Assessment

[Rugby3]

How hard is the assessment? I'm on the waiting list but I just keep getting told how hard the assessment is. I'm just not sure if I can do it now

[NotJim]

Hi Rugby3,

I can only speak from experience with the UK assessments process. I had mine back in 2017. It can feel a bit daunting, but it's not a big test or exam, or something to pass or fail, so I'm not quite sure what people mean when you say they say it's "hard".

When I had mine, I had to fill in a lot of questionairres where I would say yes or no, or put on a scale of 1 to 10, details about my experiences day to day, and growing up. I then went for what I suppose you could call an interview with one specialist (but think more like sit down and talk through your answers and discuss things interview rather than some sort of job interview set up). This took a few hours, and afterwards, I left and received their decision about whether or not they thought I had ASD after about 6 months (yes, it took a long while, and truthfully I'd almost forgotten about it when I got the letter!)

Because I'm a girl and I socially camouflage really well, I had to clarify my answers in the questionnaires. E.G., it asked "How hard to you find speaking to someone on the telephone?" on a scale of 1 to 10. And while yes, I can speak to people on telephones, I wrote in the margins that the reason I could was because I had to work up a lot of courage and could copy how my mum spoke on the telephone instead - social camouflaging!

So, if you feel you're not able to get what you want to say about your experiences across in any box-tick style questionnaires, I would find a way to make sure they know the finer details about your experience, (like writing notes in the margin, or emphasising in your interview discussion).

I found the interview a challenge at times because they asked personal history questions (but they have to in order to get to know the full honest picture about you, and it shouldn't be a judgemental scenario. I certainly didn't feel judged when they asked).

My friend also got diagnosed at the same time, and felt very at ease with the person who chatted with her.

Everyone's experience will be slightly different, but I would say it's worth doing if you can and isn't like a dread trip to the dentist or something you have to perform for. I would take it as a chance to explore more about who you are and how your mind works. And if you're really nervous, you could always ask if you can bring someone along with you (I was diagnosed as an adult, but my mother came along too both for support and to help answer some questions I couldn't about early years things).

I hope this helps a bit

[Rugby3 in reply to NotJim]

Thank you yes I'm in the UK too so thank you for your detailed response I really appreciate that and hopefully I will be able to do it when the time comes. And I'm an adult too and like yourself would probably feel better with my mum present! And I'm the same I pass all my phone calls to my mum it's just too hard.

Thank you again 😊