Getting a free/cheap dx for Autism, AS, NLD etc

Post Reply New Topic

personally I think some kind of diagnosis thread should be a sticky.



here's a post from the nld sticky thread :

zen_mistress wrote:
I wish I could bet a diagnosis. I cannot afford one though. If only I won the lottery.


at an aspie meetup I went to someone from Texas said one could get a free diagnosis from the school district. then someone else told me that wasn't the case in CA where I live. Check to see if a school district around you does it. not sure of the rest like if they dx nld but I'm guessing you could at least get a dx for individual problems. maybe even problems like anxiety, depression etc.

also the dept of vocational recab in your state (U.S.) may offer free diagnosis I think.

there are regional ctr's in california, not sure if they do AS diagnoses. they do do them for Autism.

http://www.rcocdd.com/descserv/descserv.htm#assesment

Albuquerque NM has a programs that diagnoses adult for free but the wait list is monthes long. You can call the university of new mexico and ask for the autism clinic. They specialize in children but can give information for adults as well...

I dont know if you have to live in ABQ but I'm pretty sure you need to be a resident of new mexico (though they didnt ask me for that info when I put myself on the waiting list)

I for one would never ever in a million years let any state or other government outfit get within fifty feet of my brain. The private shrinks are one thing we can deal with, the government people are something entirely different and most likely low-bidders to do the brain-shrinking and catagorizations.

social services.
they have their own pyschologists,speech therapists,OTs etc.
the LD team have ones very experienced in autism,though no idea what america or any other countries SS is like.

not sure how to access them if are not a SS service user,but would recommend getting a care assessment done with the SS,and tell them what want,there.
good thing about the SS specialists is they will do home visits if need them.

--
forgot to add-its free.

Just cuz they want you to do something doesnt mean you have to. I would never take any meds for example, but advice on diet, etc. would be nice. Not to mention with an official diagnoses one can access a great deal of support program, which I for one feel I need, especially when it comes to finishing my schooling and forming relationships.

I say: worry less about the title and, and focus more on the symptoms.

The title is nice to help people be more aware of problems that may occur, however the only REAL reason you need an official diagnosis is so you can sit on your ass and have government funding buy you ice cream and pizza.

Okay, so there are more reasons than that for a diagnosis, but the reality is: you don't need one unless you intend to jump through bureaucracy hoops with the title of such (and even then you still might not need it).

TEACCH is free if you live in North Carolina.

I understand your criteria and I was to harsh in my last post as I didn't factor in your own intelligence so I apologize for being so shortsighted.

Dietician is an excellent first port of call. Mine helped tremendously, some minor encouragement, acknowledging that your weight and functioning are affected by sensory issues with food, allergies and intolerance, not absurdly "to look like the people in the magazines."

you can get a dx from dshs if you sign you for disability benfits they will sent you to a psych doc. however they will evaluate you in 15 min and the report will not be very accurate.

TEACCH? hafta look into that...


"I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record
oh yeah? well don't get so distressed
Did I happen to mention that I'm impressed?" - Violent Femmes...

If you live in the Chicagoland area the Family Clinic is a great place to go (its where I was diagnosed).

http://www.idhd.org/default.asp?contentID=138

Thats the website, don't let the family part throw you off its for adults and children with autism spectrum disorders along with other disabilities. Everyone was really nice there, I'd recommend it to anyone.

think a lot of colleges have clinics where students might do the eval perhaps with monitoring from the psych.
im calling places for an nld neuropsych assessment. asperger's assessments which dont have to be neuropsych can be cheaper.

i think prices may be on a sliding scale at colleges.

here's a day school that does assessments in dc:

http://www.kingsbury.org/diagnostic/index.aspx
not sure if it's cheap. don't know if they do ASD/NLD dx's

Obama wants to do this for little kids, not sure about adults though...