Guest guest Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 To have aperger's you need a iq of 90-or greater so if he has mild mental retardation then he is not asperger's.maybe pdd-nos or autism but not asperger's. --- carolynsuelowerychattanooga <sue@...> wrote: > Over the past several days, different sources have > led me to > conclude that our 23-year-old son is mildly > autistic/aspergers. > Although he's received a lot of lables over the 23 > years from ADD, > LD to mentally retarded, I suddenly realized that > the mild autism is > the umbrella diagnosis that we have been looking > for. It explains > why he tests so low on IQ tests that are always > followed by a > disclaimer from the tester that they don't think > they are valid. > > So, now what do we do? He is the poster child for > " falls through the > cracks. " High functioning, drives, works full time > at a job for > people with DD, but was recently fired from a > volunteer job he'd had > for five years for problems related to social > skills. He is not > eligible for any services from the state where we > live or SSI or > SSD, but he would desperatly like to be able to move > out and be on > his own. > > Any behavioral therapy he will have to pay for > privately as the > insurance that he buys out of his own paycheck was > recently switched > to not cover any mental health services. > > Any books, sources, or ideas for helping us with > this greatly > appreciated. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 p.s what state do you live in where you donot get ssi or ssd thanks --- carolynsuelowerychattanooga <sue@...> wrote: > Over the past several days, different sources have > led me to > conclude that our 23-year-old son is mildly > autistic/aspergers. > Although he's received a lot of lables over the 23 > years from ADD, > LD to mentally retarded, I suddenly realized that > the mild autism is > the umbrella diagnosis that we have been looking > for. It explains > why he tests so low on IQ tests that are always > followed by a > disclaimer from the tester that they don't think > they are valid. > > So, now what do we do? He is the poster child for > " falls through the > cracks. " High functioning, drives, works full time > at a job for > people with DD, but was recently fired from a > volunteer job he'd had > for five years for problems related to social > skills. He is not > eligible for any services from the state where we > live or SSI or > SSD, but he would desperatly like to be able to move > out and be on > his own. > > Any behavioral therapy he will have to pay for > privately as the > insurance that he buys out of his own paycheck was > recently switched > to not cover any mental health services. > > Any books, sources, or ideas for helping us with > this greatly > appreciated. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 If you haven't yet, look at your state's website for the state Autism Society. Also you might call them to see if they know of any place in your area to get your son evaluated for autism. That's great that he drives! We're working on that with my 18 yr old son (working slowly, sigh, either we forget about practicing or there's too much other stuff to find the time...in other words we don't practice enough!). How do you feel he would do on his own? > > Over the past several days, different sources have led me to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Um, not necessarily: As the original poster stated, " It explains > why he tests so low on IQ tests that are always > followed by a > disclaimer from the tester that they don't think > they are valid. " One does not necessarily have low cognitive ability with a lower IQ score (by the way, 90 is still within " normal " range; it is under 70 that we get into greater possibility of cognitive impairment). Nor, is AS necessarily ruled out. My son has always been described as " swiss cheese " with as many strengths as he has weaknesses and also " does not test well " . > > > Over the past several days, different sources have > > led me to > > conclude that our 23-year-old son is mildly > > autistic/aspergers. > > Although he's received a lot of lables over the 23 > > years from ADD, > > LD to mentally retarded, I suddenly realized that > > the mild autism is > > the umbrella diagnosis that we have been looking > > for. It explains > > why he tests so low on IQ tests that are always > > followed by a > > disclaimer from the tester that they don't think > > they are valid. > > > > So, now what do we do? He is the poster child for > > " falls through the > > cracks. " High functioning, drives, works full time > > at a job for > > people with DD, but was recently fired from a > > volunteer job he'd had > > for five years for problems related to social > > skills. He is not > > eligible for any services from the state where we > > live or SSI or > > SSD, but he would desperatly like to be able to move > > out and be on > > his own. > > > > Any behavioral therapy he will have to pay for > > privately as the > > insurance that he buys out of his own paycheck was > > recently switched > > to not cover any mental health services. > > > > Any books, sources, or ideas for helping us with > > this greatly > > appreciated. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 > > > That's great that he drives! We're working on that with my 18 yr old > son (working slowly, sigh, either we forget about practicing or > there's too much other stuff to find the time...in other words we > don't practice enough!). > > How do you feel he would do on his own? Thanks to everyone that responded, since my son, 23 has been out of school, I have felt completely isolated, it is wonderful to get to air some of these difficult issues. Driving, whew, it's awfully scary. He didn't get his license till about 18. For him the ADD meds really work, but he would pop his pill and race out the door to work without waiting for them to take effect and that is why (we think) he has had several fender benders. At the other end of the day, when it's worn off, he's more like to have an accident too. Once we found an ADD med that worked, it works really well for the distractiblity. We just switched to a patch that should last up to 15 hr. a day if he needs it. Yes, our son could be independent if we could find the right living situation, minimally supervised or with a roommate. Just sticking him in an apartment won't work. We live in Tennessee and there are NO services unless you are in a crisis situation, i.e. homeless. We could put him out in his car with some clothes, but in good moral conscience, won't do that. We are currently exploring Job Corps. Anyone out there have experience with them? Sounds really great for a non-college bound kid that needs to get his GED and desperately needs some skills training, both in social skills and job skills. Thanks again to all who responded. I foud this post turning into a rant, have to hold off on more. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Job Corps is a good program. The only negative is that there are strict curfews and students "earn" weekends home etc. My son couldn't live in that kind of environment. He would just quit. We have a program here in RI...see description below. Just another option for youth who are not college bound, need help getting their GED and skills training. You may have something similar in your area. Training takes place at the Providence Place Mall downtown. It is a nice program because they have teamed up with CVS (a large pharmacy chain) and they actually end up placing students in jobs in the Mall and CVS. Program Description: Out-of-School Youth Program (16-18) Communities Served: Northern Rhode Island, East Bay, West Bay and Washington County. A program for 25 youth out-of-school and basic skills deficient ages 16-18. Program provides year-long activities beginning September 01, 2006 with 1 year of follow-up. Provides GED/GED prep, work readiness, life skills activities, community service, internships, work experience, job shadowing, mentoring, and leadership development. Also includes incentives, job placement, retention activities and case management. Agency Partners include CVS, the Providence Place Mall and National Retail Association.Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 You don't say where you are from. I would recommend looking into your state rehab or vocational services. Office of Rehabilitative Services should work with anyone unable to get a job due to any disability. Also, has your son been turned down by SSDI? If he can't work or keep a job and has a document diagnosis, he should be qualifying. Pam :)Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 > > Job Corps is a good program. The only negative is that there are strict > curfews and students " earn " weekends home etc. Thanks for the input. We live in Tennessee by the way and he has a job, but only because they hire and tolerate and work with people with disabilities. He is ineligible for any SSI because he works, but doesn't make enough to have any apt. we have been able to find. Pays for his own health insurance, too. The DMRS suggested he quit his job so he could get disability...totally against anything we believe about work ethics. Glad to hear about Job Corps...he actually likes rules and restrictions, loved ROTC in highschool. My concern is how he will get along with roommates? He is basically an only child, on top of the social skills deficits. But, he is highly motivated for the first time in his life. He hates his current job of unloading trucks in a warehouse and glueing boxes and wants out. Tennessee has no resources available unless you are in dire circumstances, such as homeless. Our state does offer a Voc Rehab, but once you go thru program seemed to be little job assistance, you are on your own. With Job Corps he has the opportunity to take an executive level chef program in NYC or San Francisco (gulp!) and I think this is going to be harder on Mom than on him. They seem to be strong on job placement and following up that you are able to do the job and be successful. There are over 122 centers around the country and it is all funded by Federal Govt. from transportation to the centers, all room and board and education. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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