Donegal Advocate Rejects Broader Autism Criteria Claims as Families Face Years-Long Diagnosis Waits
Updated
Updated · Highland Radio · Aug 4
Donegal Advocate Rejects Broader Autism Criteria Claims as Families Face Years-Long Diagnosis Waits
3 articles · Updated · Highland Radio · Aug 4
Summary
Angela Ward, a Donegal special educational needs coordinator and parent, pushed back on claims that autism criteria have become too broad, arguing many families still struggle to secure assessments and diagnoses.
Years-long waits for diagnosis are central to her case that autism is not being over-identified, despite critics saying widened thresholds now include people with milder symptoms or lower support needs.
Those critics argue the broader definition is stretching support services and affecting research, a concern also raised by author Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan.
The debate follows wider calls from autism experts for more diagnostic precision, even as advocates stress that access to assessment and tailored support remains the more immediate problem.