Ms Blessing Dada:

I grew up with a lot of adverse childhood experiences and I lived with mental illness so it took a while for my autism to be picked up because of that experience.

I know from talking to other people in the black community that they struggle to get a diagnosis for themselves because many do not necessarily see themselves in that conversation and there is a lack of research on ethnic minority communities. I got my diagnosis through learning what autism looks like in other black folks who were diagnosed before me.

When seeking a diagnosis, many people experience parentification, which is when young people experience the reverse role of having to be the adult in themselves, rather than having the support of the parent, due to many different factors. Unfortunately, many people have to wait until they turn 18 to take control of their lives when it comes to making decisions. Unfortunately, at the moment in Ireland, to get a diagnosis you have to go private. That is one of many things that come up, especially with people from a migrant community or from direct provision. Many of them do not have the support of a parent who is able to answer that section of the paperwork. Sometimes, people are held back in that area. I hope that by sharing my lived experiences, the lid on that conversation can be lifted.