Raymond_Fawkes wrote:
She's 44. I highly, highly doubt she's "autistic".
This post is a flashback to the WP of 10 years ago and not in a good way.
I guess this needs to be explained again. When she was young the criteria for diagnosis was stricter so a lot of traits or traits that are “mild” did not result in a Autism diagnoses or a misdiagnosis. Also it was and still is to a degree more difficult for women to get diagnosed because the original diagnostic criteria was based on boys. The stereotypes linger longer then the diagnostic criteria. This means autistic people may not realize they are autistic they have bought into the stereotypes. Also because Autism tends to run in families Autistic people may think their traits are normal.
There is understandable doubt about celebrities claims of autism. They are known to make stuff up for publicity. We have no way of knowing for sure if a celebrity is autistic. Being a support site it is my policy to not question autism claims unless there is a very obvious reason to do so. Age is not at all a reason to doubt a claim of Autism
I was diagnosed at age 55. Others on this board got diagnosed in their 60s and later. Saying we can’t be autistic because of our age is offensive.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman