Part II of my intriguing Sarah Kurchak interview
My recent e-mail correspondence with author and columnist Sarah Kurchak. Look for Part 1 on medecoded.com
What is Late Diagnosis? Part 2 of 2
Over nine years ago I began compiling this list (I love systemizing things!) about two years after my own identification. It’s time I got some feedback: this is a work in progress. Comments on Twitter would be appreciated–I know these are mostly US and UK adults. It’s pretty clear that females and nonbinary individuals tend to get assessed later. I cut off at 1980, because it has gotten easier since then, as awareness has increased.
I know the list could use more POC and other nationalities. I hope to do some profiles of people included. They are fascinating and very different. What interesting company we keep!
Pictured is Sir Anthony Hopkins, diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age 70.
It is better to know late than not at all. #StillAutistic #AutisticElders #LateDiagnosed
| Name | Born | Diagnosed | Est. Age | Main Endeavours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Hopkins | 1937 | 2007 | 70 | Actor, artist |
| Jim Sinclair | 1940 | 1980s | 40 | Autism rights activist |
| Leith McMurray | 1946 | 2005 | 58 | Musician/counselor |
| Temple Grandin | 1947 | 1950 | 3 | Scientist/author |
| Nick Drake* | 1948 | N/A | d. 1974 | Guitarist/English major |
| Jerry Newport | 1948 | 1995 | 47 | Author/speaker |
| Dan Aykroyd | 1952 | 2004 | 42 | Actor/comedian |
| David Byrne | 1952 | 2012 | 60 | Writer, founder of Talking Heads |
| Wenn Lawson | 1952 | 1994 | 42 | Psychologist/author |
| Tim Page | 1954 | 2000 | 45 | Author/professor/music critic |
| Mary Meinel Newport | 1955 | 1993 | 37 | Actor/speaker |
| Martine Stonehouse | 1956 | 2001 | 55 | Transgender and labour activist |
| John Elder Robison | 1957 | 1997 | 40 | Inventor/author/advocate |
| Gary Numan | 1958 | 1979 | 21 | Rock performer, The Cars |
| Jessica (Elly) Park | 1958 | childhood | Subject of 1967 book The Siege, fine artist | |
| Dena Gassner | 1959 | 1999 | 38 | Professor, author, activist |
| Liane Holliday Willey | 1959 | 1996 | 37 | Author/autistic mother/advocate |
| Daryl Hannah | 1960 | childhood | Actor, environmentalist | |
| Susan Boyle | 1961 | 2012 | 51 | U.K. performer |
| Michelle Dawson | 1961 | 1992 | 31 | Canadian researcher |
| Chris Packham | 1961 | 2005 | 44 | Naturalist/TV presenter |
| Eva Cassidy* | 1963 | N/A | d. 1996 | Guitarist/singer |
| Gunilla Gerland | 1963 | 1992 | 29 | Swedish author/activist |
| J David Hall | 1963 | 2019 | 56 | Founder of NeuroGuides, parent, advocate |
| Donna Williams/P. Samuel | 1963 | 1998 | 25 | Autism blogger/author d. 2017 |
| Anne-Laure (Anlor) Davin | 1964 | 2010 | 46 | Tennis star, author, Zen teacher |
| Courtney Love | 1964 | 1973 | 9 | Singer, founder of band Hole |
| Valerie Paradiz | 1964 | 2003 | 40 | Author of Elijah’s Cup |
| Dawn Prince | 1964 | 2000 | 36 | Scientist/author |
| Michael John Carley | 1964 | 2000 | 36 | Author/advocate |
| Jennifer McIlwee Myers | 1966 | 2002 | 36 | Nurse, author |
| Samantha Craft | 1968 | 2012 | 44 | Educator, author, employment recruiter |
| Sarah Hendrickx | 1968 | 2011 | 43 | Author, presenter/diagnoser of adults |
| Barb Cook | 1969 | 2009 | 40 | Founder, Spectrum Women, counselor |
| Yenn Purkis | 1974 | 1994 | 20 | Blogger, speaker and civil servant |
| Stephen Wiltshire | 1974 | 1977 | 3 | Artist, autistic savant |
| Clare Sainsbury | 1976 | 1996 | 20 | Author/radio host |
| Nick Dubin | 1978 | 1995 | 17 | Presenter/author |
| Hannah Gadsby | 1978 | 2016 | 38 | Comedian, presenter, author |
| Daniel Tammet | 1979 | 2004 | 25 | Math savant/author/poet |
*Suspected