William Butchart, a church minister from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, was diagnosed with autism after his two children were identified as autistic. As a child, Butchart had found certain social situations difficult, had struggled to make friends, and was often distressed by loud noises. However, he learned to suppress his autistic behaviours until his children’s diagnoses led him to understand his own condition. While he initially sought a diagnosis via the National Health Service (NHS), the process proved challenging and he elected to seek diagnosis through a private clinic.
Butchart’s diagnosis provided a sense of relief, answered many questions, and led him to understand that external factors, not people, were generally the source of his frustrations. However, he also found working out what to do with the information challenging. Although he was initially worried about how people would react, he eventually told colleagues at his church and found that they were mostly positive, even unsurprised in some cases. Butchart also participated in a six-week support group called Embrace Autism, which allowed him to reflect on how his life experiences, including the most difficult ones, had made him a more caring person.
The National Autistic Society Scotland noted that more adults are seeking autism diagnoses as a result of better awareness of neurodiversity. However, some people wait years to be seen by the NHS, and some areas of Scotland have no diagnostic services at all. The charity has called for the Scottish government to allocate more funding to adult autism diagnosis. Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd acknowledged that the NHS was not providing diagnoses quickly enough due to a significant increase in referrals. However, she noted that the government invested £1m per year to provide community and support to autistic adults. The Embrace Autism programme does not require a formal diagnosis for access, and 78% of people supported through the programme have reported improved wellbeing
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