Re: Highfunctioning Autism/Asperger's Syndrome

[Guest guest]

Kathleen,

Boy, this sounds like a great question for the " Expert " on Monday -

Transitioning!!

My children are still younger, but my only thought is that you might need to

find some agency or service provider that can help you find him a supported

college situation or a supported part-time job, just to give him something to do

every day.

What about your township, or your old HS district, or your special ed co-op????

Wasn't there a " transition plan " as part of his IEP?? Also, there are lots of

businesses and colleges that advertise their service and devotion to helping

individuals with developmental disabilities; you may find something on your own,

based on your son's interests?

My understanding is that with the new Illinois Autism legislation, the fact that

he has HIGH functioning Autism, versus a more traditional " Autism " should not be

preventing him from receiving services as a individual with a developmental

disability.

We are fighting this issue with one of my two Spectrum sons right now, as we try

to get approval for the Children's Waiver - my " lower-functioning " son has been

approved, but my " higher-functioning " son was not, when in actuality, my

" higher-functioning " son is more impaired - UGH!!!

Good Luck to you -

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " abmis5 " <abmis5@...>

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this support group. I am in St. Clair County (O'Fallon)

and am having a hard time finding a program that will fit my 24 y/o

son, who was dx'd with Asperger's Syndrome at age 12 (In my opinion

he is more highfunctioning autism). Since he is aged out of school,

I have been trying to help him with college which has been a very

overwhelming experience. I helped him apply for SSI this past May

which will take months or years for him to get. He sits at home due

to lack of skills he needs to secure and keep a job. He is paralyzed

with fear and is in withdrawal mode most of the time. He is highly

verbal yet still has not made friends where we live (his peers have

always thougth of him as weird or retarded) yet he has above average

intelligence. I would like to start a mentoring service for adults,

sort of like Big Brother, Big Sister which only goes up to age 16.

My son needs someone to take him under their wing so to speak. We

are not originally from IL so have no family nearby to help. He has

no siblings and although he lives at home with me and his father, Dad

is not there for him in every sense of the word.

If anyone has the same need as I do please reply.

Kathleen

[Guest guest]

Kathleen-

Have you thought about trying to get him involved more socially with

peers? I am also in your area. I have worked at a sheltered

workshop/ Day Program in the area. It appears to me that the social

benefits of that type of a setting far outweigh some of the

vocational benifits. In workshop/Day Program that I worked at the

individuals did a lot of things together outside of the program too.

The ones that wanted to were in a bowling league on tuesdays, some of

the parents ran a " Monday Night College of Indpendence " where they

learned life skills, and they held dances the first friday of every

month. May be your son would be happier if he found others that he

would feel like he could identify with.

> Kathleen,

>

> Boy, this sounds like a great question for the " Expert " on Monday -

Transitioning!!

>

> My children are still younger, but my only thought is that you

might need to find some agency or service provider that can help you

find him a supported college situation or a supported part-time job,

just to give him something to do every day.

>

> What about your township, or your old HS district, or your special

ed co-op???? Wasn't there a " transition plan " as part of his IEP??

Also, there are lots of businesses and colleges that advertise their

service and devotion to helping individuals with developmental

disabilities; you may find something on your own, based on your son's

interests?

>

> My understanding is that with the new Illinois Autism legislation,

the fact that he has HIGH functioning Autism, versus a more

traditional " Autism " should not be preventing him from receiving

services as a individual with a developmental disability.

>

> We are fighting this issue with one of my two Spectrum sons right

now, as we try to get approval for the Children's Waiver - my " lower-

functioning " son has been approved, but my " higher-functioning " son

was not, when in actuality, my " higher-functioning " son is more

impaired - UGH!!!

>

> Good Luck to you -

>

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: " abmis5 " <abmis5@...>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I am new to this support group. I am in St. Clair County (O'Fallon)

> and am having a hard time finding a program that will fit my 24 y/o

> son, who was dx'd with Asperger's Syndrome at age 12 (In my opinion

> he is more highfunctioning autism). Since he is aged out of school,

> I have been trying to help him with college which has been a very

> overwhelming experience. I helped him apply for SSI this past May

> which will take months or years for him to get. He sits at home due

> to lack of skills he needs to secure and keep a job. He is

paralyzed

> with fear and is in withdrawal mode most of the time. He is highly

> verbal yet still has not made friends where we live (his peers have

> always thougth of him as weird or retarded) yet he has above

average

> intelligence. I would like to start a mentoring service for adults,

> sort of like Big Brother, Big Sister which only goes up to age 16.

> My son needs someone to take him under their wing so to speak. We

> are not originally from IL so have no family nearby to help. He has

> no siblings and although he lives at home with me and his father,

Dad

> is not there for him in every sense of the word.

>

> If anyone has the same need as I do please reply.

>

> Kathleen

>

>