Conservatives & the Asperger Diagnosis?

Question

Conservatives appeal to indivdual responsibility, but most people with AS have liberal leanings, thus I'm curious if it's a fluke of nature whether they are satisfied with being diagnosed early is a relief resulted from their liberalness and that conservatives are less likely to be concerned with the power of reflectiveness but more on the net result of finding out Aspergers later in life. I'm also curious about the ethics of diagnosing/experimenting with children for Aspergers or delaying a diagnosis with possible home-schooling. I'm curious for the feedback of all, but if you are conservative, please state so. I'm 24, was diagnosed with AS last year, and am in the great minority that is highly satisfied to have been diagnosed as an adult rather than as a child.

I ask this because many of us are in special classes and I'm curious if such "assistance" may be damaging to a kid, especially in regards to the over-diagnosis of AS.

Answer 1

I wasn't diagnosed until age 26, so I was never in any special classes at school and didn't get any assistance.

It was a relief to find out about Asperger's syndrome, because I had always known something was different about me, but didn't know exactly what or why. Just understanding what I'm dealing with is good. I haven't felt the need to tell other people about my diagnosis though.

I'm not sure how things would have been if I had been diagnosed in childhood. I'm sure that would have had its pros and cons, just like the late diagnosis. I'm fine with not having been diagnosed earlier.

I'm very liberal.

I don't see how special classes could be politically "damaging" to children, or why one's stand on politics should be considered "damage". That sounds very arrogant, to be honest.

Answer 2

I am liberal, and have 3 sons, two of which carry a PDD.NOS dx.  They are 7.5 and turning 3 this month.  I think dx is a double edged sword that you have to fight either way if you go for the early dx or the late one.  My kids I am glad I went with the early one, they were dx at 25 months and 9 months.  I do agree that it is a catch all and is grossly overly diagnosed.  My oldest son has a little bit of a lot of different things going on.  His school constantly fights me on the IEP, and keeps pushing for a referral to the autistic program.  We did have the autistic program take a look at him 2 years ago and they said no he doesn't meet criteria.  His school grossly underestimates his abilities.  I am always fighting for more support.  We disagreed with the assessment results and got an IEE which shows much different scores so idk.  The school got wind of the fact that the family has multiple persons with ASD's, they do not know that I am one of them, they would really run with that.  When they found out my husband, their father has a bipolar, ADHD history all the sudden that was my son's dx as well, never to have come up before this.  Currently the school is crediting my son with an ADD.NOS dx.  The school's did know about my dyslexia and dysgraphia dx, which my son has inherited via the schools.  I wonder if I told the school that I have a psychotic disorder how long would it be before my son gets credited with that too?