Join Anna Kennedy and Dr. Carol Stott for an eye-opening discussion about autism diagnosis and support in the UK. Dr. Stott, who completed her PhD at Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, runs the consultancy ‘Beginning With A’ and provides crucial training to NHS staff on gold-standard diagnostic tools like the ADI and ADOS. With over 20 years of experience, she offers invaluable insights into the diagnostic process and the challenges families face navigating the system. The conversation tackles the controversial topic of private versus NHS diagnosis, with Dr. Stott firmly asserting that independent assessments hold equal weight to NHS ones – despite what some local authorities might claim. She reveals that many families seeking private diagnosis aren’t the ‘worried well’ but desperate parents facing five-year waiting times, and emphasizes that it’s actually unlawful for authorities to dismiss private diagnoses. The discussion also covers sibling dynamics in autism families and the ongoing battle parents face even after receiving a diagnosis.