“Why are you so obsessed with autism, Mum?!” 
That’s what my (autistic) daughter asked me recently. Her question stopped me in my tracks—not because I didn’t have an answer, but because the answer I would have given two years ago is so different from the one I’d give today. 

So, here’s my 2026 answer. But to truly explain it, let’s rewind to May 2023—when everything changed. 

That was when my daughter received her autism diagnosis. Like many families, we expected support, understanding, and a process tailored to her needs. What we got instead was what I now call the “Ryanair of autism and ADHD assessments.” Rushed, impersonal, and ill-suited to autistic girls. It was a shock. I couldn’t believe how poorly the system served girls like mine. 

That shock quickly turned into fuel. I became driven to create something better—not just for my daughter, but for other girls and their families too. And that’s how Autistic Girls, our autism and ADHD assessment service for girls, parents, and schools, was born. 

But here’s the unexpected twist: our very first client wasn’t a girl—it was a woman. As soon as we started advertising, messages began flooding in from adult women asking if we assessed women too. And not just one or two—many. So, we expanded our service, and today, 90% of our clients are women. 

Since then, I’ve heard story after story from autistic women—stories that have become the foundation of my so-called “obsession.” Stories of injustice, misdiagnosis, trauma, and ultimately, transformation. These stories typically fall into five key themes: 

1. Violence and Abuse 

This one’s hard to write, but it’s real: Almost every woman we’ve assessed has experienced some form of abuse—physical, emotional, sexual, or financial—prior to being diagnosed. The statistics show nearly 90% of autistic women have endured sexual violence, and sadly, our experience reflects this. 

What enrages me is the vulnerability of undiagnosed autistic girls and women. The world is not built to protect them. But here's the empowering part: after diagnosis, many of these women report a shift. They begin to build lives that honour who they are instead of constantly contorting themselves to fit in. Diagnosis, or simply understanding oneself as autistic, can be a protective factor. And this, more than anything, fuels my passion to create safe, empowering assessments. 

2. Wrong Diagnoses 

I could write a whole book on this. So many women come to us having been diagnosed with conditions like bipolar disorder, emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), depression, or eating disorders—without anyone ever considering autism. Occasionally, these diagnoses co-occur, but for most women we assess, these labels were simply wrong. They’ve been down mental health paths that didn’t serve them, burdened with narratives that were not only unhelpful but harmful. 

Our assessments offer clarity, and for many women, it’s the first time they’ve felt truly understood. 

3. Workplace Challenges 

Time and time again, we hear from brilliant, capable women who feel like "round pegs in square holes" at work. They’ve masked, overworked, and burned out—sometimes for decades—trying to meet neurotypical expectations. One woman, post-assessment, shared her diagnosis with her employer. The result? A job role redesigned to suit her strengths: minimal social demand, minimal task-switching, and deep-focus work. She’s now thriving—and her employer has gained a happy and committed employee.  

These are the ripple effects of getting it right. 

4. Burnout and Recovery 

So many women come to us in a state of complete burnout. They’re barely functioning. They don’t just want an answer—they need it. A formal diagnosis, and the detailed reports we provide, become a blueprint for rebuilding their lives in sustainable, spoon-conscious ways. The world needs these women—and I’m passionate about helping them find their way back to themselves. 

5. Relationships and Self-Understanding 

After years of unhealthy or even abusive relationships, many women avoid them entirely. But diagnosis can change that. Understanding their neurotype helps women set boundaries, identify needs, and—over time—build healthy, reciprocal relationships. Some even tell us they’re starting to date again, and that for the first time, it feels good. 

And What About the Girls? 

Have I lost focus on autistic girls? Not. At. All. 

If anything, our work with women reinforces why early diagnosis matters so much. Many of the women we see could have avoided trauma, misdiagnosis, and burnout if they’d been identified as autistic earlier. That’s the mission for the girls. 

Parents tell us their daughters are now clearer about what they want and need—in school, at home, and with friends. They’re no longer ashamed or confused. And schools often report back saying, “We understand her now.” That’s huge. 

So Yes, I’m “Obsessed” 

When my daughter asked that question, I told her the truth: it all started with you, my love. You lit the spark. And that spark has grown into a rainbow-coloured garden of Autistic Girls—women, girls, parents, teachers, and all the people who walk this path with us. 

And every flower in that garden is a reminder that the world is better when autistic girls and women can shine bright—and when they do, we all shine a little brighter too. 

If you'd like to explore an autism or AuDHD (autism and ADHD assessment) with us, book a screening call here.