New and need diagnosis desperately!

Post Reply New Topic

Hello..my name is Nancy and I am a stay at home mom to 4 boys, all of whom are on the autism spectrum (1 w/ AS, 3 w/PDD-NOS). I have struggled daily my entire life and I'm coming to realize that I would benefit from being evaluated for possible AS. My marriage and family life is deteriorating and I'm very close to being pushed over the edge. I feel that a diagnosis will help me to connect with others who understand me and vice-versa, and also to get services through the government, etc.

I cannot find anyone in my area who evaluated adults. It's all about my children. Why can't I find anyone? I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area and would be willing to travel to neighboring states for a complete and thorough evaluation.

If anyone can lead me to someone I would appreciate it so much! Thank you!

Nancy

Welcome to WP!

Hi Nancy,

Welcome To



Here is a link to help you get to Know the System

Here is a link of some local Medical Professionals

Last but not least, your local Autism Society

Hope you find some of these helpful, and Nancy, I don't know you and you don't know me. But I can tell you that my experience with medical professionals is that there will be processionals,
and my patience can be a horrible patient.

NancyCk, check in your area for Mental Health ('Counseling & Guidance') Facilities that accept low-or-no income patients. If you make an appointment with a Counselor or Therapist for help with your anxiety and depression, you can explain to them why you think you may have AS and would like to be diagnosed - they, in turn, can refer you to a licensed Psychologist for testing.

Your cost for this will depend on your income and access to insurance, etc. It may be little or it may be nothing. If you are formally diagnosed, you can then apply for Disability - I recommend going through an attorney who specializes in SSDI cases (you'll find them advertising all over television, no-win, no-fee).

For me, the hardest part was trying to explain on paper, to the Social Security drones, exactly how my AS constituted a debilitating handicap - at the time, I was still learning about it and coming to grips with its effects myself, and I absolutely despise filling out paperwork and answering what I feel are intrusive (and often irrelevant) questions.

Coming to understand the impairment of Executive Function in the Autistic brain finally helped me get a handle on how to explain it in a way a bureaucrat could understand. Of course, I think the reports my Therapist was filing went a long way, too.

Good Luck!

PS: Also see Sati's current thread in General Autism Discussion entitled "Cheap DX in Pittsburgh, PA" - it's only about 130 miles from where you are, give or take. Could be a simple solution for you.

New York State has a number of facilities that treat children and adults with Autism and Asperger Syndrome...seeing that you live in the neighboring state of Ohio.

The Kelberman Center for Autism is located in the Mohawk River Valley between Syracuse and Albany, New York. You
could take the Thruway exit to Exit 31. I am not familiar with any facilities in Buffalo or Rochester, New York. The Kelberman Center is an outstanding facility... and you can learn more from their website.

I believe the exact website is...WWW. KELBERMANCENTER.ORG

Or simply GOOGLE "Kelberman Center for Autism" and the website should appear on your computer screen.

Best of luck to you!

Welcome to the Wrong Planet neighborhood, Nancy. You might want to look in your phone book under county for Mental Health Services. Here's wishing you and family all the best.

THANKS EVERYONE ) I found one psychologist so far, but would have to save up a lot of money to see him and get evaluated. I will try to find someone to help me financially since I don't have insurance. I doubt I will find anyone at a nonprofit agency who has experience w/ adults w/ an ASD. WE'll see.

Thanks again!

Nancy

One other thing about the psychologist that I spoke to today..... since I don't have a lot of money, he offered to do the evaluation in a one hour session, given that I provide a summary of my history which would tie me to the AS DX (he said a few pages long only). My question is..... I have almost 40 years of history!! ! How can he learn enough about my history in an hour? I guess you might be able to simply have a conversation with me in an hour and would know if you were an expert?

What does everyone think of this? He also stated that it should be easy for me to pinpoint the AS issues since my oldest son has AS (the other 3 have PDD-NOS).

OK, thanks everyone! Nancy

To WrongPlanet!! !