“What is your ethnicity?”

The term “identified” is used as an insult, particularly when referring to transgender people, to imply that they aren’t really correct. I don’t think it’s appropriate to use that in the context of autism, because many of the people who do believe themselves to be autistic do go on to get professionally diagnosed. I became interested about 20 years ago in the possibility that I may be autistic, as I met all of the criteria, but only recently did I actually get the resources to pay for a diagnosis. It cost me nearly $3500.

The problem is that self-diagnosis IS valid, when it is valid, and is not valid, when it is not valid.

OMG a PIZZA PARTY!

I just paid $3,300 for a diagnosis. I used a flexible spending account, which meant that that was pre-tax money. I felt that it was worth it, because of the possibility of having certain protections available to me in the future if they’re needed(for example, in employment, and possibly some day unemployment). It also provided closure to know instead of just suspect for the rest of my life. I am glad that I went through with the diagnosis. It also led to diagnosis of not just autism, but some other things, as well. Keep that possibility in mind that autism might not be the only thing they diagnose you with, and that might provide you knowledge or might help you in some way.