The year of the celebrity autism diagnosis continues, with footballer James McClean the latest addition.
The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland star found out he has the disorder after noticing similar traits to his four-year-old daughter Willow-Ivy who is autistic.
Other Irish personalities with adult autism diagnoses include writer Stefanie Preissner, and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub.
Preissner and Blindboy both received the news in their 30s also – and like McClean – only after recently presenting themselves for assessment.
It’s the same in Britain, where presenter Melanie Sykes and model Christine McGuinness have both told of their “relief” at finding out they’re autistic as grown adults, and how it helps them explain so much in their lives.
Talking about her husband’s diagnosis, US comedian Amy Schumer spoke glibly of it as a trend. “When ADD was the new thing you were embarrassed to have it. Now you’re like: ‘Oh I have that’.”
The vast majority of the diagnoses today are at the lower end of the spectrum – whereas previously they were only made in severe cases of “classic” autism. But have we widened the spectrum to be so broad it is now meaningless?
With a line-up of successful, talented people sharing their autism diagnoses, it’s coming across more as a gift than a disability.
I don’t believe this shift necessarily benefits the autistic community.
Lots of families affected agree it has only further confused things.
As the parent of a child with autism, it can be galling. I wonder how helpful it is when suddenly, everyone’s autistic.
That’s only my view. Perhaps other parents disagree and think it’s brilliant. I find it frustrating and belittling.
The case for high-profile people coming forward is that it raises awareness; it helps others to grasp how varied it is.
That’s not my experience. Now it just seems easier than ever for others to dismiss it. The perception is: If famous footballers and successful media people are the new face of autism, how bad can it be?
My instinct when yet another celebrity shares their diagnosis is: Good for you. But what’s the point, exactly?
Childhood diagnoses are vital to get help, supports, school places and developmental therapies.
Those who have the wherewithal to go and get assessed and diagnosed later in life, are, by definition, doing OK on the grand scale of things. It has not prevented progress.
How does it help a mother with a child that is non-verbal, not sleeping, constantly distressed, refused from education, and locked in their own world? In reality, it generally doesn’t take until adulthood to make itself known. It makes itself very loud and very clear early on.
It’s a whole lot more than a dislike of scratchy jumpers, a lack of small talk and an aversion to change.
The most harmful aspect to it all is it has erased the existence of those with profound autism.
These are incredible people who will never live full lives, will never have careers, will never marry and have children. They deserve visibility too.
Even at the lower end of the spectrum, it is life-changing; punishing and deeply impactful on every aspect of family life.
We should remember that on World Autism Awareness Day tomorrow.
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