A 53-year-old woman from Trafford, Greater Manchester, has recounted her extended battle to secure an autism diagnosis for her youngest child, Imogen, now 14 years old. Recognizing autistic traits in her daughter around age eight—including social difficulties and sensory sensitivities—the mother, who works in the medical profession and was herself diagnosed with autism at 39, sought an official assessment given her family history of the condition.
The referral process proved protracted, beginning with the school’s initial information gathering, which alone consumed approximately 18 months. After the referral was submitted to Trafford Autism and Social Communication Pathway, additional delays occurred during multidisciplinary meetings to determine acceptance. Imogen was eventually added to a waiting list on 27 March 2023, more than two years after the initial process began.
Subsequent wait times extended considerably beyond initial projections. The mother reported being told waiting periods had grown from 12 months to 18 months and then to 24 months as time passed. During this extended waiting period, Imogen’s mental health declined, and she developed new difficulties she had not previously experienced. Despite multiple communications from the mother, her GP, and the school, progress remained stalled until the mother submitted a strongly worded email detailing her daughter’s accumulated mental health concerns approximately six months before the interview.
Following this escalation, the pathway agreed to expedite the assessment. Imogen was evaluated approximately one week before the mother was interviewed, though results remained pending. The absence of a formal diagnosis has created practical barriers, preventing Imogen from accessing an education health and care plan at school and potentially affecting her eligibility for support if she pursues university education. The mother emphasized that diagnosis access inequities drive some individuals toward self-diagnosis, while wealthier families can obtain private assessments, creating disparities in available support and validation.
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