An Early Diagnosis is NOT a Privilege, nor is an Late Diagnosis
Despite what people online are saying, especially Reddit (r/autism cough cough), being early diagnosed or late diagnosed doesn’t automatically mean you’re privileged or you were lucky or you had good parents (I mean, sometimes it does, but not automatically) or that you’re rich or anything.
It means you were found as disabled and so much earlier in life than others were, which could mean a handful of good yet bad things at the same time.
One such good thing meant early intervention, and much more easier plus faster access to school accomodations like more time for tests as well as taking tests in a seperate room from your classmates, more time to process instructions and more. I had good parents, and people who were generally accepting of me as a person.
But, still, even with all of those good things, i still had bad things happen to me. I still got bullied by peers and ignored by teachers because they think i’m “strong enough” or whatever, i still got ignored by some teachers in both elementary and high school, and i still got isolated by my peers.
This may be the same for those of you who were later diagnosed in life than what was considered the normal age of diagnosis, and still pros and cons of being diagnosed. These things happen to anyone, despite age of diagnosis and what diagnosis you are and what levels/functioning labels/support needs you are.
These complaints and tireless discussions or arguments about what is considered a privilege by the autism community needs to stop.
People who are late diagnosed have created several coping strategies, know how to mask well and effectively, force through mute episodes and many more, but still, you are still considered disabled. Those who are early diagnosed were taught to mask, to cope, and know how it feels to struggle but still you are considered disabled.
That is not a privilege.
Reminder that this is my opinion and again, i am not forcing this down your throats, this is just an awareness post.
