Female in Ireland - advice re getting diagnosis

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Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 145

06 Jun 2013, 5:18 am

Hi,
I'm in my 40s, and I'm wondering about getting a diagnosis (I think I have Aspergers). I'd like to go to someone who has a good record with diagnosing adult women. I know we can be hard to spot, and if I spend money on this, I don't want to end up wasting it on someone who doesn't have enough experience to assess me properly. Any advice on good professionals? It doesn't seem possible for an adult to get a diagnosis through the public system, or I'd have done it already.

whirlingmind
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06 Jun 2013, 5:55 am

Hi there Nascaireacht,

fáilte roimh!

My mother is Irish and I am very proud of my heritage. Which part of Ireland are you, NI or Eire?

Once I know, I will dig out some information for you. If you are NI, I am unsure if that is the same as the mainland, but I wrote a previous thread about adult rights to assessment in the UK.

Guidance for adults getting assessed in the UK by the NHS: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt227311.html

If you are looking for private, that's obviously different. But don't spend any money until you have fully investigated the state options. Depending on where you are prepared to travel, there are some centres in the UK specialising in women, but there might be something nearer to home for you, so once I know where you are I can find out.

_________________
*Truth fears no trial*

DX AS & both daughters on the autistic spectrum

Nascaireacht
Snowy Owl

Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Age: 52
Gender: Female
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07 Jun 2013, 2:29 am

Hi Whirlingmind,

Go raibh maith agat for your kind answer. I'm in the Republic of Ireland, so I'm afraid NHS solutions are not an option, unfortunately. My local GP is the person who told me that public diagnosis is not possible for adult Aspies. Both my sons have received diagnoses through the public system, but adults don't seem to be catered for at all. Last night I found a list of places where private assessments can take place, and I wonder if you or anyone else has heard anything about these places and their attitude to women with Aspergers?

http://www.aspireireland.ie/Other-Suppo ... s-List.htm

Thanks

gratin
Raven
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Joined: 13 Mar 2013
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Posts: 100

07 Jun 2013, 2:42 am

Good luck. I'm in the North and am in your situation too. No one seems to understand why I would want a diagnosis at my age and I haven't got anywhere but I'm going to ask my GP formally and I think he legally has to take action.

whirlingmind
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11 Jun 2013, 8:46 am

Nascaireacht wrote:

I will see what I can find out, I know in the UK people can't be fobbed off like that (well technically speaking but it's amazing how many GPs don't know the law!).

I can't comment on those clinicians as they are all in Ireland and I'm on the UK mainland unfortunately.

_________________
*Truth fears no trial*

DX AS & both daughters on the autistic spectrum

dab
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Posts: 2

11 Jun 2013, 9:43 am

I am in Northern Ireland. I was assessed privately by Jo Douglas from the Spectrum Centre Dungannon Tel: 028 8772 9810. She was very good and very knowledgeable. I would recommend her but of course Dungannon might be to far away. If you want further details pm me.

whirlingmind
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11 Jun 2013, 9:47 am

Nascaireacht wrote:

Hi again Nascaireach,

Hope this is all useful, sounds like you do do have rights to an adult assessment via the state, challenge your GP:

http://autism.ie/?page_id=2

Quote:

The Charter of Rights for Person with Autism was co-written by Pat Matthews, Executive Director of the Irish Society for Autism.

Thursday May 9th, 1996 will be remembered by parents, professionals and friends of people with Autism as a historic occasion in the European Union for the attainment of rights by persons with Autism.

On this special day the President of the European Parliament announced that Written Declaration 3/96 by Mrs Banotti on the rights of people with Autism had been signed by 331 Members and passed by the parliament.

Pursuant to Rule 48 (4) of the European Parliament, the Parliament instructed its President to forward the declaration on all EU languages to the Institutions of the Union and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

This is only the third declaration to be adopted since the rules changed in 1990.

The Declaration will have far reaching consequences for the quality of life for children and adults with Autism across Europe.

The Declaration states that people with Autism should have the same rights enjoyed by all EU citizens, where such be appropriate and in the best interest of the person with Autism and that these rights should be enhanced and enforced by appropriate legislation in each member state.

Diagnostic services, individualised education, family support, housing, vocational training and life long care, will all now have to be adequately addressed and appropriate services provided.

Just in case you want to have a chat for an initial enquiry with a clinical person:

https://jamesroan.com/

Quote:

Welcome to Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and Learning Difficulties Assessmment Services

My name is James Roan, a certified school psychologist, and I specialize in the psychoeducational assessment of children, adolescents, and adults who are suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, or any type of learning difficulty or developmental delay in the Republic of Ireland only.

Free Services

In the interests of children and their families, I provide free early screening of social communication, expressive speech/language, and symbolic functioning in children aged six to 24 months. I also screen for autism spectrum disorders in children aged 18 to 36 months. Just download the M-CHAT and Scoring Instructions. Email me with the results or I can score the M-CHAT and help interpret it for you. For other language and social delay concerns, email me with the age, in months, of your child along with your concerns and I will send you an appropriate screening instrument.

Email consultation is complimentary. Phone calls are at client expense and are also complimentary. I also volunteer my time answering questions on autism and Asperger's syndrome on about.com. There, you can review my answers to over 1000 questions. Please Note: At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet (see Disclaimer below).

http://www.senmagazine.co.uk/articles/1 ... on-the-map

Quote:

Catherine Maclean looks at how Celtic nations are learning from each other to develop strategic approaches to autism

Over the past ten years, a quiet revolution has been going on in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, as each nation has been developing its own national strategy for autism. Crucially, the nations are also sharing their understanding, knowledge and expertise. This article highlights a few of the policy and practice issues, and some of the indicators for success, that may be emerging from the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership.

_________________
*Truth fears no trial*

DX AS & both daughters on the autistic spectrum

Last edited by whirlingmind on 12 Jun 2013, 11:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

Kaede
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Joined: 23 Mar 2013
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 51

11 Jun 2013, 8:25 pm

I am also Irish and am seeking a diagnosis. I heard of someone in UL (University of Limerick) who does private assessments but it costs €500. I'm not sure of the person's name.

If you do use one of the services, please report back because I'm really interested in finding out who might be able to assess me properly.

steffan
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Joined: 14 Sep 2011
Age: 41
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08 Oct 2013, 9:42 pm

dab wrote:

Did the OP ever get anywhere with this? Although I'm not a woman I can also recommend Joanne Douglas and can confirm that she carries out adult diagnosis for both men and women. In fact not only did Jo diagnose me but she has also been a major source of help and support ever since. Even here in the North my state diagnosis was 18 months after my private diagnosis with Jo, and even then that was after the "lost" me in the system for about 5 years! If the situation over the border is the same as up here then there probably just aren't enough qualified people employed by the state to carry out all the diagnoses needed and provide the support needed afterwards.

ajson
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09 Dec 2013, 11:57 am

Hi all,

does anyone have an email address for the Spectrum Centre in Dungannon?

thanks!

donkey
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10 Mar 2014, 10:47 am

Hi there,

I have used Jo Douglas as well.

She is at the " spectrum centre" in dungannon and not " the spectrum centre" in the Shankill in Belfast.

Jo is good and supportive and keen to develop a niche with AS women.

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steffan
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

Joined: 14 Sep 2011
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 53

01 Apr 2014, 1:24 am

ajson wrote:

Hi all,

does anyone have an email address for the Spectrum Centre in Dungannon?

thanks!

Its been a while but just came across this thread in a search and thought it best to post the contact details for others as someone else will likely be in the same situation as those who have already enquires. I hope everyone got sorted out OK!

Go to www.thespectrumcentre.com for details, they have a contact form there

. The phone number is 02887 729810. The centre itself is in Dungannon on Northland Row.

Not only does Jo Diagnose women and girls, but also now runs a support group for women as well. I know she used to do some work in the Republic of Ireland as well, but don't know if this is still the case.

steffan
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Joined: 14 Sep 2011
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 53

05 Nov 2014, 12:47 pm

steffan wrote:

ajson wrote:

Hi all,

does anyone have an email address for the Spectrum Centre in Dungannon?

thanks!

Just to update. the website url has changed to http://www.thespectrumcentreni.com. The old url no longer works.

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