Credibility of an Official Diagnosis

[Beguiling Orbit]

If a self-diagnosed Aspie wanted to have a career as an Asperger's advocate (i.e. be a writer, blogger and/or podcaster, or join the staff of an existing ASD advocacy organization or even start a new one) do you think that person would need to obtain an official diagnosis to be considered credible in the field? What if that person had learned so many coping skills that they now are able to mask their condition to such an extent that they can no longer even be assured of getting a diagnosis?

 

[isthisreallife]

I guess it would depend on the audience. Most of us officially diagnosed later on knew beforehand (self-diagnosed), and it sounds as if you're on the same path (with the exact same doubts). So, that said, I don't think your credibility will be questioned in the ASD community (chime in at any time), but I can't speak for NT's.

 

[Beguiling Orbit]

I guess it would depend on the audience. Most of us officially diagnosed later on knew beforehand (self-diagnosed), and it sounds as if you're on the same path (with the exact same doubts). So, that said, I don't think your credibility will be questioned in the ASD community (chime in at any time), but I can't speak for NT's.

Great point, @isthisreallife. Since NT parents/spouses of those on the spectrum could be part of that audience, and I know some of you are on this forum, I would also aporeciate your opinions regarding the credibility issue.

 

[Streetwise]

If a self-diagnosed Aspie wanted to have a career as an Asperger's advocate (i.e. be a writer, blogger and/or podcaster, or join the staff of an existing ASD advocacy organization or even start a new one) do you think that person would need to obtain an official diagnosis to be considered credible in the field? What if that person had learned so many coping skills that they now are able to mask their condition to such an extent that they can no longer even be assured of getting a diagnosis?

Wouldn't worry about it,I don't think psychiatry or medical science is perfect and I don't think there diagnosis are ever perfect.

 

[xudo]

I think you would always find people who would question you if you didn't have an official diagnosis. Fact of life, because there will always be people who believe you 'need' to have one.

 

[Beguiling Orbit]

I think you would always find people who would question you if you didn't have an official diagnosis. Fact of life, because there will always be people who believe you 'need' to have one.

No doubt. I guess that brings up a followup question: would there be enough of those people to hinder reaching a critical mass of credibility?

 

[xudo]

No doubt. I guess that brings up a followup question: would there be enough of those people to hinder reaching a critical mass of credibility?

I honestly couldn't answer that. The only time I really come into contact with other people on the spectrum is here, and most seem fine with self diagnosis.

 

[Katleya]

I think you would always find people who would question you if you didn't have an official diagnosis. Fact of life, because there will always be people who believe you 'need' to have one.

No doubt. I guess that brings up a followup question: would there be enough of those people to hinder reaching a critical mass of credibility?

No doubt that some people would question it if you didn't have an official diagnosis, but... since your diagnosis is supposed to be confidential, how would they know that you have one or lack one, to begin with? I'm not suggesting that you lie about it, I'm just throwing in that it's not information that you can be mandated to release. One can very well be an Aspie in the process of diagnosis (or in the process of considering getting a diagnosis).

I do find, however, that the matter of diagnosis is one that needs more Aspie advocates, as opposed to the vast number of clueless specialists who make it harder for the work of knowledgeable specialists to reach the wide acceptance and recognition it deserves. So far, a lot of the diagnosis is based on outside observation tainted by NT bias that fails at recognizing some of our experience (for instance, the problem of camouflaging... an NT has no way of understanding or knowing the amount of strain it causes on one to be playing a role and controling every single thought & movement, and you can fail to be diagnosed because you masked your problems too well... doesn't mean they're not there, but only very few specialists understand that, along with most Aspies).

So, while I don't believe that holding a diagnosis is absolutely necessary to become an advocate, I do feel it is worthy so that you have first-hand experience of the diagnosis process and everything it entails, and so that you can fight for awareness and change on that, too.