What to do after you get the official diagnosis?

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Johnq
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04 Oct 2012, 6:24 pm

Are their any benefits or programs once you are diagnosed with Aspergers/autism spectrum? I went through a 2 day, 10 hour evaluation testing all kinds of things, my IQ, my childhood, then too a 300 questionare. The best thing about being diagnosed now is the closure, that I know why my life went so differently than others. And I know now I'm not crazy, I just see things differently with people. I don't feel like I have a "disorder", but I don't know how to operate in society.

I've had SSI for almost 2 years from my bi-polar. With SSI, I am coming up $100 short a month for my rent and having to borrow it from my parents. I wonder if adding autism spectrum would give me more benefits. I'm struggling in many ways.

I was told that there is job assistance I can get and I want to do that. But right now I need my life to be in order financially and mentally. Also there isn't a therapist for Aspergers anywhere near where I live. And I don't think medicaid pays for therapy anyway.

Stuck and frustrated, but at least I am relieved knowing what was wrong all those years, never keeping a job and basically having zero relationships/friends in my life. I can't even look people in the eye. I read something about eye contact therapy.

Are there any websites I can apply for benefits?



outofplace
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04 Oct 2012, 9:51 pm

It's really going to depend on where you live. As such, your post did not give enough specificity for anyone to be able to give you clear direction.


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MrStewart
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05 Oct 2012, 1:39 am

I was formally diagnosed one month ago, myself. Can't say about benefits. I suppose the best way to go about that is to speak to the people who administered your testing and see if they can direct you to the appropriate people to inquire about that.

For me, I live in Canada and was diagnosed through the regular health care system. Since then I have been seeing a therapist who was assigned to me when I was initially assessed for depression in the psychiatric department of the local hospital. Although, it should be noted, I am seeing that therapist more for OCD and depression than I am for AS.

You said therapy may not be in the cards for you, and pity if that is true, but I think that I can offer you a book recommendation to get started, better understand the disorder, learn a little about avenues of improvement that can be made for your difficulties. My neuropsychologist recommended this book in my psych report. It is called Living Well On The Spectrum: How To Use Your Strengths To Meet The Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism by Valerie L. Gaus (2011). I bought myself a copy and have been working through it slowly. It is very informative and helpful as well. It goes into some cognitive behavioural therapy type stuff on how to improve in addition to simply explaining AS.



emimeni
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05 Oct 2012, 5:14 pm

I think disability are based on your previous work history and income, not on how many diagnosis' you have.


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