National Autistic Society and Mermaids [Title edited by MNHQ]

[GColdtimer]

My friend just posted this on Facebook this morning. She isn't on MN so I have her permission to share. She would really like more people, especially people with ASD or who have children with ASD, to write to NAS thanking them for their willingness to listen and their agreement that Mermaids is not reputable.

This is really great news so please can we keep this bumped and shared. Thank you.

If posters on the SEN board would like to share that would also be great (if appropriate).

Dear XXXX ,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the Gender and autism page on our website.

I’m writing to let you know that I’ve raised your concerns regarding Mermaids UK, one of the organisations we link to on our Gender and autism page, with a number of teams within the National Autistic Society. In light of the concerns raised in your message, and of other feedback that we have received, we have decided to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website, while we take the time to consult with relevant professionals and to reconsider which organisations we wish to place links to on our website.

As such, our Web Team are working to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website as soon as possible. Please do be aware, however, that, as we are currently in the process of updating our website to reflect our new branding and organisational identity, it may take a few days for this to be actioned.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and I hope that you are satisfied with the actions we are taking in light of the concerns that you have raised.

Kind regards,

National Autistic Society

[Edited by MNHQ to remove personal info]

I have seen the reports Datun and you are absolutely right in your assessment of it.

It's scary that this vulnerable young person is allowed to write that.

My son went through a period during early teenage saying that his autism could be cured because he had seen it on YouTube. I asked him if he believed in magical wands. His answer was of course, no. It made him think and then he got angry that there are people out there peddling nonsense for 'cures'.

I was diagnosed with autism at 4 years old. It’s a diagnosis that has been constantly rechecked throughout my life

This is a lie. That is NOT what happens and certainly the NHS would not recheck the diagnosis. It’s not an illness ffs. The only reason to recheck is if you never got a diagnosis the first time and you would usually do that privately and certainly not throughout a child’s life. The process of assessment is difficult and time consuming.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/07/transgender-lawyer-launches-uks-first-deadnaming-case-against/

This along with the case in Ireland's Castlebar court, is erasing the past.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3386138-Trans-woman-argues-they-can-t-be-tried-in-court-as-they-were-a-man-when-they-committed-the-crime

Action for Trans health who advise UK government call for the release of trans prisoners.

SpartacusAutisticusAHF

Well I have and I am not familiar with that with autism, particularly if it’s a psychiatric diagnosis like it’s supposed to be.

I'm finding the discussion around FII (formerly MbP) really uncomfortable, because questioning children's diagnoses is not uncommon at all.

Can you explain further?

Of course SEN provision is questioned, however it's usually to increase the level of care required within the education system.

Some children will drop out of extra provisions as they mature and age. Most local authorities now are strapped for cash, especially within education.

Just FYI the Challenor were also accused of faking illness so...

DayMay

Action for Trans health who advise UK government call for the release of trans prisoners

Oh my actual fucking god. Advised the government? Ffs

Aimee only says it was a diagnosis constantly rechecked, no elaboration so not sure if it’s similar to the stories in the link I’ve just briefly looked at, which seem to be about questions being raised when parents ask for additional support- haven’t finished all the links but two seemed to talk about exactly the same case. I took Aimee’s quote to mean they were reassessed constantly, which may not be what they meant, that definitely doesn’t happen. Assessments are expensive. It’s hard enough to get one on the NHS, let alone repeat ones regularly. Aimee also says her autism was repeatedly raised with regards to them questioning gender identity- which is a good thing and is exactly what we all think should happen. Aimee doesn’t think so in that article, they preferred Mermaids approach of just accepting it despite the autism diagnosis, which is as we all know entirely relevant.

I know people get challenged a lot when they ask for help or provision. That’s not how I took the comment but Aimee doesn’t really expand enough for us to know what it means.

Ah, I understand. Thanks.

Aimee Challenor was known to social services from birth. It's a highly complex case. I would have thought that the re checking wasn't solely due to just the autism diagnosis.

Really sad reading that link, which actually seems to focus on the treatment autistic mothers get and how they, specifically, are not believed. I’m not seeing anything strongly suggesting children are being subjected to repeated and frequent autism diagnosis re-checking though. The struggle to access support, yes of course we are all aware of that. Usually it’s a case of fighting to get a referral for diagnosis, not being forced to do diagnostic assessments repeatedly.

I agree pennydrew It's always the mothers who are questioned. I have only ever met concerned, loving and warm mothers.

Why do you want to dominate people?

You need to use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence.

Reported for abuse. It's also trans phobic.

You need to use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence.

I think that’s the least of that hairy bollocked bloke’s problems. 🤣

In my experience autism diagnosis are only called into question by people not qualified to do so, usually to get out of having to meet a need.

DD's school nurse kept telling her teachers that he didn't believe she had autism. Basically he didn't know enough about autism to be able to see past her masking.

My social worker put in a court report that in her professional opinion I didn't have autism just low self esteem. The judge was not impressed by that.

Is it the same troll everyday, or is there a bunch of them?

I don’t mean in my previous comments to suggest autistic people don’t ever have their diagnosis questioned, I know they do. But typically by someone not qualified but required to support or accommodate autistic needs. My daughter had a ‘counsellor’ do that, her father was autistic and my DD was nothing like him and instead said she had, what’s the phobia of going outside? Yeah that. And she needed to get in touch with her inner child. My DD walks outside every day for minimum 1 hour. Loves the outdoors and water sports. But sure 💁🏽‍♀️ I meant actual repeat diagnostic assessments.

This one will never forget apparently.