Minimal A+ Diagnostic

The purpose of a diagnostic is to offer solutions. You might think this is obvious, but there are other reasons to conduct one—for example, to get validation or to collect information.

When we offer diagnostics aimed at solutions, we always strive for the minimal assessment needed to provide the most useful tools available to us at the moment. There are many tools; therefore, there can be many diagnostics.

A simple example is: "Do you suffer from noise-related issues?" If your answer is "Yes," we can offer a few solutions. These range from recommending specific products to protect your ears to teaching you how to ask others to turn down the music when you need to have a conversation. We can also help you start noticing the differences between noises and explain them to your environment in a way that yields more cooperation.

The following two basic tests are designed to determine if you have enough traits of ADHD and/or Autism to start using the tools we offer.

ADHDEnough

Do you have potential?

Do you try your best? or "no... but if I wasn't lazy..."

Is something not going right for reason that you cannot really understand?

Do you believe that with the right circumstances or help, or if you just try a bit harder, things will work out and you'll finally start your life properly?

If you relate to these questions, or if you find yourself spending too much energy explaining why they don't apply to you, you might have ADHDEnough—a term we use to indicate that you have enough ADHD symptoms for us to offer solutions to make your life easier. Our solutions are affordable, respect your personal journey, and consider your current abilities and limitations.

For example, I am more emotional in the evening. Because my days are full, I often feel overwhelmed at night, thinking, "Nothing is going well!" I would feel the day went horribly, or even if it was neutral, I'd think it was bad. In the past, I might have sent a message in the evening to fix something I felt needed immediate attention. Now, I allow myself to wait until the next morning to send a message because there's probably no real problem, and even if there is, it can be solved better in the morning. Although it sounds simple, it requires trust in myself and the ability to let go even when things aren't fixed yet. Most importantly, it requires being present in an uncomfortable situation without reacting.

Learning not to react too quickly and how to trust is easier in a community. Your community could be kind people, a good friend, or even your pet. If you have no one, an imaginary friend can help—you can ask yourself, "What would they do in this situation?"

AutismEnough

Do you give a lot of consideration to your senses in your decision-making process?

For example, do you find places too noisy, the lighting uncomfortable, or the temperature too cold or too hot? You might dislike the emotional vibe or morale of the people around you. On the other hand, you might enjoy working in water, in environments with specific smells, or in a neighborhood you enjoy walking through.

Do you plan rest in advance—resting before or after periods of social connectivity?

Without focusing on any specific limitations, preferences, or abilities, thinking broadly about your sensory experiences is a good starting point to begin using the Autistic Toolkit.

What's next? 

ADHD and Autism are political labels. They connect you to a group that shares common traits. If being part of this group helps you find information, community, and tools, use the labels. When they are no longer useful to you, just let them go and adopt another label.