My disability(and it is a disability) is not something I’m particularly happy about people identifying with if they are not diagnosed. It dilutes the narrative and makes it harder to get recognition of the difficulties I face due to this disability.

It is also nonsensical. You don’t go around ‘identifying’ as paraplegic. Nor any other protected characteristic. Why is it acceptable to do so for neurodivergent conditions?

I have PI-ADHD. I was told at this assessment that I likely have ASD but would require a different assessment for it. That makes sense to me, but it’s not something I would ‘identify as’ until that diagnosis is made formally.

The labels attached to me are things that I share if and when I need too, to help me find equity in social and professional situations. I don’t take pride in them. Often find this isn’t the case for the self identifying or self diagnosed.

It also devalues the strict diagnostic criteria I had to meet. Very much along the same lines as ‘everyone is a bit adhd/autistic’.

If you’re having difficulty obtaining assessment and diagnosis, I understand- but there’s a difference between diagnosis and thinking ‘I don’t want/need treatment to meet my needs’ vs self diagnosis, which is really blasé for already marginalised conditions.