Help with getting diagnosed

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So I want to finally get an official diagnosis mainly because I'm having trouble with getting a job and keeping a job (fired from two previous jobs) and been told by my college counselor that I could benefit with service such as vocational rehab or any other services around that helps those on the spectrum with employment.

Trouble is the counselor isn't authorized to test for Autism nor does the college have any testing services which means I have to find an outside place to do it and from what I hear getting tested as an adult is major expensive and most don't even take insurance no matter how good the insurance is. I don't have much money and despite living with my parents they won't help they think nothing is wrong with me and therefore they think getting tested is a waste. So overall I'm left with little options and have my doubts anywhere is gonna do testing at low cost (around 50-200 dollars). Just some general info: I'm 25 and live in Tennessee about an hour south of Nashville and I do have a learning disability diagnosis but I think at this point it may be outdated.

My main questions are is there anywhere I could get tested at low cost?? If not anyway to come up with the money without resorting to begging since I can't get a job?? In worst case scenario is there a way to get help without needing a diagnosis??

If anyone has follow up questions regarding my situation feel free to ask and I hope I didn't cause any misconceptions. And thank for reading

From my experience, you're going to need at least $1500, possibly $2000 just for an autism "pre-screening" exam.
It's a huge problem that the government and media simply have no interest in talking about.
There's simply no help for adults with autism, especially those who went through school before they started looking out for this stuff, and thus, are undiagnosed.

You could look around at different universities in your area. I got tested at mine for $500, and they take everyone from the general public, not just students, so you might find something similar where you live. Are there any organisations around you that provide services to people with disabilities? They might be able to help you find something, and possibly point you in the direction of services that you can get without a diagnosis, or with just your LD diagnosis. Good luck, I know getting tested as an adult is a pain in the butt due to the practical absence of services

i would recommend before going do some preparation. read about the problems that autism causes and try to find a link between that and yourself. any evidence you can gather is a plus. you will need it. i was expected to take an parent with me that could give some evidence about my youth, also video footage. make sure that you get it right, so talk to the person giving the diagnosis and ask exactly what is it they are looking for.
make notes about what problems you think you have. read through problems people are having on here and make note of what you find similar in yourself. i went into my diagnosis without this sort of thing and struggled to put into words everything problem that i have. after reading through some of the posts on this forum i find that i have a lot more of these things, which i didnt mention and may have helped a great deal. explain your problems with work and that you want to be at work but are struggling. do not mention that if there was some way to avoid work and still get paid. this will look bad. i was accused of lying about my autism so i could scam benefits off the government.
research and make notes, go in prepared with as much as you can. video and photographs of you when younger could really help.

Sorry, this is not actually helpful to you, I just need to vent.

After two months of intense internet research and calling everyone in my state remotely related to autism evaluations or services, I finally found one today who will evaluate adults. After a brief phone interview I got on their waiting list which the person emphasized several times, apologetically, would be "probably several years." That's plural years! Yikes!

She lamented that there is a huge need and unfortunately they simply don't have the staff or resources to do more evals, and that is not their primary mission anyway, they just do a few when they can fit them in.

So like you, EmilyRyan, I will probably start looking next at how to self-finance getting a diagnosis in another state. Argh. I, too, don't have the money.

In my experience, the evaluation process is entirely covered by insurance, if a GP gave you a referral.
Said GP pre-evaluation is free as well.

In other countries, i have no idea though

I can imagine that some states which haven't yet legislated diagnostic and support accommodations would have long wait lists for diagnoses. I wonder how many states will diagnose U.S. citizens who are residents of another state. While self-paid diagnoses are, in my survey of prices, around $1,000 to $1,500 in my state, my wait list was just four months long. For someone living in another state, adding the price of travel to this price could be affordable. Please note that these are the clinical prices I found in my state. Private therapists can diagnose autism just as legally as any other clinic for around $250-$500; but, they are too often not experienced in adult diagnoses. I guess what I am saying is ... try getting a little creative in combining affordable diagnoses with affordable travel costs. And, as others have written, contact university clinics in nearby communities.

Thanks to all who responded so far much appreciated.

Yeah I don't get why is so hard and costly to get a diagnosis as an adult and I'm sorry to hear about your situation SerinaSings. Unfortunately I think traveling isn't an option for me I can't drive and that'll also make going to the nearest university (I think Vanderbilt offers) a bit tricky and again my living situation where my parents don't believe.

Anyway I have a few questions I like to ask: Does anyone have any experiences with places and organizations like "The Arc" or "Autism Society"?? If anyone does any chance they may perhaps help those that don't have a diagnosis?? Anyone here that also happens to have a LD diagnosis?? If so how long does an official diagnosis last before it's considered outdated and need for re-evaluation?? Worst case scenario what can I do to help self finance since I'm unable to get a job?? Generally I don't want to resort to gofundme I've tried that and never got a single donation and plus I don't like begging.

Sorry for bombarding with more questions but I seriously appreciate the support so far

Hello. The only questions I can answer are related to the LD ones, since I don't know what "The Arc" is, but have heard of "Autism Society", just don't know what it is. I am diagnosed with a mild LD in memory and fine motor skills (see signature for specific criteria if you don't understand what I mean). And for the official diagnosis, it lasts 3 years if diagnosed as a kid, but if it was diagnosed above 18 years of age, then it's pretty much forever and is still valid. Though a LD is life-long, for some reason, they make you get it re-evaluated this frequently until adulthood.

Also, my information may just be for Canada, since I'm from there. I'm assuming it's the same in the States, but am unsure.

I think it maybe different in the states how much different I'm not sure probably just me but I'm having trouble finding information on my own.

In general, LD diaganosis are good for three years in schools. It might be a little more at your collage. You need to ask the disabities office this. They should know, as they get a lot of these requests.

The ARC and the Autism Society do not fund diagnostic services, to my knowledge. Especially the ARC, which is focused on people with intellectual disability. They really don't do evals for collage students.

There are some organizations who provide grants to families. You might qualify for one of them, but I wouldn't hold my breath. They tend to focus on children. It's worth doing a google search, or even asking your school's librarian to help you research the issue.

I don't have knowledge of this, but apparently, there is some alternative way into Social services, where they will do the evaluation. I don't know much about it. But I do know of people who have been homeless and unemployed and such, and they have gotten evals through the state, and qualified for disability services after other services. Perhaps you need to qualify for medicaid first? I don't know how despirate your situation is, but if you are really in that ruff of a spot, it would be good to ask around about that kind of thing. It might be worth creating a new subject with a title that might attract the attention of people who have more experience with social serivces, and how to work the system. There is a way, I just don't know what it is.

Hate to suddenly be a downer but I'm ready to give up and accept I'm gonna end up homeless (maybe not now but whenever my parents kick me out for being jobless and useless)

New line of research: look for neuropsychologists in your area. I got this tip recently from one diagnostician (who only does children) and found at least one who will do adults in my state, and they even take my insurance! Neuropsychologists can also do autism diagnoses.

Spent the last week looking around and emailing different counseling services that happen to screen adults for autism and well unfortunately even if I were to qualify for sliding scale that some offered the costs would still be too much for me afford.

At this point I don't know what to do anymore I just wanna give up and check into a psych ward and just let me be their problem

I paid for 4 appointments at $145 each for my autism assessment. I don't live anywhere near the OP so but you certainly don't have to shell out $1000's for just a formal diagnosis.

Wow! I am impressed. While my first (botched) diagnosis was paid by Medicaid, my second (successful) diagnosis was paid by me to the tune of $1,000. It was worth it for me to overrule the botched diagnosis, but it was still a hard swallow.