They don't care if I live or die

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After several months of fighting with my local health authority, they've just informed me they see no reason to provide any autism services. I gave them plenty of evidence, both from autism research and of my poor daily functioning (from myself and others), that autism-specific services are required for autism and that I require them for my autism. They might only do something once my situation reaches crisis level, which is what I've been striving to prevent for the last year in dealing with them. As a result, I'm not in a good way and feel quite sickened by it all. It's like being mentally tortured.

I'd explicitly written to them that the psychiatrist they'd made me see last year had no autism expertise and could only recommend treatment for my co-morbid anxiety, i.e., medication, (and he'd even told me I knew more than him about autism); however, they have ignored the evidence that there are no drugs targeted specifically for autism, and that treatment for co-morbid anxiety alone is not treatment for autism.

The following is the sequence of events that occurred; observe the complete BSing (something one of their top managers was recently fired for admitting their job entails) and faulty reasoning, just so they can cover up that, against government guidelines, they have no local services and will not fund treatment outside the area:

1. During my appointment, the psychiatrist told me treatment of my anxiety symptoms was the only important matter, not my autism, and tried to prescribe an antidepressant.
2. However, contradicting the above opinion, the psychiatrist told me he would refer me to autism services outside the local area anyway (where some do actually exist).
3. I saw a clinical psychologist (outside of the system), who could not offer services, but had autism expertise, and he completely disagreed with the point made in 1.
4. The health authority, who have set it up so that patients have to get a referral from the psychiatrist in 1. to access services, refused their psych's referral of me to autism services.
5. My doctor encouraged me to challenge the above decision, and I went about doing so, providing enough evidence and reasoning that he could not see how they could possibly challenge it.
6. The health authority again refused the referral to autism services.
7. The health authority insists that the psychiatrist did provide me with a detailed treatment plan. However, he did not; he just told me to take pills.
8. I had previously decided not to follow the psych's recommendation to take antidepressants, because I researched them thoroughly, knew my own mind and body, and came to the conclusion they were not suitable. I'm also not severely anxious or depressed.
9. Before they will even reconsider their decision, the health authority says that I must demonstrate that the anxiety treatment plan did not work (which I can't do unless I take the unnecessary drugs, which do not cure/treat autism--autism being the whole point of this matter), as well as get the psychiatrist to RE-refer. Therefore, I'd have to undergo a treatment plan for something that is not autism (i.e., anxiety) before they will reconsider allowing me to have any autism-specific treatment!

They are ignoring evidence, using blatantly fallacious arguments, denying services recommended by their own psychiatrist, and requiring I go through the process all over again before they will deal with me! If anyone would like to share similar experiences it would help me to feel less alone.

Have you tryed meds at all?

Relieving anxiety and stress relieves that pigeon hole feeling which produces a better mood which seems to at least take me out of my hard inner shell....

Note : Any time your dealing with government or services your going to get treated like a rat.

I've determined that meds are unsuitable. What is required is support (which they term "treatment") that addresses the underlying issues caused by the (currently unsupported) autism: advice on the social isolation and lack of support network; help with social interaction and obsessive routines; help with anxieties; advice on how to manage; advice on services needed in future. The clinic they wanted to refer me to deals with all these issues for those with HFA/AS and performs a comprehensive assessment. It's not long-term support, but is a very good start.

What country do you live in? or state?

I've found it's differerent everywhere. Here in OR, they have to prove you function at the level of someone with an IQ of 70 or you cannot get autism/dd services.

I've been waiting for a month to get my assessment, but my old casemanager called to see how I was doing. I told her about the test and she laughed and said, "Good Luck!"

Now, it IS possible that I function that low. It doesn't matter that my IQ is high.

I just want services!

So, I understand your frustration.

I take major meds for anxiety. The regular, usual ones don't work but I take them in addition to a beta-blocker even though I don't have high bp or anything.

It helps to take what you can get!

and join an AS support group for free help and a chance to make friends.

You sound like you know what you're doing. Do you have the whole paper trail, and can you state everything clearly to any lawyer who would be willing listen? You say that the laws are clear and that the bureaucrats are simply breaking the law. If you had the stamina and support, would you make a good poster child/test case? While local families of Aspies won't have any money, they might give emotional support. Some organized group might give you a lawyer if you look like you can take the heat. (I don't know that I could.) Maybe you could google something like "charity legal service" in your state. That, and get everyone you know to scream to the local media. I don't pretend that it would be easy. Just that it's something to consider.

I also have issues with employment, keeping a job, etc., so I'm on SSDI. I also work part time from home.

I find that I still need the anxiety treatment, because living in a world where we are constantly over-stimulated requires getting a handle on it as much as possible. I respect your choice not to do it though.

It's an insult to you to just tell you to handle the anxiety and not to offer support for your autism.

Tahitiii: Yes, I have plenty of evidence they are not following government guidelines. By not following the guidelines, the local authority is essentially going against disability and human rights legislation, so there should be a case there. The trouble is that it would take years to get anywhere, especially without the UK autism bill in place (which will make it outright illegal for them to not provide services for autism), so that would be my last option to try. The local media is a very good idea. I also found a health watch set up in my local area, which deals with feedback on health and social services. However, it was established by the local authorities.

Edit: I'm not sure enough my contribution would be useful, but I can't delete the whole post.

I welcome suggestions; even if they turn out to not apply to this situation very well, they can help trigger ideas.

outlier,
what sort of support is it that want? is it a support staff,for helping in any sort of way?
if so,ask the NAS about getting onto their outreach support,which is where one of the support staff will come to the home.
Funding for it is done through council/social services.

Am have severe autism and because am 'too much trouble for LD services on their own'-get nas staff funding very easily,have funding for both two nas staff to self,and one nas staff to self daily,
as well as own LD staff-think HR DLA pays towards those.

it isnt fair if own council is being crappy and not wanting to give up any funding for nas,but get local mp involved if they say no.
do have a social worker? if have got a mental health problem as well,what about applying for a MH social worker,to get someone fighting for self that way?

Autistics usually get put under LD services in social services,but most areas in uk have a minimum criteria of critical/high support needs-including personal care,and an iq in MR range,it will be very difficult for aspies to get ld services as their criteria says no big problems with self help when big problems with self help is part of ss criteria.It isn't fair,but they're trying to cut back on funding,there is one thing can count on with the council/ss,its never about people its about money.

Another idea have thought of-have ever had a care assessment by social services?
ask for another,with someone who understands the ASD have got and find out if qualify for direct payment,which would get self a support staff,am think have to get certain amount of hours awarded to get DP.