Myth: Autism Diagnosis with Assessment is Required
- therapistkristina
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 27
Is a formal autism diagnosis required to be autistic? Of course not!
The Myth
Some autistics who receive a diagnosis from an assessment assert, defend and circulate that they are the ONLY true autistics. Self-diagnosis to them means not truly autistic.
Some non-autistics also believe this.
This myth says that without an autism diagnosis from a formal assessment, one cannot be autistic.
This is a harmful collective myth that alienates, creates hierarchies, denies the realities of many, and expresses ownership of autism.
Demystify the Myth
Being autistic is the only true determinate of being autistic.
Assessments are not 100% accurate. Many factors influence their accuracy. Some assessors fails to understand autism while trained to simply implement a test. They miss crucial factors for a diagnosis. Many autistics unconsciously mask during the assessment and a false negative is reached.
Relying on Western Psychology alone for the presence of autism is problematic. Most autism assessments (not the MIGDAS-2 that I use, more information HERE) are informed by the DSM which defines autism in terms of deficits: how the autistic is not be allistic enough, and what the autistic is doing wrong (the allistic gaze) instead of focusing on processing differences (internal).
Autistics generally know they are autistic because they live it every day. Some people explore the possibility of being autistic on their own. Eventually they meet a Y on the road of their self-exploration, where they know with certainty they are autistic or they realize they are not autistic. It takes time, let people have their time to explore, they are learning about themselves.
Ecologies of Autism embraces all roads to autism. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KristinaBravoLMFT
Goals of the Myth:
One: to prevent ableism-people claiming they are autistic and living as though they are autistic while not living with the challenges that autistics live with.
Two: to make autism pure, to protect it against righteous standards of autism.
Challenge to the Goals:
Autism is not something we can own, purify, define with our own standards and identify by behaviors alone. Autism is a divergence, which means there isn't ONE standard that defines autism.
Weaponizing autism to control another's life path and to socially organize around that weaponization makes autism a tool to create harm.
In ways that make sense to you, challenge this myth!! Thank you for being here.
Autism assessments can be useful tools when used properly, and can provide invaluable information to support someone for a lifetime. Remember: it's a personal choice to have an assessment.
See the next writing TOP 5 REASONS FOR AUTISM TESTING
Contact me for therapy, free consultations, autism evaluations:
737-825-5005
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