Asperger programs for adults?

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Hi everyone. I am in college and am dating a guy with Asperger Syndrome.

Recently I have decided to learn more about Asperger Syndrome by doing a research proposal on it. One of the things I've noticed is the research doesn't talk alot about adults with Asperger Syndrome and most of the social skills training and other programs are designed for children and teens. My impression is that once people hit 18 (in the USA), most of the programs stop.

I was wondering if there are many programs available for AS adults? And if you are an adult, would you partake in a social skills training group which includes professionals and other AS people?

Thanks for any help

Welcome to WP!

Tim

There are VERY FEW programs that exist for adults with Asperger Syndrome...although some may be attending some kind of
day treatment program for individuals with mental health problems.

True, most programs for Asperger Syndrome are geared toward children as Asperger Syndrome was NOT recognized by the DSM
as a disorder until 1994. Consequently, many psychiatrists and psychologists do not have any training in the needs of such individuals...unless they encounter an individual with the classical form of Autism, which has existed for a much greater time.

Once these children age out of the mental health system at age 18, they and their parents are left to fend for themselves. If their
parents have good financial resources, they will do okay. However, many kids get "lost" in the system after age 18 or become
substance abusers and develop more serious mental health problems.

After years of misery, misdiagnoses and mistreatment in the TOXIC mental health care system in the U.S., I was only recently
diagnosed correctly with Asperger's Syndrome. Yet, my diagnosing psychologist admitted that I will always find it difficult to obtain help and support as adult services for AS are very few.
There is hope...as the children today grow up, you will see more programs for adults with AS begin to form.

I would, if it were respectfully done and I thought I was getting anything out of it.

classical autism,despite how well known it was and is,wasn't always the easier diagnosis,am can relate very well with own experience.
specialists at both park hospital and hope hospital and gp told parents that am did not have autism because there wasn't any brain damage showing up on the scans,they said am was just extremely disturbed,unresponsive,uncooperative and disruptive and it was all caused by them not controlling [eg,not smacking enough],despite teachers assessing,and requesting am be moved to a special school at reception/infant age,mum and dad refused the move because they refused to accept there was anything uncontrollable wrong due to their 'faith' in the specialists and doctors.
went through regular illegal physical abuse and restraining from teachers,abusive speech therapy from teachers,hatred from family,all the usual crap an undiagnosed asder gets,and when finally diagnosed,parents wanted to sue the specialists and schools to take focus from them.

with aspergers,as it is seen as the highest functioning type,they don't think aspies need support or specialised help so stereotype all as the same.
am know a few aspies who are under the learning disability team,so they get any services through them,and the national autistic society does have various support and help for aspies,guess it depends on where live,and what country,and whether it is classed as a disability there or not.

Hey guys, thanks SO much for your help.

Zsasza- Thnaks for your input. I was going through my sources for my research and I don't think I could find anything about programs available. I don't think it's fair that everything is cut off at age 18, icluding availability of programs, especially since it seems like most people don't know they have it until young adulthood. Starting programs in childhood is crucial. Learning social skills is like learning a foreign language and sometimes is easier to pick up in childhood. But if these programs don't exist for the hundred of thousands who are over 18, than the whole point of helpign anyone will have been missed.

I also noticed that most people do not understand Asperger, even if they are a psychologist. I am in undergraduate school right now and next year lan to start a Master's Program at a nearby university. This will be main focus- developing and helping local groups start and maintain a program for adults. It is definitely needed and should no be ignored anymore.

KingdomofRats I feel very badly that you were treated that way. Honestly, this may be very hard for NTs to understand. When I first learned about it, it was difficult for me to grasp and I understand it now although I am still learning. However, there's no excuse for professional doctors to come up with such an unprofessional "diagnosis". It's a good thing parents are taking legal action against the doctors; that will force the law to look more into AS if they want to avoid the same action in the future.