Tania Marshall Adult Diagnosis: real?

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I really do appreciate the discussion everyone is having with me - this is proving to be helpful, so thank you.
I haven't made up my mind yet. It's a rather long story so bullet points:

- three years ago a counselor with a child (adult child diagnosed later) said she was very convinced I was on the spectrum, gave me screening questionnaires which her boss (the one with diagnosing abilities) didn't even look at because I'm female and she believes females can't be autistic (very, very old opinion)

- never sought out a formal diagnosis because 1) they're difficult to find as not only an adult, but a female adult and 2) they are expensive, but most importantly 3) I'm very successful at what I do so I never saw a reason to seek one out

- until now, when it really is becoming more of a burden as I age and push deeper into the professional world. It's becoming increasingly difficult to socialize as I age with more and more expectations of me arise. I don't particularly care about my peers, but I am training to be a scientist, and while my rats are unbothered, my professional peers are starting to notice I am different and this is not good for my career.

- A diagnosis would open up a conversation with my department head: I'm not looking for special treatment, but here's what I have difficulty with. I could ask him to help me in my areas of weaknesses, and provide me with extra support before I present and attend conferences. I would feel uncomfortable doing any of this if I didn't have a label or explanation to give to him first.

I apologize for the length. A formal diagnosis (I finally found a professional who will listen, who also thinks I have it) would be entirely out of pocket and I have very little money. Would it be worth it? I'm not sure. Would it be worth it for Marshall's diagnosis? At the price - yes, but only if it's a real diagnosis. And I suppose by "real" I mean, does it correctly identify autism even if the government wouldn't consider it to be valid? I don't care about government disability standards, I just want to do well for myself and if that means telling other people "hey be patient yet tough with me I have autism" then that's good enough for me. I hope this makes sense.

There's another avenue that you could pursue:

Being a research subject. MonaPereth, who posts here and has knowledge in this area, for some information on this.

You can obtain a formal diagnosis for free (or even make a little money) through this method.

You would be interviewed by a PhD candidate----but actually diagnosed by the candidate's supervisor, who is either a PhD psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Well, you have my input.  Good luck.

I'm wondering if a journal like Psychology Today might be a place where you could find these studies.

Google "Autism Research Subject," or something like that----and you might be pointed to websites where you can apply online to become a research subject.

I thought Tiana Marshall was someone who made that video about autistic people lacking empathy so they rape and it's been removed several times, or was that another Tiana Marshall and they just had the same name? I recall the person who made the video saying she got diagnosed with mild AS.

I had a skype "diagnosis" with her and I am in the U.S. It is not considered a legitimate diagnosis here. I did it because I was short on money and unable to find anyone local willing to do an evaluation for an adult. I also did not need to use it for anything other than my own information. I still did not find it useful, even for this. Now, I have a legitimate diagnosis from an in person psychologist. I know that it can be scary to seek and do a self referral for an in person diagnosis and it is somehow safer, to talk with someone via skype to get answers to your questions but this will not give you answers, only more questions.