This article was recently shared on twitter. Are Co-occurring Conditions Part of Autism? This was written by Max Sparrow
It's a couple years old but I thought it was interesting especially when you consider the way autism is defined compared to what non autistic people often think it is. It talks about the many co-occurring conditions that autistic individuals may have and yet those conditions are not actually autism. But at the same time you're more likely to get a diagnosis for autism if you have other conditions co-occurring with autism. And that includes conditions like intellectual disability that are not actually part of autism and affect a relatively small percentage of autistic individuals.
Of course, if you make it to adulthood without a diagnosis its very difficult to get one. It seems people think if you're functioning at all, you're fine and don't need support. I think that's why such high numbers of autistic adults have depression and anxiety.
I've been thinking about this a lot since we received those links providing us with resources for 'autism and/or intellectual disability'. Most autistic individuals do not have an intellectual disability but could still use some support, I think. When I look at those links I don't believe I would have qualified for the AccessAbility Support (AAS) Program necessary for any assistance but I really really could have used some support of some kind when I built my house.
I love to know what others think. Please comment.
Update to add some information regarding co-occuring conditions:
Cerebral Palsy Guide is an organization dedicated to educating individuals and families about Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder affecting motor and developmental skills. Our goal is to help families use any methods we can to make sure children have the support they need. We strive to provide answers and guidance to ensure that families receive the assistance they need to help improve their child's overall quality of life. For more information:
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/cerebral-palsy/coexisting-conditions/autism/ https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/blog/cerebral-palsy-anger-issues-in-adults/