Has Anyone Gotten Any Sort Of Help?

Post Reply New Topic

I am feeling so aggravated right now!
I was diagnosed, as an adult, with Aspergers and ADHD. (One thing I don't understand... if my diagnostic record says "Aspergers," but Aspergers doesn't exist anymore, am I now High Functioning Autistic?)

I have managed to survive my life so far. Growing up undiagnosed, I did not receive any help or services, but managed to develop some coping skills that kept me out of trouble for the most part. I managed to hold many different jobs, although I ended up quitting most of them unexpectedly due to anxiety. I was able to go to college and get a degree in special education teaching, although my transcripts reflect that it took me 10 years to complete and that I got plenty of C's and D's in the process as I struggled through the classes. I have not been able to get a job.

I lived on my own before briefly, but it was pretty much a failure. I have recently moved to Washington, where I am living with my aunt and uncle.

Here is my problem. Having come to accept the fact that my autism has been a disabling condition for me, I have been trying to find services for people with disabilities. I was hoping to find help with things like independent living, housing, social activities, time management, organization, paying bills, etc. But I have no idea where to find such help. When I applied to Washington State's developmental disabilities department, they said that Aspergers is not enough to be eligible for help through them, especially if I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult.

My question is, has anyone out there gotten help or services for living independently, with a diagnosis of autism or Aspergers? Or are our choices for adulthood just, sink or swim?

Thanks for your responses!

First, on diagnosis. You're still diagnosed with Asperger's, unless and until a professional hangs a different label on you. But, yes, for non legal purposes you're autistic.

Second, on help: there isn't a lot. Ten years on from diagnosis, I've a shrink who gives me pills to keep the anxiety at manageable levels and mildly supportive employers. There ain't no help.

When you get a diagnosis, no-one is going to track you down and show you every service that's out there, you have to advocate for yourself.

I've had quite a bit of help but I was diagnosed young. Psychology, speech therapy, special skills clinics run by my country's autism services body. As an adult I see a therapist, a psychiatrist and have done behavioural group therapy

Therapists can help with setting goals, and working on improving your overall functioning, in addition to coping with anxiety and other emotional issues. (I'm hoping to see one next week, who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.)

Otherwise you might check with your city's Social Services office (or web site), and see what services are available.

Congrats on getting your degree in special ed! I was just hunting through the job listing in my own city yesterday, and there was an entry-level position for someone to work with autistic kids... It was beyond my own ability (and required a car), but those types of jobs are out there!

As for finding help, I've honestly found more help here on WP than from any kind of professionals, so... Stick around

Have you tried pointing out to those people that maybe Asperger's alone isn't a problem, but the other things that go with it are?
They apparently think that it takes a childhood diagnosis before you can have Asperger's. I don't get this, as I obviously have it, and also obviously I couldn't get a diagnosis when I was young because they hadn't 'invented' it yet, so I must not have it. Wait..... I do have it and they're full of it.

If you were diagnosed with Aspergers under the DSM-IV you're automatically upgraded under the DSM-V to Autism Spectrum Disorder. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

Secondly, you CAN get Education through the State due to your diagnosis. What you want to do is make an appointment with Washington State Department of Social and Health Services https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ra/division-voc ... bilitation if you were diagnosed you would have been given a diagnosis form with your psychological profile. If you no longer have it call up the office that diagnosis you and request a copy sent to you.

If you have your paper work in order go to the appointment let them know what you want. They will see if you qualify. If they deny you due to income there is nothing you can do about it but if you feel they denied you due to other reasons like 'you do not look disabled' the state should be able to provide you with an appeal and possibly even a state funded disability advocate or better yet lawyer. My state funded 'lawyer' got my DHS consular to change her denial into being approved very quickly.

As for other assistance programs once you get vocational rehabilitation you can use them when applying for Federal Government and state jobs. Federal Government jobs you can skip the whole USAjobs.gov and talk to a person within the Department you're trying to apply for to skip the line and using Schedule A to apply.

With your disability again if its documented you can also try to sign up for Section 8.

Disability pension is pretty helpful over here.

I'm assuming you're allowed to ask for allowances at school/work if you have it.

Thanks for the replies! I checked out the Washington Vocational Rehabilitation thing. The hard part is you can't apply on line, you have to call them, which I hate doing, but I will try!

They also could deny me because I have had lots of short-lived jobs in the past. I was denied for Disability in the past because I have had jobs, so therefore I am capable of having a job, which I do agree with... my dream is actually to run my own school for neurologically diverse children. I would do that right now, if I had the money to get it started. It would solve a lot of problems. The main barrier to me getting a teaching job has been that I have trouble with interviews and trouble fitting in with other teachers. Despite my ability to have gotten a teaching degree, there is still a big difference between me and them, and since these days a lot of interviews include the teachers I would potentially be working with, it is VERY hard to impress them!

Plus, I don't agree with the style of teaching required by most schools that work with children with special needs. I can't see the point in physically restraining a screaming child to force them to sit in "circle time" or do an art project. I don't think it benefits anyone. If I could run my own school, I would meet children where they were, find out what makes them comfortable and how they learn best, and teach them that way... and eventually gently and slowly get them to try new things, such as touching finger paint or sitting for circle time.