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Anonymous 3
Details:
I was prompted to write this by a gov advert about funding scrutiny on Facebook.
I think adult Autism and ADHD diagnosis and support services are in dire need of funding and prioritisation.
I had my initial Autism assessment in Dec 2021 and will be waiting for my full assessment and diagnosis till at least Jan 2024. For 10 months this year the JAAS could not even give a ballpark idea of the waiting list because no one was working on it at all.
The waiting time for people like me is unacceptable. My disability is as yet undiagnosed, I'm supposed to cope with that uncertainty for years when many Autistic people find the unknown, the unplanned and waiting extremely anxious.
Autism is hereditary. One of my twins is currently under assessment and will be diagnosed long before I am.
In Northern Ireland 1 in 21 children has a diagnosis of Autism; https://www.autismni.org/statistics-1
~50% of their parents will also be Autistic, the vast majority being undiagnosed. Jersey is unlikely to be much different in terms of the prevalence of Autism in the population and there is a tidal wave of struggling undiagnosed adults who are about to clamour for diagnosis and support.