Aren't there any advocacy groups for adults with AS?

Post Reply New Topic

I've been looking for the longest time and can only find groups for kids or parents with autistic spectrum kids. It's very frustrating, especially considering that adults with AS are often on their own in the world and might need these services more than kids who have parents to look after them. It's like they just deny that all of those autistic kids are eventually going to grow up and still have issues fitting in with society.

I'm about to end up homeless because my social skills are so poor that I can't keep an office or service job, but I can't find anything else. I've done trade work in the past and would love to find a group that specializes in helping autistic spectrum adults with things like appropriate job placement and independent living.

I have no money to see an independent counselor that specializes in autism and the last time I went to the free medical clinic in my city, they just tried to convince me that I should take whatever pill is popular at the moment, which would probably do more harm than anything else. I don't suffer from depression or mental issues, just poor social skills and would like to find someone that can help me work with what I have and find my niche.

Does anyone have any phone numbers or website links for something like this in the US?

Because it's the whole "children are the future" mentality. It's easier to profit when you have a picture of a sad child rather than a struggling adult. They figure that we'll have figured out how to adapt to everything about the world by the time we're out of high school or college. That's my view on it anyway. :/

I've found if you're not a child no one cares. Heck, my university is a major research hospital and all of their studies on autism are children only, as if once you turn 18 you stop being autistic. Rehabilitation services could barely handle my physical disability, I doubt they have much experience with autistic adults. And because I've done well in school I don't qualify for help from the center for developmental disabilities.

hillarious- ive been going through exactly the same thing last week- each number ive been given (and i hate making phone calls anyway, and im broke to boot, so annoyed at wasting money like this)- i call and ask 'im looking for advocacy support- i have aspergers' and they reply-
'how old is your son?' CLEAN OUT YOUR EARS!! !

that's all there is- help for kids. it's v. logan's run.

im in the uk, and its the same here. anyway, what i am *planning* to do is go to a local group and see what help they get there, and if they know of anything. (but not managed it yet, ahem).
could you do the same- someone there will have gone trhough this personally, or will know someone who has, so whom to approach. maybe someone at the group could even help you. id like to to think of a nice barter system operating- someone makes calls for me, i bake them cakes. (admittedly, i dont get out enough).

the other problem is that unless the advocate really understands AS, you might get the 'you're being rude' crap, and not understanding why you cant do 'simple' things. depends on your behaviour, of course... but something to be aware of; though since its so serious, get any help you can.

good luck- ive been through all this too, so i know from personal experiance what its like. PM me if i can help/ you want to talk.

i googled it- i dont know where you are...
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&biw=1119 ... bd52aa0dd7

The UK government does have an adult autism strategy (e.g. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/ ... m-strategy) and many universities have appointed an autism officer of some kind. There seem to be a few local, government-charity partnerships that have received funding.

The Irish government has funded some local HSE-charity partnerships.

OP- sorry- i couldnt type/think properly yesterday, and thought afterwards i must have sounded flippant. i wasnt; i was just *amused* at the irony of people with a chance of finding phones/coimmunication etc dificult being left to their own devices to ring round and find themselves help.
its maddening.

really hope you find someone to help you. good luck.

stuart--yes, but a- the autism strategy does not come in until december, and b- its obviously going to be completly pared back; its like hearing you can get help- when you look into it, there's nothing there, just another chimera. i live in london and there is NOTHING. its not as though i live in sutherland or shetland.
on my diagnosis, i was told to call autism charaties for support- seriously- what a tactit admission of failure.

http://www.autisticrightsmovementuk.org ... m-act.html

anyway, this lot are quite interesting, and are very pessimistic about the autism act.
" It remains to be seen what that Strategy might look like. The early indicators are not particularly encouraging."

"No such involvement has taken place in regard to the drafting of this Act. There has been no significant involvement of either autism-specific user-led organisations (ULOs) or pan-disability ULOs." also- £500k budget- to train shrinks- ah aha ha ha.

though id still like to give a massive thanks to (mp woman, whose name ive forgotten) who introduced the bill- and slap GB et al for not voting for it-WTF?! w*kers.