I decided that as it’s the start of a New Year, it would also be a good time to start something new. I have decided to share my experience of a possible Autism diagnosis in my late-20’s.
A brief background on how I got to this point. I started out life, described by my own mum as very intelligent and forward for my age. One of my earliest memories was that I was told by my Year 4 teacher, that I was ready to take the 11+ that same year. This belief in me and my capabilities had a very positive affect on me, until year 5 and 6. I had a different teacher and around this age is where you start to form solid friendships too. None of this really happened and I spent year 7, 8 and 9, hopping around friendship groups and skipping school.
By year 10, I was spending most of my lessons either in isolation or laying in my bed at home, with set back after set back. Most teachers were too busy trying to control a class that they rarely managed to teach any content, even when they did, I was placed in all of the bottom sets so I didn’t really get much out of it, for a long time I just thought that the reason I couldn’t be academic was because of the way the school was. Safe to to say, I didn’t take my GCSE exams and left school, somehow blagging myself a place in college despite my lack of official qualifications.
Anyhow, skipping through quickly so I can get to the deeper stuff. I spent a few years in college testing out different subjects and flicking between working full time. Eventually, I found the courage to pursue my ambition to go to University. I embarked on a new academic journey. In 2016, I was successful in my application to University and began my course.
As I became older, I noticed that there were more and more talks of learning difficulties, growing up in the 90’s and 2000’s this was something of a foreign concept. The school I went to had a ‘behavioural unit’ for all of the tear away’s and disruptive students – group them all together so the other children can learn seemed appropriate then. Anyways, within my first few months at Uni, I noticed that they offered discounted tests for learning difficulties, being aware that both my mum and brother were diagnosed at University, I pondered over what I could lose from being tested.
I saw an Educational Psychologist, who ran various tests on me. The outcome was fairly simple to understand, I had dyslexia. Whilst people seem to think that Dyslexia is just one rounded label, it comes with many different strengths and weaknesses. I had developed many coping skills over the years and my love of books as a young child must have benefited me. Whilst my writing skills and reading skills were above average, my memory, problem solving and numerical skills were below, putting me in the statistical position that could qualify a formal diagnosis.
At University, the benefits of being diagnosed meant that I had extra time in exams, sensitive marking criteria and extra reading time too. I didn’t realise how much more Dyslexia could affect me until I started working full time. In January 2019, I started my first ‘career type’ job. My first review at 8 weeks was extremely positive and seemed as though I was on track. I had some time off due to surgery and at 3 months my probation was extended but the comments made during my review just didn’t sit right with me. Nonetheless, I took it in my stride and continued on. At 4.5 months, my review couldn’t have spoken more highly of me, I was back on track again. What happened after this, took me on a drastic turn. I began to question myself, my abilities and the knowledge that I had gained, this was reflected at my 6 month review, however, again the comments made didn’t sit right with me. To clarify, when I say they didn’t sit right, it wasn’t because I disagreed, nor that my manager was in the wrong, it was because it just didn’t sound like me!
So with this in mind, I went to see HR, I was upset, concerned and this job was really important to me. I sat with the manager and discussed these concerns, it turns out that I had filled in my medical to specify that I had Dyslexia, but it had been overlooked. After this discovery, they were extremely fast to react, they booked me into their independent assessment procedure and within 2 weeks I had began having meetings.
One of these meetings raised the query as to whether anyone had ever discussed Autism with me and considered that I have significant Autistic Traits. This was certainly new to me but didn’t come as surprise. Anyhow, this leads us to the reason I have decided to blog my experience. I was sign-posted to a company that provide work-based support to people with traits and on the spectrum. Following a meeting with a wonderful lady from the company, it was bounced around that I should consider a diagnosis.
After extensive reading and discussions with people who are and have been through the diagnosis process, I decided again – what have I got to lose? I contacted my GP and requested a referral but also decided that I should take matters into my own hands. I searched for a local company, who also take NHS referrals and contacted them. They sent me a questionnaire, which they issue and score free of charge. If they feel you meet the criteria, they call you in for a formal assessment. I decided to fill the questionnaire, which if I qualify for an assessment, I will take to my GP and formal evidence that exploring a diagnosis is warranted and hope that they will then make the referral.
Stay tuned for the updates and further blogs on my diagnosis journey…..
Layla's Journey 