Like many late-diagnosed autistic souls (with big 80s hair) I always kindly kid myself that at least things are better now. I wouldn’t be failed by the education system, missing the first two years of my secondary school because of my autistic sensory overload now. I wouldn’t have struggled to try to fit into an education system that simply wasn’t for this ND me. But sadly I’m wrong. Autistic and ND kids are being failed by education, by local government, by the Tories. Teachers, families and support workers need resources. ND kids need to be listened to. Diagnosis needs to be available without years of waiting lists and when finally given it needs to be respected.

When Amelia Hill writes in @guardian “persistent absenteeism among autistic pupils leads to them missing key educational milestones, which damages their life chances: only 29% of autistic adults are in employment and about 80% have mental health issues” they are writing about late-diagnosed adults like me. Struggling to manage autistic life. Struggling to stay in work. Struggling to access support and mental health care. Let’s change that outcome. Let’s deliver the right support. Let’s change the (school) record for autistic kids.

Autistic pupils in England denied right to education as absenteeism surges, says charity