Adult help for Asperger's

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I'd like to know what sort of help is available to adults who have Asperger's but haven't yet gotten diagnosed. I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out what options my boyfriend has. He wants to go on disability due to ADHD and take a break from work. To that end, he's been talking to a lawyer. However, I'm fairly certain that the core problem is really autism. I've known him for awhile and the ADHD symptoms only cover a small portion of the difficulties.

But the real question I have is, what sort of help is available? Would an Asperger's diagnosis make it easier to get help and accommodations? Should he just stick with the ADHD diagnosis and hope for the best?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I presume your bf is in the US but if he isn't this might not apply. The burden of proof for disability cases is extraordinarily high with non-physical conditions. And even if he meets the standard, disability provides a less than poverty level income unless you are a high earner before, and the moment you work or earn any extra money you're out. Just a heads up. The road ahead will not be fun if he pursues SSI.

I have moderate autism and did not qualify for SSI based on that. I qualified based on panic attacks and anxiety.

I'm not sure what the deal is in New York but I'm in the middle of applying for disability in another state. I think it "helps" that I have not worked in five years and have a lot of documentation of seeing doctors etc for my depression and anxiety. Of course I'm hoping to not have to use the money by the time and if it comes toward me but that's... well that's neither here nor there!

I'm not sure what to say... I guess the best step would be to talk to a psychologist or other professional who could diagnose an autism spectrum condition and who knows it it would qualify him for disability.

It doesn't seem like having been in a mental health place should be a prerequisite for getting disability payments. I was in one for a week but I also have lots of other documentation of the rest of the six years I was incapacitated by depression/anxiety and anyone thinking logically can understand that someone can be mentally ill or disabled enough not to be able to work but not to necessarily need to be institutionalized.

Then again both the health care system and welfare system have their priorities wrong so I wouldn't put it past them. So I too hope that that drastic measure wouldn't need to be taken! I am thinking maybe the lawyer is identifying this as a surefire method for ensuring he gets disability money, since it doesn't sound like he has a long documented history of inability to work (if he was working recently). It seems that there are other possibly-successful methods, like getting several doctors' agreement that he is unable to work at the moment, but your lawyer is focusing on the surefire but drastic and horrible method.