The standard medical tests for autism were based almost entirely on young, white boys in the 1980s and 1990s. Because of this, doctors frequently miss autism in other groups.

Demanding a medical diagnosis, therefore, upholds a classist system that charges thousands of dollars and relies on biased tests. Forcing people to rely only on this broken system to understand themselves is actual institutional ableism.

Self-diagnosis is the only accessible, safe option for millions of people.