I made this comic last year for the SENSORY anthology but I never posted it, so I'm sharing it this year as part of the #AutisticComicTakeover for #AutismAcceptanceMonth . Self-diagnosis is valid and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Gatekeeping harms everyone. Trust yourself
I know I haven't been posting comics for a while because I've been so busy planning things for Autism Acceptance Month! I have a few announcements coming up so watch out for that 👀Make sure to check out #AutisticComicTakeover for more comics like this!
I'm just gonna address a few things that keep coming up in the comments :3
'How do I know I'm autistic?' Seek out resources, follow autism advocates, watch videos, read books... I meant it when I said that self dx shouldn't be done overnight. Be serious about your research!
'idk if I'm comfortable self-dxing yet' That's fine! The point of my comic is Not to pressure people into self-dx, just to say that if/when you choose to self-dx, you are valid in doing so. Definitely *don't* self-dx if you're uncomfortable or unsure! It's a journey
Resources:
#AutisticComicTakeover
#ASDComicTakeover
A fantastic resource by @mykola https://coda.io/@mykola-bilokonsky/public-neurodiversity-support-center
This book*: http://shorturl.at/cyCQX
My video playlist*:
http://shorturl.at/ctzC9
*Both of these are about women but can apply to anyone who masks
Another thing that keeps coming up: autism is not a mental illness. It's a neurotype. It's a developmental disability. It's not a mental illness.
More reasons why a formal diagnosis is not the only valid way to be autistic:
Do you need a doctor to diagnose you with avoiding eye contact?
With not understanding social cues?
With special interests?
With pattern recognition?
With sensory issues?
With having a routine?
If the shoe fits, it fits. People get so mad about self-diagnosis because they don't actually understand what autism Is. It's closer to diagnosing yourself with being gay than diagnosing yourself with cancer.
'But what if people make up being autistic as an excuse for shitty behaviour?'
Autism isn't an excuse for shitty behaviour. To claim otherwise denies autistic people our autonomy. This comic sums it up very well:
https://twitter.com/Mrsquidgereen/status/1512441114367860746?t=gIFA8REtm-eC4qxP648Z4A&s=19
But also, I am Fascinated with society's skepticism of disability. People are more bothered by the possibility of a handful of people faking it 'as an excuse' or 'for attention' than they are by scores of disabled people being being denied care and dignity.
'Only Doctors are qualified to diagnose' Is someone who spent years researching autism, reading up on it and talking to autistic people (something doctors in training often neglect to do) really less qualified than a doctor who maybe learned about autism briefly in med school?
In an ideal world, all autistic people would have access to a diagnosis made by a professional with up-to-date knowledge of autism but that is Not reality. The reality is that most people who get diagnosed later in life have to really fight for it, and many of us can't do that.
Most people seeking a diagnosis don't get to go straight to a specialist. Our access to specialists is barred by general practitioners who commonly believe things like
-Women can't be autistic
-You can't be smart and be autistic
-You can't be autistic if you make eye contact
So yes, I Firmly believe that people who have spent a long time seriously researching autism on their own are more qualified to diagnose themselves than general practitioners who spend less than an hour talking to you and deciding you don't need to see a specialist.
I try to be thorough with my responses and meet people where they're at rather than being snarky, bc I think its the most helpful thing to do. But also it's stressful and exhausting so if you got anything out of this thread/comic, please buy me a coffee 😭 https://www.ko-fi.com/schnumn