the acronym stand for?

A friend works in a Primary school and it appears every person and its dog wants a diagnosis for something. There is a huge shortage of Educational Psychologists and a lot of them won't do a diagnosis until children get to Secondary but parents still push and push.

My friend has decided that this is her final term as a SENDCO (going to start up her own business in nothing to do with Education) the stress has made her very ill. The behaviour of parents is abhorrent and the constant wanting EVERYTHING diagnosed and not understanding that things take time and in a lot of cases money the school doesn't have has broken her.

Parents have posted things about her online, have made vile comments whilst she's out and about (I have been witness to this) and in general just not stopped to think how else they can support their child. With some it's almost an obsession (seen this in other friends when their children display symptoms usually behavioural issues) as they believe once they have that diagnoses all will work out.

It's very worrying that genuine cases are being overshadowed by the behaviour of SOME parents and their inability to understand that not every child has ASD or another difficulty. I do hope that the Government invests more into SEND and the training of EPs.

Sorry I forgot to put no haven't noticed an uptick but have noticed more hostility towards the people in schools and various organisations that are trying to help.

What extra benefits do autistic people get? I’m autistic and I don’t get any benefits at all. I don’t think this is correct.

@Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles that's reflective though of a real problem in a system. If a child at 9/10 is struggling it's no good waiting 3 years for them to get support as its 3 years of education wasted.

At the moment in our area at least to even get to assessment for autism you have to be referred by the school back into the NHS so schools are gatekeeping access to a medical diagnosis without medical training. Schools don't see what children are like at home - it's so common within the autistic community to hear about kids who struggle through school and then "explode" at home.

Its not okay your friend has had abuse online but it is absolutely correct for parents to "push and push" and unfortunately the current system means they need to in some areas to get listened to. The waiting lists are often 2 years ish so it's far too late to wait to secondary for referral! For someone who is autistic and will struggle with the secondary environment they will want an ehcp in place or if ehcp not needed at primary a diagnosis or being on the pathway can help when it comes to support at secondary.

@Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles That’s awful treatment of your friend. She’s definitely done the right thing to leave and do something else, life is too short.

It shouldn't be on the schools to pursue diagnosis. It should be a paediatrician. The most school should have to do is write a report of behaviour in school

Yep it doesn't seem to work as a system at the moment. Schools often refuse to refer on so parents can't get on the waiting list to see a paediatrician.

“Every person and it’s dog”🤔

Not what I observe in schools. Parents can often get very upset and don’t want an autism diagnosis when it is suggested. It causes stigma and is permanently in medical records.

I think the made up cases overshadow the genuine.

People just cannot accept that their kids are perhaps just badly behaved and want to stick a label on it to shirk their responsibility and the role they have played in their kids being how they are.

Overstimulation should be a diagnosis, I see it everywhere - not a minute of quiet or downtime or chance to be bored for some of these poor kids.

There are no made up cases. Diagnosis is incredibly hard to get and thorough.

Autism can cause anti social behaviour and is not the fault of parents.

I think it's a very good thing that your friend is leaving education!

There are so many undiagnosed DC in the school system. I've been working in schools for a very long time and have only ever known one parent who thought their DC was neurodiverse, when various professionals disagreed. There are many, many DC muddling through who are clearly neurodiverse, but are coping with life so no diagnosis is sought. Society has come a long way in understanding neurodiversity, but still has a has a very, very long way to go.

Made up cases? What?

And yes it's very hard to get a diagnosis, long waiting lists etc which is why parents end up being the ones to push.

The system currently isn't working and it's so harmful when people spread the idea there's made up cases.

As with everything, the entitled few ruin it for the genuine. Those with paid diagnoses to flaunt the benefits system. Those demanding diagnoses because it sounds good. Those using a diagnosis as an excuse for bad parenting. They all overshadow the genuine cases.

@ReceptionTA yes agree wholeheartedly. The current school system is getting more and more ND unfriendly so people that in the past would have managed in school are not. Most schools have cut back TA support and these sued to be invaluable at extra pair of hands for a child who needed "an eye" but unlikely to qualify for 1-1 TA. Add pressure in the system, no excuses type behaviour policies and it's a recipe for disaster.

There are made up cases in that people say their dc have autism when it hasn’t been diagnosed. My dd has suspected autism and is going through the diagnosis process. But until she has it confirmed by a trained professional I will say suspected or possible. I think pp was referring to parents who state their kids are autistic when there is a very real possibility a professional would disagree. It’s adding to the perception of some that it’s a fad. Very frustrating for those struggling for society to recognise ND.

Gosh. It seems some posters on here are just confirming the OP! @daffodilandtulip why on earth would anyone get a diagnosis of autism to "sound good". You can't just buy a diagnosis they still have to be assessed. And the very gaps in the system with long waiting lists is why people go private.

@FFSakeDrinkSake Your own thread is proving your point 😞. There is so much misunderstanding and hostility out there.

I agree with this. My uncle is a GP and he has seen countless people who he's referred for diagnosis and they haven't got one. Cue very upset parents.

Yes but it is also about disability in general. The tories stirred up hate and jealousy that disabled people are lazy liars and scroungers who are a drain on society and the sheeple believed them. Invisible disabilities are the easiest targets but even if you are using mobility aids for an obvious condition like me some people still think they have the right to judge and decide you are exaggerating to get an easy life.
It is awful.
I was initially against accepting a diagnosis of autism because I thought I would be seen to be “jumping on the bandwagon” which so many seem to believe is the cause of the current rise in diagnosis. Being already disabled it seemed like just another stick for others to beat me with. I still don’t tell most people I know irl due to the prejudice that prevails.
MN is dire about allowing disability bashing threads. I can only think there are no MNHQ staff with disabilities because there is little understanding of the disgusting way we are judged, dissected and found guilty.

@Periwinkl3 well autism can cause anti social behaviour, I don't deny that. But so can bad parenting, producing a generation of anti socials. And what's worse, a generation of anti socials who have been told it's not their fault!

Personal responsibility is key here, and it's really important that these are weeded out from genuine cases.

I have noticed increased eyerolls and disbelief at adults being diagnosed who are good at masking or appear to be successful and coping.
I have noticed increased impatience at Autism spectrum being a reason for so called bad behaviour.
I remember Fibromyalga being disbelieved and denied. Ignorance is very harmful and dangerous. There is a lot of stigma about diseases and disabilities where the person 'appears' well.