Is Asperger's considered a disability in the United States?

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Does anybody have the official word on this?

It probably is, because of the whole, you know, "consumerist" thing.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure it is.*nods*

well its not covered by health insurance so at least they know it exists

The friendly DSM states that it is, and if one is to say that Asperger's is Autistic Disorder but with adequate speech as an adult; I don't see why the latter is considered one whilst the former isn't.

How about, "it depends." In Pennsylvania, for instance, a child will be pretty much assured being able to get medical assistance on the basis of a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, but a medical diagnosis of Asperger's will not automatically qualify the same child for special education services. The school will have to be persuaded that the child has an "educational" disability. Different areas have different definitions of disability, so diagnoses alone aren't necessarily decisive.

ADHD should definitely be. How can I be expected to turn away from doing fun stuff to actually work? How, when God made me the way I am! DISCRIMINATION!

You have to be careful here. The USA is the only country I think where the legal argument of "Too disabled to be of any use but not disabled enough to be protected under law" is actually permissible in the court system.

Well... disability has different definitions for different contexts. According to the much-loved DSM-IV TR AS is often 'disabling' for those who have it. However, federal rules for SSI or SSD or similar forms of government-backed income have different rules; you may have a disability but may not be considered disabled if the government thinks you can work, and given how much they love giving tax-paying citizens money, their rules are quite arcane.

My paternal grandfather had severe congestive heart failure and worked as a locksmith prior to that; the SSA felt that he had "transferable skills" even though he could barely move and suffered from hypoxia. My father's sister, however, suffered from moderate obesity and was college educated and she was able to receive SSD.

Last edited by GreatCeleryStalk on 06 May 2008, 8:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

In my opinion, it is not a disability, but a gift to see things in greater detail instead of just the big picture.

not if you're over eighteen.
-.-

because that whole AS thing clears up instantly when one becomes a legal adult... just ask my insurance card or school district.

Answer:
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/conditions-page-1-16.html

Process:
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/formpage2.html

that's great, except i don't need ssi. i what i would -like- is not to be ass out 150/week in therapy costs.

If you're over 18 yes and no, but mostly no. I am in a state program and am labeled as disabled. They know I have AS and ADD because the state sent me to a specialist to get retested as they wouldn't consider my previous two doctor's diagnosis. So I got a third AS diagnosis and now have a state appointed OT and psych for therapy which is for the AS, yet on paper they only consider me disabled because I wear hearing aids.

That leads me to say if you want help for AS you need to have something else wrong with you too.

yes, I'm with the student's with disabilites at my college. I get Occupation Theropy
So who might use an occupational therapy practitioner? According to AOTA, kids with the following medical problems may benefit from OT:

birth injuries or birth defects
sensory processing/integrative disorders
traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord)
learning problems
autism
pervasive developmental disorders
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
mental health or behavioral problems
broken bones or other orthopedic injuries
developmental delays
post-surgical conditions
burns
spina bifida
traumatic amputations
cancer
severe hand injuries
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses

I doubt we are the only ones on the list without being considered disablled

For some things it depends on what state you are in. If your state has moved into this century and has “outlawed” discrimination between physical and neurological medical treatment then there is not an issue in this area (of course it is still needs based with a “effective treatment” caveat).

IDEA has a specific “class” for autism so if you can demonstrate an unmet need that is necessary for the child to get an appropriate education then you are in.

Most of the other regulations are needs/effect based but spectrum diagnoses will generally at least get you “put in the pile”.

ADA is an interesting case since it is a discrimination law. Basically if you cannot equally enjoy a “public” “event” then you are being discriminated against and are entitled to accommodations (with some practical exception).

For me this is how I view the overall situation, as a discrimination issue. But if calling it a disability gets my son supports, then that’s OK with me. It seems to make NTs more excepting of the expense.

bookwormde