So autism and a late diagnosis.
This is everything you need to know.
And five essential tips to help you.
Once you have a diagnosis later on in life
hey guys, welcome back to the aspie world.
My name is Dan I have autism ADHD.
OCD I'm dyslexia and I make weekly videos all about this stuff.
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Okay, guys.
Welcome back.
What is up different thinker from the place where we think differently daily.
Yeah, it's good.
It's uh, it's good.
It's December for me.
I don't know when you're watching this video, but it's December right now.
It's cold and it's like minus whatever outside, but it still
doesn't stop me saying to you guys that I have a free autism life
hacks PDF book that you can download right now for free autismhacks.net.
Do that now.
Guys what's going on late autism diagnosis.
Oh gosh, this is a good one because I was diagnosed, um, 26 years
old with Asperger's syndrome.
This is a really late diagnosis of autism.
Um, but I do know that people who diagnosed in their seventies, I
did an interview on my podcast with a woman who leased a book
because, uh, about her mother.
Who her mother was in her seventies and diagnosed with autism.
Absolutely fantastic.
Um, really interesting insight, full book and day.
If you want to check out my podcast, it's, um, linked down below in the
description of this video, but definitely check out my podcast to do a weekly
podcast episodes and super awesome.
Anyway, um, So late diagnosis, ain't no, uh, mystery or, or new
thing, a new concept, but typically people are diagnosed between the
age of three and five years old with an autism spectrum disorder.
Um, but if you're unlucky enough to, for them to notice it, when
you're younger, um, probably in your twenties to thirties is typically when
they'll diagnose it later on in life.
And this can kind of leave you very lost.
And I didn't know anything when I was diagnosed with autism, they basically
said, okay, You go ask him to just send you an ADHD and OCD and all this stuff.
And then they said, okay, he's a, I think it was a leaf.
Well, in the DVD to watch it was terrible.
And then they said, uh, see you later and like push you out the door.
I was like, okay.
But then they assigned me an awesome development worker and he was great.
And he actually invited me to all these groups and all, everything.
And then he kind of taught me how always like how to access, support,
and help and all these things.
And it was just absolutely fantastic.
So, um, I do salute that guy amazingly well, because he
just, he was just so awesome.
It was just amazing.
So yeah.
That brings me to thinking, well, maybe I could like jot down five of the most
like interesting and essential kind of tips and strategies that I had.
So I was diagnosed.
I can hand them to you guys.
Cause after all, I'm just trying to help you.
And that would be a beautiful thing.
Let's get stuck into these five essentials for you guys.
Okay.
So number one is search for local authority.
So doing research for your local kind of authority to support and help.
For autism is your first point of call.
Um, now they will be able to direct you to all support assets and avenues
that they have available now, depending where you are in the world, your
government or local authorities may have autism programs themselves.
Or if they don't, they'll be able to say, Oh, look, we don't offer any support, but
we do know this charity or this one that we do work with because at the end of the
day, there is a duty of care around autism and local authorities need to be on it.
You know, I've done loads of meetings with councils and local
authorities and governments about the fact that, you know, they have.
Autism provisions in place to help people access, support, and help him, you
know, all of those things are in place.
So definitely do this.
First of all, contact your local authorities and see what help and
support that they offer for people on the autism spectrum and a bonus tip here.
Is it speak to your, um, utility, uh, energy and ask them if there
is any additional support for people who are disabled, because
if you have an autism spectrum diagnosis, then that is registered
as disabled and cost as disabled.
Now, all energy providers do have additional services that they bolt
on for free because you're disabled or a vulnerable person in their eyes,
which is a great thing to, yeah.
No that you are, um, you know, eligible for that and why not, you know, it's
there to support you and help you.
So definitely check that out.
Okay.
So number two is look for local autism charities.
Now locating your autism.
Charity is a must do your local one at least.
Um, because you know, they have access points to help you in certain situations.
Now there are a bunch of different autism charities all over the world
and in every town, every city in every state, everywhere in the world.
So I would say.
The first thing you do is just go onto Google, you know, key in autism support
your local area and see what comes up.
And actually a better definition is to go on Facebook and just type in, uh, you
know, you know, autism charities, my area and see what comes up because that is
going to be your, your kind of initial introduction to support from a charitable.
Side of things.
Okay.
So number three, I found super important was autism support groups.
So when I was diagnosed, I had so much help from actually visiting autism
support groups and just going there and listen to the talks and, and
conversing with other people in there.
So what I would do is I just go on Facebook and type
in autism support groups.
And you may find a Facebook group.
That's doing it like a digital one.
Yeah.
But usually because your location is set on Facebook because Facebook
knows where you are in the world.
When you go and type into Facebook, like autism support groups in my area, they'll
find you a support group in your area that will have, um, actually a physical
kind of meetups or whatever, or support kind of chats and stuff like that.
Absolutely amazing.
I found this so, so helpful and I really loved it, man.
I really did love.
Okay.
So number four is tell your work or school.
So one of the things that I did, as soon as I was diagnosed with a towel, my
friend's family and place of work that I was on the spectrum because you know, all
these people will have a duty of care, regardless of their family, friends,
or even just a coworker, they'll have a duty of care for you or use a person you
still matter, you still have feelings and you know, they still care about you.
So I would say that.
Tell them straight away, because then they'll, you know, you
start off on the right foot.
You don't want to spring on them about five years after and be
like, Oh yeah, by the way, dudes, I'm on the autism spectrum.
So I'm not going to come to that company to retreat.
They're going to be like, Oh, you never told us this.
It's like, you know, imagine all those years of help and support that they
could have given you because that are reasonable adjustments that people can,
uh, you know, put in place at work in schools and colleges and universities.
So definitely tell those people that you're spending most of your time with.
Because it's important that they know.
Okay.
So number five is carrying on from the before, which is
tell your friends and family.
The first thing I did was tell my friends and family, because, you know,
they're the people who are around you most of the time, and they're going
to be the ones who would want to know.
And those are the people who will support you through pretty much everything.
And they're gonna be there for you.
So if they can understand you better, then tell them straight away.
This is the first thing I did.
I just literally.
Went to my family straight away and was like, Hey, I'm on the autism spectrum.
And they were like, okay, cool.
What's this we'll have to check it out.
We don't understand what it is, blah, blah, blah.
But then also they were like, Oh yeah, this makes sense.
Because I've seen somebody who's on the autism spectrum and you
very much resemble that person.
Yada, yada.
Everything's great as cool.
So telling friends and family is a must.
And I highly recommend just doing that.
If you guys have anything to add to these tips, then pop it in a comment down below.
I'd love to have that discussion with you.
And also if you want to share this, because it might be a value share
on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and give the video a thumbs up.
I'll see you next time guys peace.