Career vs. diagnosis

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I only just realised that I am quite likely to be Aspie, though I may be one of the 20% who do not have too many symptoms when growing up. I know that being aware that I am quite likely Aspie will help me getting to know myself better, and therefore also improve my social skills. The offers for Aspies able to work, in terms of courses, therapy etc. is really modest. So whatever I get a diagnosis or not I am quite likely to pay for things myself if I want any further help, seeing that I am 25 and about to complete my studies.

Therefore I am not sure about how a diagnosis may help me. I will consult my GP and our student counselor psychologist about this, but I would really like to hear you opinion. What could be the benefits of actually getting the diagnosis in case like mine?

I have a plan for getting a diagnosis, (which starts with the GP mentioned above) if I really need it, but I do not know if it will help me or not. This issue is probably atypical and so complicated that I am quite sure some misunderstandings will pop up. To some of you having the choice of getting a diagnosis may seem alien, or one of luxury. To me it is one of my top three issues with being Aspie (the two others are dating and inheritence).

To take it from the top: I am an economics master student. I do well at the University, I have several ideas on how to get a job, and I have made a good impression on several persons who are likely to employ me, including some "hot shots". I may want a career in some of the really big organizations here in Europe, and I am likely to get one.

My second question: We still have a lot of misconceptions and prejudice about being Aspie, and not too much positive PR. While pursuing an international career, is it risky, and worth the risk to have a diagnosis? Some of the really big organizations, public and private, do their recruitment screening process a little to well, and they may disqualify me if they know I am Aspie, although I am fully capable for a specific job. Should there be enough benefits from getting the diagnosis, is it then really worth it? Is the risk just in my mind, or real? Does anyone around here know, from their own careers, or from people they know?

That is a difficult question... it depends a lot on local laws.

I had a diagnosis when I was a child. In The Netherlands these diagnoses have to renewed every five years, so at one point my diagnoses ran out. At that point I had to make a similar decision.

I put the following questions out and tried to get answers:
- is there a financial advantage, like a special tax cut or a some special benefit
- can I get special help like coaching
- is it beneficial for my studies
- how is the status recorded
- is it visible to employers
- can it have an impact on other cases like a drivers' license?

In my case I choose to renew it because of the coaching and here in NL the status is not visible. Even the normal employees of the government agencies could not see it at that time (could have changed now). You needed a certain clearance to see it. Also employers would not see it, unless I told them. Then they could also apply for financial support.

So it would be good for you to ask these questions to yourself and the proper agencies.

I'm not a lawyer and I don't know about how disability and employment regulations work in your home country but here in the US, I'm fairly certain that AS is a protected medical condition. So even if they know you are diagnosed, they can't discriminate against you because of it. Personally I'd love to be formally diagnosed but since I don't qualify for state healthcare, I'll have to wait until I have insurance that covers that sort of thing. Someday soon, I hope.

For all I know, I should be protected by the law, the human rights and various Corporate Social Responsibility standards simultaniously.

Hacking however does occur, and a diagnosis will be recorded by state healthcare. I.e. I increase the risk of someone getting that information, if I get a diagnosis, compared to if I "self-diagnose", and settle with consulting my GP for an informal chat.

I may also have obligations or face some clause if my career goes to the hot shot level, which I sometimes dream of. According to a Danish book on Aspies by an adult Aspie there is not much to gain from getting the diagnosis as adult, since there is no support when you are able to work, which I certainly am. We are not only talking recruitment screening, but also possibly, I guess, security clearance.

I know law says one thing, but I also know that rules break more often than glass bottles in a container. One such very stable rule breaker is talent recruitment companies and intellegence agencies. I am likely to be screened by both. So question is not, if I am protected by the law, but: Do I trust authorities, and private companies ethical code? I do not have much reason to, I am afraid.

I think about obligations to disclose information about yourself for management in high positions. Maybe I am just speculating. If no one else around here knows of it, it is probably not much of an issue. No reason to worry about it then.

I would still appreciate if you guys could highlight some of the pros and cons of getting a diagnosis that you have experienced, or know factually that fellow Aspies have experienced.

I would say you get discriminated for autism more than assisted at this point in history. In fact, I've been in cases where I've had exceptional reviews from employers for work and then when my doctor submitted the paper for my autism to my university, they then viewed me as some sort of threat, problem, or potentially untrustworthy person. I woudl say there are people who have had a better education about it would not think that, but I don't think the field of psychology is very advanced. Think about it, brain scans are very new and the research on them is not that advanced. Further, just 30-50 years ago they were doing lobotomies and electroshock therapy (i know bc my aunt had it done to her, had it put her in a wheelchair.....which kept her on the minimal disability payments from the government for the rest of her life). Prior to electroshock she just had autism and mild rheumatoid arthritis but no wheelchair. So if you wonder why people who can't protect themselves very well are protective of their own, it's because we live in a very mideval world to some degrees. For instance, we all know puppies and kittens are the cutest most innocent, loving, vulnerable things, but that vulnerability doesn't stop people from preying on them or destroying them (killing them) in the millions even in the most developed (supposedly) country in the world.....just for sheer fact that they can.

Further, it goes back to my point from my own experience that say you do submit the paperwork to your university for accomodation when you need breaks, etc and the authorities at that organization find out, then even when they do discriminate your only protection then is still suing them which will basically show up on your record and unless you have evidence to win enough money for the rest of your life, it's doubtful any other company would want to hire a "problem" employee. I actually was at that point at one job. Also, if you are in a high profile position, they will not want anything on your record that would make you look untrustworthy or unreliable, particularly high level government work where you are named as the source of the work. in fact, they would rather claim it to be the work of a less competent NT that doesn't have a mental disability on record. For instance, my psychiatrist told me that I could not work for the CIA with my diagnosis even though a lot of my information my parents were able to keep some off my record (they were hoping all although you have to trust the doctor) by paying doctors out of pocket for help when I was a kid. (ie not turned into insurance companies). Further, you would have to make sure your doctor doesn't keep electronic medical health records on file so that none of it gets turned into the databases (which in the staets are currently only kept for insurance claims/companies today)

Hello Pocket
Here in Denmark, there is no law saying, that you have to disclose your diagnosis to your employer. However, if you plan a career in the army or the police, you will have to inform them of any diagnosis you might have. My 17 year old son, was recently diagnosed with AS and ADHD-inattentive type, but with AS as the main diagnosis. He actually wanted to 'find' out why he is so 'different'. He had this wish for a couple of years, but I kept prosponing it, because I new it would stop him from entering the armed forces or the police, in case thats what he would eventually find out he wanted to do. It is now clear, that he will never want any of these careers. He is, now, relieved to know why he is so 'different'. For him it's been the right choice to get a diagnosis. Also because he is now in treatment for his sleeping disorder. As a grown up, in my personal oppinion, one should only seek a diagnosis, if it is a real struggle finding ways to cope with problems in life, relating to being/suspecting having AS. If you get along in life, generally, and don't just want to find out, for the sake of knowing, then I don't see any reason why you should.

So my advice is this: Only seek a diagnosis, if you really think it will help you in any way. And if you plan to join the army or the police force, then don't.

Greetings from Århus

If you have a Dx, no employer is entitled to know about it unless your condition will be something that needs accommodation from day one.

I'd be more concerned about the Dx being discoverable in ways that could hurt you (e.g, applying for health insurance).

I do know if it shows up on insurance records, there's a chance someone could find out about it in a background check. HIPPA pretty much screws up how secure medical records are nowadays.

All I have learned on AS for the past two weeks indicates no good reason to get a diagnosis. The two main benefits could have been avoiding national service, which I hated partially, but did alright and maybe getting additional student grants/SU/national scholarship, but I only have my thesis left. For now therefore I do not see any reason to do so. Should you come to think of any really good reason, do write me a pm. For now, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the issue.

What I have learned however has also helped me to get to know myself better. I have described some of my working habbits with Aspie traits the past week, and the main response has been recognition, and admiration combined with being told that they're impressed that I know myself so well. I have not said one word about Aspies to them. Only said: I pay a lot attention to detail, have hypersentitive hearing, thus easily distracted, I am stubborn, and not very capable of studying things that do not interest me. You want to try something like that out