Autism

I've learned I'll be getting mine in October after being on the list for 2 years.

Since I see a lot of non Candains here I'll explain what the process was for me in Ontario.

I asked my doctor for a formal diagnosis. Since I'm around Toronto I had to apply via the mental health system there (CMHA). Alternatively I'd have to pay $5k.

A few months after applying they called asking for my elementary school transcripts and the number of a parent or guardian. I am well into my 30s. So the transcript isn't really possible. And my my mother whould be the best bet as witness to my childhood.

They called back 6 months later asking if I was still interested I said yes.

One year later another call asking for transcripts and again I tell them i cant actually get those.

Now almost 2 years later I got a calling saying the assessment is in October. It's going to be 5 hours long and they want my mother for the first hour of it.

I should point out my mother has had some extreme trauma over the past 4 or 5 years wich affected her memory. I'm also 1 of 4 kids so she confuses us often.

It's a frustrating situation because I need to be assessed based on my childhood development and I seem to be the only one who remembers any of that. I grew up in a tiny village out in the middle of Mennonite territory so my school had no internet. All the records where on paper and lost ages ago.

In terms of why I am doing this. What the benefit is? I'm pretty successful career wise and training up for a management role. I have a lot of quirks that I worry will interfere with that ambition. Knowing the specifics of my atypical neurology may help me identify and mitigate these quirks. It may also help when asking my insurance for things like extra therapy budget.

I also think it will help as I get older. Some of these quirks are getting worse as well as my stress levels and anxiety. I know there are some things about autism that get worse with age I'll need to be aware of.