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We knew our eldest daughter was struggling when she was young. She hit all her milestones late, had a “failure to thrive” diagnosis because she refused to eat, she wasn’t deaf but didn’t answer to her name, imaginative play wasn’t a thing in our house and the story goes on.
Despite being able to list off all the classic autistic traits she had as a baby and toddler I couldn’t get her medical team to take me seriously. Her issues were clearly because of her early birth despite the same neonatologist happily diagnosing baby boys born at similar gestations with autism.
I don’t think I’ll ever not be angry at them or myself for giving up. The only defence I have is that I didn’t realise how important being diagnosed would be into adulthood.
Autism and ADHD diagnoses remain a privilege in Australia when they should be a right.
Because of the prevalence of outdated stereotypes that are just now starting to be seen for what they are, lots of people missed their chance at being diagnosed as children and are now faced with paying thousands of dollars out of pocket or just going without
This inability to access diagnoses is actively harming thousands of neurodivergent Australians. Especially when you consider that access to support is reliant on that diagnosis.
Supporting Australian’s with disability isn’t a zero sum game. But even if you assume it is, the idea that we’re saving money by not funding autism and ADHD diagnosis is a false economy.
Just to start with the inability to find and sustain employment is a very real problem for neurodivergent people as is burn out. The result of both of those things is higher unemployment and demonising people who don’t have the same capacity as neurotypical people.
And then there are the mental health implications along with the cost of misdiagnosis.
Who’s paying for hospitalisation and unemployment benefits if not the same system that could prevent the suffering in the first place?
This isn’t just bureaucratic failure, it’s a crisis.
The Greens have already committed to adding adult autism and ADHD assessments to Medicare. This is the kind of policy that would make a real, tangible difference for disabled Australians. It’s time for the major parties to step up.
The next federal election is our chance to demand better. Politicians won’t act unless we make them. When you vote, ask yourself: which candidates are standing up for the disability community? Which parties are fighting to make diagnosis accessible to all, not just the wealthy?
If your representatives aren’t listening, then it’s time to elect new ones.
Because no one should have to go through life without answers. No one should be denied the right to understand their own brain because they can’t afford it. No one should be locked out of support, dignity, and recognition simply because Medicare refuses to acknowledge their needs.
Diagnosis should not be a luxury.
It’s time to make it accessible. It’s time for Medicare to do better.
And it’s time to vote for change.