> you need to have support needs to be diagnosed with autism. You don't get a diagnosis for being quirky and a little weird.

The problem is the people who actually have support needs are often not in a stable job with great insurance, and then they don't have access to the "get an official diagnosis" machinery. At which point you have to choose between respecting a self-diagnosis even if they're often wrong, or not respecting it even if they're often right.

Oh yes, absolutely. Self-diagnosis is valid.

It is still important to get a official diagnosis if one can but yeah the reality is that it can be a very long process and not in reach for some people.