What if “self-advocacy” alone is not enough??

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When self-advocacy alone is not sufficient, it becomes necessary to supplement advocates who can act on behalf of Asperger adults.

What specific resources are available to locate advocates/advisors who assist with:

a.) Workplace dynamics.

b.) On business agendas e.g., how are Aspergers savants with marketable abilities represented on business agendas?

c.) On financial agendas (that periodically go beyond day-to-day budgeting concerns) e.g., the purchasing of automobiles as an example?

Thank-you

Yes, I want to have Spectrum Network groups! For example, I have a very hard time doing things such as calling up my health insurance company. I know how to do it but it takes about half a day's worth of energy. So, I'd love to have a group which could provide a volunteer to come over to my home (or meet at the network office) who could do this for me, say as I read a book in the other room, exactly as I might if I was a rich person. And I could do these things a couple of times a year to keep up my skills.

So, wealthier people on the spectrum could donate money. We can have a small paid staff (probably just working out of people's homes at the beginning) to help with the administrative side, to vet volunteers, etc.

I was helped considerably by one of those jobs for pay companies.
I went in and interviewed with a jobs specialist. I was honest with my abilities and ended up in a parts distribution network.

I had to pay a percentage of my wages for six months for the service.
But I suspect that was the part that helped the most, the jobs expert only got paid if I held the job for the six months he was due his commission. He got me a much better job than I would have looked for on my own. He even gave grooming advice.

It was money based but he was my advocate in every area concerning getting and keeping a job.
And...he only got paid if I kept my job, I stress this as everyone needs motivation and NT's sure love money.

Need specific recommedations of agencies offering support services. For example, would recomendations include profesional people e.g., Accountants who've had experience with Asperger adults?

'Spectrum Network' types of agencies; to assist with tasks that perodically go beyond day-to-day budgeting would "fit the bill!"

* Non-profit entities are the best bet, as not-for-profit entities would be interested in catering to broad diversities of Asperger (AS) adults at afforable costs; as most AS adults only receive modest incomes. Pricing-out the majority of AS adults is like "cutting-off the nose in spite of the face - so to speak" regarding the best interests of the entities themselves.

* As for employment-orientated agencies, most of these agencies take generic approaches. The best programs are tied-to trade & vocational programs e.g., community colleges, trade schools (this excludes the majority of heavily advertised private career colleges). More and more trade & vocational programs are increasingly orientated around occupations that are in demand i.e., skills shortages -- hence best employment placement assistance here!

* Also needing discussion: How can Asperger savants with marketable abilities best be represented regarding self-employment e.g,. the trustworthy advisors/advocates who represent savants discussed on such shows as '60 Minutes' CBS?

Now, straight up, my handful of experiences with employment type agency places have not been this positive. I'm glad you have had a positive experience. And the set-up you describe does seem like it puts the odds significantly more in your favor. The agency is motivated both to get you the job and to advocate for your success for a certain period of time.

Okay, here's one way: Over time we'd develop informal connections and 'permission sales' so that we just ask a professional for permission to check out his or her references. And then for example, a volunteer-leader in Houston can email a volunteer-leader in Los Angeles or Nasville and ask, for example, about reputable music managers. And locally, we can probably recommend good CPAs and organizational assistants.

And I'd like similar volunteer networks to be available to help those of us who may not necessarily be savants.

Lets boost support resources for Asperger adults; by reassessing the roles of the 'Board of Directors' at the AASCEND agency as an example. http://www.aascend.org/?page_id=492

Would the 'Board of Directors' at an agency like AASCEND help locate advocates/advisors who assist with:

a.) Workplace dynamics?

b.) On business agendas e.g., how are Aspergers savants with marketable abilities represented on business agendas?

c.) On financial agendas (that periodically go beyond day-to-day budgeting concerns) e.g., help with interpreting contracts associated with the purchasing of automobiles?

Is anybody stunned and dissapointed that the discussion, 'What if 'Self-Advocacy' Alone is Not Enough??' has gotten "lost in the shuffle?"

What is the purpose of the "In-Depth Adult Life Discussion" Forum??

I'd ask how the type of organization could be sustained. To the best of my knowledge, there arn't enough "active" aspies out there to request these services. I can't imagine the known demand on WP employing more than 4 people, and none of them being the type of specialized service that is being referenced.

I think it's a good question, but I don't see the economies of scale out there to support something like this.

The type of organization I'm reffering to is not an organization in the traditional sense; that is an organization with very-little in the way of overhead, and a paid staff.

I've mentioned the AASCEND.org agency in the SF Bay Area as an example; that is AASCENDs main staff are a largely voluntary Board-of-Directors listed as a link on AASCEND's main page. Meetings are periodically held at reserved meeting-halls.

The Internet assists non-traditional organizations in maintaining a presence/awareness at a minimum of cost.

It would be a great idea if agencies such as AASCEND (who seem to be "ahead of the curve" on adult Aspergers awareness) would develop a presence on WrongPlanet.net. If one does not reside near the SF Bay Area, it seems that AASCEND can readily advise best practices for locating trustworthy advisors/advocates in one's community.

I tend to agree. Here's what my diagnosing psychiatrist suggested as an accommodation at work. What do you guys think?

Has anyone done something similar:

I've often thought about the same thing. I have been living independently for several years. I have a good job but I get extremely overwhelmed with day-to-day things like keeping a budget, making and planning healthy meals, and especially making and keeping doctor's appointments. Just like AardvarkGoodSwimmer says, having to do something like calling my health insurance or anything similar is extremely stressful and takes up quite a bit of energy. If there comes a time when I have multiple phone calls to make (or similar tasks) I go into panic mode. I have a meltdown, struggle my way through my tasks, have another meltdown, and then do it all over again next time that situation comes around. Somehow things work out, but its never a pleasant process. As years go by my stress has been building and building and has more than once gotten to the point that I have trouble concentrating at work and getting out of bed in the morning. When I seek help all I get are "here are some pointers" or "you look like you are handling things so you don't have to worry." Then I am given drugs for anxiety, which of course doesn't help, because then I have the added responsibility of remembering to take them and refill the prescriptions which totally cancels out the affect they are supposed to have. I am in a constant state of anxiety and exhaustion and I have no energy to get out of the house and do the things I like to do. No matter what I say or do I never get any REAL help. What I really need is for someone to do these following things for me and then I could focus on my work and social life.

1) taking care of my expenses (basically paying my bills and then giving me a spending limit on other things and making sure I don't overspend)
2) planning my diet and maybe even doing occasional shopping and cooking for me
3) sitting for my dog when I need to be away from home.
4) making the occasional phone call to a doctor's office, insurance company, or any other business that I find hard to handle
5) speaking up for me in occasional situations where I don't know how to advocate for myself
6) being available if I just need to ask "What is the appropriate way to handle this situation?"

I've looked into hiring a personal assistant to at least manage my budget and make some phone calls for me when I need it but I can't really find one person who could do a variety of things. The only affordable ones I can find advertise for helping with elderly or mobility impaired. I am afraid they would think I am too "able" to deserve any help.

Any experiences with local Asperger Society agencies; where advocacy, advisors, etc. can help boost an Asperger Adult's progress?

In my youth, this condition was not recognized. Now it is being seen more frequently.

Perhaps this is a time when those who are capable of more effective self advocacy and their NT allies can work to create a world that is a better place for people like us.

I was born just after the major battles of the civil rights era in the US and I am part of a stable multi-racial family. We live in a better world imagined and built by those who struggled before us.

Perhaps it's time to work collectively to create the necessary things that we see as missing in the world today. What can we do to help make these organizations and services a reality?