Thinking of gettting diagnosed, anyone from Ontario?

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First post here, bear with me as I ramble on...

As of last week, I'm 34 and undiagnosed, though I am almost certain I have Asperger's.
I did some of the online tests, and they gave string indications I did.
I've been been doing nothing but reading posts in here, researching AS around the 'net,
for the past 3 days. Years ago, my mom thought I might have had ADHD, but from what I've noticed
in myself, I have almost all the Asperger's traits.

You can ignore this next part, my questions are below it...

<vent>
The way I am has caused a lot of problems for me, and is still causing a lot of problems in my family.
Especially the fact that I have trouble getting and holding a job, and the fact that I refuse to drive
My parents are convinced that if only I would start driving, it would solve everything else. They forced me to take driving lessons (Don't you want to go to the movies? Don't you want to go shopping? No, and no!), and I did OK, as long as I was driving in places with no traffic, but I was completely stressed out, and just about anything would make me almost freeze. The thing that really decided it for me was when I had to go on the 401, which is the busiest highway in North America.
Complete overload for me, I was methodically following the 'script' I had in my mind on how to do it, but got so focused, I forgot to do that all important step to look to see if there was space to merge. I was fully prepared to merge at 100+ kph without even looking in the mirror, luckily, the driving instructor used his brake, and grabbed the wheel... Would have plowed right into a truck...
As my instructor told me, 'You know all the laws and signs, (Of course I did, I read the driver's handbook when I was 7, I read *everything*) but you can't multitask'

I take a lot of grief for supposedly not paying attention,, not being organized,, I'm always getting 'Why haven't you picked up\cleaned up\done X thing, you're home all day, you have nothing else to do!'
I'm the oldest, my middle brother (Who is definitely NT) would have nothing but crap because I didn't have a job, and viewed it as since my parents wouldn't do anything about me, he would. Refusing to do anything around the house, taking my stuff etc. Why should I do X, he does nothing! was a common thing. He's moved out, good job, owns a nice house, but since he got married, I get along better with him. My youngest brother, is still here, twenty-something now, he does the same sort of things, but it's long suspected he might have something (not AS, I'm pretty sure) but the last time my mom mentioned it, we nearly had to call the police to have him removed, so it's more of a Cold War on that front. He does farm work, and just watches TV when he gets home, so we mostly just avoid each other.
(Why is watching TV all day fine, but using my computer all day a waste of time? They watch more TV in a day then I do in a month!)

My dad's retired, (but has started working part-time selling cruises, mostly out of boredom, and the discounts ), and my mom is probably retiring within the next ten years. Money is getting tight, and
Figure I have to do something, and at least find out if there is a reason why I am the way I am.

I've decided to go and confirm my self-dx, so I can relieve some of the tension, and my own peace of mind, and since I can't drive, we live in a rural area, and with the economy the way it is, it's nearly impossible for me to get any job, due to my problems , so I'm thinking about applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program, so I won't be such a financial burden anymore, and it will open up some more opportunities as well, and the realization, that even if the dx is confirmed, I'll still be the same way, but at least I'll know its not really my fault i.e. my parents will realize I don't do the things I do just to piss them off. I'm not in imminent danger of homelessness, but I have no real source of income, and not much prospect of getting any, other than the occasional GST cheque, though I did get Heating rebate cheque one year for some unknown reason I'd also like to get the collection agency off my back for my student loans. College was a mistake, kinda pushed into it, took computer science, but after my parents told me I had to go without a computer for the 1st semester, due to money, they'd get me one next semester, they still couldn't, and there bloody OSAP wouldn't cover it, so had no computer for the entire time except when I begged our home one for one week, as it was the end of term, and the labs were always full. No computer = no work, and I have nothing else to do but sleep, Major meltdown at the end of end of the week, trying to cram everything in, I had already failed some classes, (mostly because of either complete disinterest, and one or two useless teachers) and was just barely able to rearrange it so I could get a lesser program. What really got me was that the very next year all the comp sci students all got laptops as part of there tuition.... *%&*(&%#&%(@%
</vent>

I have a few questions (I'm from southern Ontario, btw)

1) Should I go to my family doctor first, or try and find someone who specializes in spectrum disorders?

2) What's does the diagnosis involve? Will they need to talk to my parents?

3) Will I need any type of documents? Any specific info I'll need? (I was an 'identified' student, I'm currently in the process of getting a copy of my school records, which is supposed to have stuff on any testing and assessments)

4) How much does it cost? Is any of it covered by OHIP?

5) Any recommendations for someone specializing in AS diagnosis in the southern Ontario\greater Toronto?

5) How hard is it to get on Ontario Disability Support Program for AS? Anyone with experience?

Hi and welcome.

I too live in Ontario and am a college grad. I just got diagnosed with Asperger's this fall. I will try to answer your questions.

1. Your family doctor will most likely say s/he knows nothing about diagnosing AS, and will likely give you the name of a psychologist who can do so. Since this is not covered by OHIP, you don't need a professional's referral. You're better off "cutting out the middleman" and contacting the AS specialist yourself.

2. My diagnosis involved two appointments: a pre-screen and a diagnostic assessment. The pre-screen was $250 and the specialist, Dr. Kevin Stoddart of the Redpath Centre in Toronto, recommended that I go forward with a half day diagnostic assessment. At Redpath, this cost $750. I was invited to bring my mother to the appointment so as to have greater insight into my development as a child (I am 25, she is 59). Alternately, you can bring a friend, or no one at all.

3. No documents needed for the assessment.

4. Mine cost $1000 and had to be paid out of pocket.

5. I highly recommend the Redpath Centre at Eglinton Ave. and Mount Pleasant Ave. in downtown Toronto. They know their stuff and genuinely want to help.

6. After I received the report for my diagnostic assessment, I applied to ODSP. You have to call the ODSP office nearest you, where you can do an initial assessment over the phone. You will be assigned a caseworker who will get back to you within 21 business days. I started this process last Thursday and was told to expect a response in January as to whether I could get ODSP. I'll keep you posted as to what happens.

Hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Thank you Aspergrrl. I went with the Redpath Centre as you suggested.

<streamofconciousness>

After my 1st post here, I wrote my parents the longest email I've ever written, but I didn't send it, as I didn't want to get lost in all the stuff during the holidays. (Good thing I did, Found out that my brother and sister in law, are expecting there first kid, in July! For some reason, this is captured my mom's attention for the last 6 months ;D ) Finally sent on Jan 6th.

It went pretty well, I gave mom and dad some books to read.
One thing caught me off guard. My sister in law, turns out thought I might have had AS
within 30 mins of meeting me (not that I really talked to her to begin with, when we first met her)
Amazing women by the way. Single mom, 2 kids, youngest has Down's, and she teaches sign language
to deaf kids. I stand in awe of her social skills ;D

Then my other brother told me he had though my youngest brother might have it, but it never occurred to him that I might. I guess I had the higher IQ to mask it, but my younger brother, does have the fixated interests (Disney!) I remember him being almost non-verbal when he was younger, and I wonder if he's a bit low-functioning, Went through a bad period with him, due to his anger issues etc so I doubt he would want to have anything to do with seeing someone.

Another thing was my mom told me in her reply was how sorry and guilty she felt that it was somehow
her fault. Oh crap.

She forwarded it to my middle brother and sister in law. My brother actually sent me a letter apologizing for everything he's ever done. (I think there was a bit of spousal prodding there, getting married, and having to deal with a Down's kid, have REALLY mellowed him)
Sister in law sent me a reply, offering any help she could, gave me a list of places she knew, Redpath being one of them, and offering to DRIVE me.. Wow, again amazing women, and best thing that's ever
happened to my brother!

So, talked about it a bit, had trouble getting organized enough to sit down and make an appointment.

I started noticing things, and finally understanding what exactly annoyed me about certain sensory things etc.

A couple of events happened in the meantime,,,

Early February, just starting to talk about an appointment, Had to go and and apply for a passport.
Lines, people, annoying but got it done, Anyway, driving home, we go to make a left turn, and some guy in a pickup going straight through, didn't really slow down, and hit us on the front right side. We weren't really moving at the time some we only got knocked back a bit. I was in the front passenger seat, all I remember in the sec it took was thinking oh man he's not stopping then closing my eyes, feeling the car move a bit, and the my side airbags going of, which I hardly even felt. My mom tensed up on the wheel at the last sec, and we found out later she broke a bone in her wrist. She gets really upset if she even sees an accident, and she pretty much lost it here, almost irrational. Me? The only thing that happened to me, even though the impact was on my side, was by blood pressure went up. Slightly. The paramedics were surprised that I was fine, and not freaking out. I can remember being calm, but sort of detached, and running on pure adrenalin for a few hours till we eventually got home from the hospital. The guys in the truck weren't injured, but they both took airbags to the face, and the front end of there truck was totally wrecked. Ours, the front right was wrecked, but surprisingly little elsewhere. Guess the safety stuff really worked when we needed it.

Lucky, I guess, but I though about how my reactions were a bit odd. Also put the whole AS thing on hold for a bit, put it off until after we got home from vacation in March.

This is the 1st vacation I've gone on in about 12 years. Haven't gone recently due to hating sitting in the car, and doing nothing but going to the beach, shopping etc. This year middle brother and sister in law were also going with the kids, and going to Disney etc. so I went. My youngest brother went a week before by himself, with a 10 day Disney pass, and went everywhere at least twice.

Armed with my new-found awareness, I bought myself a shiny new IPod, which I now carry everywhere, and spent a enjoyable week of doing nothing but organizing and cleaning up my music collection. It made things more bearable.

As for Disney World, I can remember from going in the early 90's how exhausting it was for me at least.
I remember needed at least a day to recover after each one. Lining up, crowds, and some of the rides take there a toll. Well, as I mentioned before, youngest nephew is about 8, and has Down's Syndrome, so he got a special card, allowing him to bypass the normal lines, and use the special accessible\wheelchair lines. This was during March break, but the longest line we had the whole week was 10 mins, and that was for lunch. Many rides, we just about had < 2 min wait, which helped a lot. We could do entire parks in 7-8 hours, which was great for all involved. We did Animal Kingdom and Epcot two days in a row, but it was manageable, as we could leave later, leave earlier and recharge in the pool.

Well the 1st ride we go on is the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom.
Good: Line 15 mins, but we bypassed it, 2 mins.
Bad: Ride is:
a) Dark, with sudden light flashes
b) Loud
c) Moves Violently
d) Giant dinosaurs that pop at you

I had to shut my eyes due to being overwhelmed at 1 or 2 points, but still worth going on, if just for the experience, and Disney does it so well.
My nephew with Down's was crying pretty much from the 1st dinosaur. Though he was gonna be done for the day, after having just started. He gets off the ride, tears aren't even dry on his face, he's telling everyone he sees he loves that ride. I love that kid.

That was about the most intense ride I went on, having learned from previous visits that things like Space Mountain and Tower of Terror aren't for me. (roller coaster? in the dark? nope!), though I do have a little bit more tolerance than I used to.

2nd week spent at Myrtle Beach, nice beach house with friends of my parents. My parents originally though I was going to fly home with my younger brother after the week in Florida, but I didn't really want to deal with airports, security etc, so I went to Myrtle Beach, figuring I'll never go there any other time, as if your a guy you go to golf, which my dad did, or you go power shopping like my mom did
for the previously mentioned upcoming grandchild, recently confirmed as a girl. (And I mean POWER shopping!) I did neither, just sat on the deck, read, and listened to my IPod.. Just unwinding.

Anyway, trip back was uneventful, notable for being one of the few times I've ever fallen asleep in a car.
Sorry State of Georgia, you're boring ;D

Anyway, we had a lot of time to talk during the road trip, and I finally decided to make my appointment at the Redpath Centre.

Last week was a very long week. We had a big 150 year old elm blow down in a storm, so we got to cut it up for firewood. A LOT of wood, and brush, over several days, which caused everyone a lot of stress, but It seemed to bother me more,

1) Physical Labor - I'm no good at it, some of the blocks were fairly heavy too

2) Carrying wood, branches, brush etc. - its all either wet, muddy or rough, all of which I dont like to touch

3) It's Hot, I'm tired - I run out of energy real quick, and it takes longer before I can start again.

4) Chainsaw - Very annoying when I'm within 15 ft or so, unbearable when within 3-4 ft

Trying to carry 40 pound block of wood, when your tired, hot and within 3 ft of a running chainsaw?
I had to stop, because it was making me insane. Of course other people don't see it that way
yelling "Hurry up, stop being lazy" etc when I'm already over stressed just pushes me over the edge more, let alone to explain rationally what's bothering me, I year ago, I would have thought I was lazy too, but I can identify what the problem is now.

So finally I went today.

As is typical I though the appointment was still a week away, until yesterday
So, after getting up at 6:30 am (And I don't respond well to mornings) I drove with
my parents through some horrendous but typical Toronto traffic, during which I was anxious as hell,
we finally got there.

For the 1st hour or so, we talked about about early years, found out I didn't like most foods even
when I was a baby. Apparently our doctor told my parents I would grow out of it (hehe good luck there)
Another thing I found out was that when I was 2, they would show me store flyers, and I could recognize the logos, apparently they had they would tell people I could read, as a joke

Then lots of questionnaires, and little tests.

Stuff like they give you a list of animals and objects, repeat it back, but with the animals in order of size,
visual shape tests, math, word definitions, etc. Nothing truly hard but some were more difficult than they seem.

Well, at the end she told me that I did fit fit the profile for Asperger's.

The IQ results were interesting.

Verbal Comprehension Index and Perceptual Organization Index were higher than average 85\81 out of 100.

Processing Speed Index, on the low end of average, ~25
Working Memory Index was very low, 5/100
but only on tests based on pure numbers and mathematics. If it was mixed letters and numbers, it went up, but still only ~25

She told me its likely I have a learning disability in math, which isn't too surprising, considering how lousy I am with doing math in my head and how bad my short term memory is.

It cost about $1500, which mom said was a gift, but I'm considering a loan I'll pay back....

It was a bit weird, but I'm glad I went, and removes that last worry, that after all this I would nothing wrong with me (Weird, how I'm glad I do have a disorder, over not having one!)

Anyway, the doctor I saw, Dr. Burke, was very good, explained to my parents about autism spectrum, symptoms, issues etc. If your in Southern Ontario, I'd recommend it.

Still have to go back in week or so for the final report.

Anyway thanks for listening....