New Asperger Support Group for Adults - Arlington Heights

[Guest guest]

A new support group for people with Asperger syndrome begins meeting

in January and organizers hope to attract teenagers and young adults

with this disability as they enter the adult world.

Families, business people and community members are invited to

Planning Asperger Syndrome Success and Generating Experiences

(PASSAGE), which meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m.

at Plaza Office Park, 121 S. Wilke Road, seventh floor, Arlington

Heights.

Schaumburg residents Donna and Teri Dudasik have sons

diagnosed with Asperger syndrome -- a high-functioning form of autism

-- prompting both women to become coordinators of the help group.

said older adults with the syndrome can attend and that

PASSAGE was mainly formed to help younger people overcome difficulties

in job interviews, college life and independent living.

Because Asperger syndrome is a nonverbal learning disability,

said people such as employers may be unaware if someone has

been diagnosed.

" Most disabilities can be seen visually, but when talking with someone

Asperger you may not know they have a disability. The main focus of

PASSAGE is teaching skills for appropriate behavior for finding a job,

for example, " said.

" Young people with Asperger are bright academically. They just have

difficulty communicating with people, " she said.

Dudasik said most people with Asperger exhibited difficulty in social

interaction, unusual ways communicating and using language and,

lastly, an " interest in a topic to the point of obsession. "

At PASSAGE's first meeting, Jan. 27, Jody Quirk from the Vocation

Transition Program at Northwest Suburban Special Education

Organization, Mount Prospect, will be the guest speaker.

, a clinical psychologist, and Hoeck, an

autism coordinator for Northwest Suburban Special Education

Organization, will facilitate the meeting.

Also attending will be Stacey , a disability counselor, and

Brent Greiner, head of accommodations, both of Harper College.

For more information, contact Donna at (847) 524-1089 or

pehedonna@... or Teri Dudasik at (847) 923-7173 or

ddudasik@....

[Guest guest]

Hi I would I like to join that group since I lived in Arlington

Heights, but my parents had me move with them out to Lake Zurich.

There was more things that I was interesting in that started in

Arlington Heights which is a shame that I came here. One of my

friends asked me if I was going to move into my own apartment. My

father borrowed money from me and has a dept. He never paided me back

when he got a job in the 80's and 90's. I do not have a car and it

was nicer in Arlington Heights because it has public transportation

even though the 690 route was made smaller and there keeps on being

fare increases. I had a bus driver friend who told me about SSI and

about the curcuit breaker, but only got it for one year and my

parents scared me into letting them use the SSI. Do not usderstand my

disablity either. I hope to live close to support groups. I had

already lived through one bad economy in the 80's with the older

Bush. The economy finallhy got better, but I did not know

about this group until the bad economy returned. Thank you for

telling us about. I can only fantasise about what it would have been

like if I had stayed there.

>

> A new support group for people with Asperger syndrome begins meeting

> in January and organizers hope to attract teenagers and young adults

> with this disability as they enter the adult world.

>

> Families, business people and community members are invited to

> Planning Asperger Syndrome Success and Generating Experiences

> (PASSAGE), which meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9

p.m.

> at Plaza Office Park, 121 S. Wilke Road, seventh floor, Arlington

> Heights.

>

> Schaumburg residents Donna and Teri Dudasik have sons

> diagnosed with Asperger syndrome -- a high-functioning form of

autism

> -- prompting both women to become coordinators of the help group.

>

> said older adults with the syndrome can attend and that

> PASSAGE was mainly formed to help younger people overcome

difficulties

> in job interviews, college life and independent living.

>

> Because Asperger syndrome is a nonverbal learning disability,

> said people such as employers may be unaware if someone

has

> been diagnosed.

>

> " Most disabilities can be seen visually, but when talking with

someone

> Asperger you may not know they have a disability. The main focus of

> PASSAGE is teaching skills for appropriate behavior for finding a

job,

> for example, " said.

>

> " Young people with Asperger are bright academically. They just have

> difficulty communicating with people, " she said.

>

> Dudasik said most people with Asperger exhibited difficulty in

social

> interaction, unusual ways communicating and using language and,

> lastly, an " interest in a topic to the point of obsession. "

>

> At PASSAGE's first meeting, Jan. 27, Jody Quirk from the Vocation

> Transition Program at Northwest Suburban Special Education

> Organization, Mount Prospect, will be the guest speaker.

>

> , a clinical psychologist, and Hoeck, an

> autism coordinator for Northwest Suburban Special Education

> Organization, will facilitate the meeting.

>

> Also attending will be Stacey , a disability counselor, and

> Brent Greiner, head of accommodations, both of Harper College.

>

> For more information, contact Donna at (847) 524-1089 or

> pehedonna@... or Teri Dudasik at (847) 923-7173 or

> ddudasik@...

>

[Guest guest]

I had a bus driver friend who told me about SSI and

about the curcuit breaker, but only got it for one year and my

parents scared me into letting them use the SSI.

Wm, My heart breaks for you....I'm wondering if you have a caseworker

or somebody who could step up to bat for you? Would the Human Rights

or Guardianship & Advocacy help? Anybody know? I'm gun shy about

contacting too many places, as we haven't had much luck with the

places I have contacted.

When my son was getting SSI, we were told we had to take some of it

for household expenses, (I was going to use way less than what I was

told was the amt we should use).

But I made sure he had what he needed & some of the things he wanted.

Hope this is happening, in your case.

Liz

[Guest guest]

, happy to have you with IPADDU...Perhaps this group will at least

provide a little online support. I am not sure what to tell you about your

family helping themselves to your SSI money. If you are living in your

parent's home, they may be entitled to some reimbursement for your rent and

living expenses. It hope this is something you might be able to discuss openly

with them.

Here is another group that might prove interesting to you:

Ari Ne'eman

President

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

732.763.5530

[Guest guest]

Thank You.reimbursement for your rent and living expenses. It hope

this is something you might be able to discuss openly with them.

> Here is another group that might prove interesting to you:

> Ari Ne'eman

> President

> The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

> 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700

> Washington, DC 20036

> http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

> 732.763.5530

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I did not think to say that this bus driver drove me to and from the

sheltered work shop that I went to and she had s son whith autism.

She later told my dad. I had to jump through some hoops to see if I

qualified. My father was letting use it and they only put the first

check in the bank until my middle sister's husband gained axcess to

the house and stole money it along with my youngess sisters's

squirial bank. I did not know why he was not taken to court though.

He was already on probation for drug posession. Now back to the

money. First my father asked me if he may use the money or account to

help him get a bank loan. This was in 1988 0r 1989. In 1993 0r 1994

my mother said he used it for his utilityies. He said he was helping

me spend it so I can continue to get it. Social Security only wanted

me to spend the increase though. My fahter usually having fancial

problems when he over spend like some governments do or school

dictricts. My father used to borrow what little money I made the

workshop. My Two of my sisters had a job and evenently three of my4

sisters did. My dad used to tell people that my sister opened the

store that she worked at which may show she earned enouph to pay

rent. My father never said I payed rent until I mentioned I am

supposed to have it put in my checking account. An disbilities

advicate from " The Lake County Center For Indepenant Living told me

this and let me talk to a representive when I was going to have my

fahter's and mine septerated. She said it was my own name like last

time when my academic counciler had me talk to one. Someone at the

bank told them that I am old enouph to have it in my own name. The

advocate was told me what to say in a letter, but it would not have

to the right person since my father changed to SSDI or an adult with

a disability instead of SSI. In 2000 or 2001 My father came to my bed

room with a brief case said he changed it so I would get little mor

money and he would pay back the money he borrowed from my pell grant

check and the money. He might have also meant the money he somnehow

took out of my savings account which as half of my Countryside

Assooiation Paycheck. I only got about 40 dollars or 6 dollars for a

a check every two weeks and this was fall 1992 to February 1987. I

mean saved. I also spent the other half sometimes, but also gave my

father a lot of it when he was un employed or when he spent too much.

I was sure I realy had a disability until 2007 when the case manager

said I had aspergers syndrom I needed to a new test since it was over

20 years since the last one. My parents use it for groceries now that

my mother gave up getting a job. My mother used to work part time at

K Mart and had to get a full time job when it was too much for my dad

to have a full time and a part time job. My eldest sister who is a

little over a year youhger than I lived with us until she was thrown

out because of her boyfriend's drinking problem. I can probably tell

she did not pay rent then. The one who had the husband started to

live with her boyfriend at his mother's before they were married. She

had got married because of her pregnancy. She had job at Burger King

while the older one had a job ad Duncan Donuts and then The Super Gap

which was part of The Gap. the second from the youngest had a job I

did not know the name of then she worked at Home Economist which she

worked her way up to opneing and closing the store. She moved out she

got married. She never was told to move out when my mother called the

police n two of her past boyfriends. My parents had people rent the

garage in the early 90's before we moved. My mother was happy about

one of the part time jobs my father had where they could even get new

things for the house even though my mother probably used my money

too. I did not have a job then. My father probably started to use it

for utiliies after he told me about being behind on the bills. He was

unemployed then. He had to pay back taxes and that was probably why

my mother thought they got so much money from it. After we moved my

father started to use the it for his car payment. He got a new car

and let my youngst sister have the used car he bought. He bought a

old used car before, but it was reposssed. He said at the dinnner

table that people at work said he could not afford it. He got a

veteran's loan for the house that we moved into. My father started to

borrow 800 dollars from my pell grant check for it after he alread

got the ssi money which was over 600 dollars. My counselor at Harper

College wanted to have meeting about the social security money to

tell my parents they should let me have it in my own account. The

adviacate from Inpendant Living said it is not my car payment. He

even borrowed for the mortgage. Before he would just move to another

house when he could not afford it. My mother said he even used the

money that our relatives gave to me for a house that we moved out of

about 2 years later. I was only 3 then. I hope this was not too

long. In 2002 I saw the adivicate from " Lake County Center For

Independant Living told me that I should send the letter to Social

Security. There was a health fair at Harper College where there ewas

a Social Security Table and a lady said I should have it in my own

account and before the counelor at Harper said she wanted to have a

meeting with my parents. My mother did not believe me and my father

said the laws did not allow it to be in my own account when it is the

opisite. He said this the next time I brought it up though and my

father said I payed rent that time. My mother said once they should

show me how much hte rent is when I said I wanted to move out. This

was in 1989 or so when my parents rented. My friend 700 was ntthat

much for rent. My youngest sister said she thought was too much when

she found it in Lake Zurich. My parents are charging me about that

much for just a small bedroom. My younest sister has the whole

basement. It floods without a sump pump though. Her daughter lives

here too. She did not have a job when we first moved here. She was 19

when we moved her. My parents let her boy friend stay here too. Now

she does not do that though. They tried to get social securtiy for

her, but she did not get it. She was late in talking though. She

finally got a job after 1998. She probably does not pay rent because

she has a car payment and insurance, a cell phone, cigarett. She usd

have used cars and last year or the year before she got a new car.

She used help her last boy friend. He was not the one who stayed

over, but she stayed at his parents' house on the weekends. She broke

up with him in 2006. My sister has a job at a register at Petco and I

work at Dominicks as a bagger. I used to work at Walgreens. When I

fot that job my father said for me to save for a car. Before I had

the job my wife said she would help me to save some of the socil

security money after I said my father uses all of it. The advicate

said after I told her what my father said about my paying rent now

that if my parents act like land lords to give them some of it. She

wrote a figure down which was less than 200 dollars. My father used

up all of his credit union money after my mother did not go back to

her job or get another one and they got food from out church. They

got most of it from the store though. My father still had a job at

the Postal Service. My mother thought no one would hire her because

of the way her teeth looked. She worked at Target after she did ot

get to transfer to another K Mart. My father would drive her there

and she finally worked at Target. She said she got sick and Target

said she would not get to go back to work until she brought a note

from a doctor.

>

> I had a bus driver friend who told me about SSI and

> about the curcuit breaker, but only got it for one year and my

> parents scared me into letting them use the SSI.

>

> Wm, My heart breaks for you....I'm wondering if you have a

caseworker

> or somebody who could step up to bat for you? Would the Human

Rights

> or Guardianship & Advocacy help? Anybody know? I'm gun shy about

> contacting too many places, as we haven't had much luck with the

> places I have contacted.

>

> When my son was getting SSI, we were told we had to take some of it

> for household expenses, (I was going to use way less than what I

was

> told was the amt we should use).

>

> But I made sure he had what he needed & some of the things he

wanted.

>

> Hope this is happening, in your case.

>

> Liz

>

[Guest guest]

My workshop case manager who is a case manager for looking for a job

in the community said I should join a support group. I first found A

Group called Asperger's,but that does not have much activity

and the owner told me I should have the money in my own bank accountw

which I know, and then I joined Grasp. My father said has a lawyer

when I mentioned the that account again. That was in May 2006. The

center for indpendant living gave me a number for lawyers that help

people who have a guardian, but I said my parents are not my

guaridian. I did not need it them. I do not know will happen to me

when I have the money sent to my account. A man at the National

Social Security number was ready to have it changed, but I stopped

him. I wonder if Social Security will have someone tell my parents to

let me have it in my own acount. So far I was expected to have it

done my self. My father even has me give him a check in edition to

that just because Medacaid takes money out now. I would move out if I

saved money from that. My father said should try to get rich. He even

had me save receipts from what I bought because he thought Social

Securtity wanted me to show what I spent it for. My mother said the

stores charge more money for food than in Arlington Heights. My

father said it was not true. The houses were less money here. That is

another reason why my parents chose to move here. I saw the links

section this web site did not let me see them. I wonder how to join

it.

>

> , happy to have you with IPADDU...Perhaps this group will at

least provide a little online support. I am not sure what to tell

you about your family helping themselves to your SSI money. If you

are living in your parent's home, they may be entitled to some

reimbursement for your rent and living expenses. It hope this is

something you might be able to discuss openly with them.

> Here is another group that might prove interesting to you:

> Ari Ne'eman

> President

> The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

> 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700

> Washington, DC 20036

> http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

> 732.763.5530

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I will ask Laurie, one of the other co-moderators why you cannot access the

Links...I am not the technical guru, unfortunately!

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: New Asperger Support Group for Adults - Arlington

Heights

My workshop case manager who is a case manager for looking for a job

in the community said I should join a support group. I first found A

Group called Asperger's,but that does not have much activity

and the owner told me I should have the money in my own bank accountw

which I know, and then I joined Grasp. My father said has a lawyer

when I mentioned the that account again. That was in May 2006. The

center for indpendant living gave me a number for lawyers that help

people who have a guardian, but I said my parents are not my

guaridian. I did not need it them. I do not know will happen to me

when I have the money sent to my account. A man at the National

Social Security number was ready to have it changed, but I stopped

him. I wonder if Social Security will have someone tell my parents to

let me have it in my own acount. So far I was expected to have it

done my self. My father even has me give him a check in edition to

that just because Medacaid takes money out now. I would move out if I

saved money from that. My father said should try to get rich. He even

had me save receipts from what I bought because he thought Social

Securtity wanted me to show what I spent it for. My mother said the

stores charge more money for food than in Arlington Heights. My

father said it was not true. The houses were less money here. That is

another reason why my parents chose to move here. I saw the links

section this web site did not let me see them. I wonder how to join

it.

>

> , happy to have you with IPADDU...Perhaps this group will at

least provide a little online support. I am not sure what to tell

you about your family helping themselves to your SSI money. If you

are living in your parent's home, they may be entitled to some

reimbursement for your rent and living expenses. It hope this is

something you might be able to discuss openly with them.

> Here is another group that might prove interesting to you:

> Ari Ne'eman

> President

> The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

> 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700

> Washington, DC 20036

> http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

> 732.763.5530

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

:

It sounds like you have a great deal to share and a need to talk. I wish we

could do more for you on IPADDU but this group is really a resource for

families, friends, professionals AND self-advocates to share information and for

some support, but not necessarily to share full life stories.

We would be happy to hear from you at any time if you have questions or you have

recommendations for others who ask questions within our group.

Thanks, .

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: New Asperger Support Group for Adults - Arlington

Heights

I did not think to say that this bus driver drove me to and from the

sheltered work shop that I went to and she had s son whith autism.

She later told my dad. I had to jump through some hoops to see if I

qualified. My father was letting use it and they only put the first

check in the bank until my middle sister's husband gained axcess to

the house and stole money it along with my youngess sisters's

squirial bank. I did not know why he was not taken to court though.

He was already on probation for drug posession. Now back to the

money. First my father asked me if he may use the money or account to

help him get a bank loan. This was in 1988 0r 1989. In 1993 0r 1994

my mother said he used it for his utilityies. He said he was helping

me spend it so I can continue to get it. Social Security only wanted

me to spend the increase though. My fahter usually having fancial

problems when he over spend like some governments do or school

dictricts. My father used to borrow what little money I made the

workshop. My Two of my sisters had a job and evenently three of my4

sisters did. My dad used to tell people that my sister opened the

store that she worked at which may show she earned enouph to pay

rent. My father never said I payed rent until I mentioned I am

supposed to have it put in my checking account. An disbilities

advicate from " The Lake County Center For Indepenant Living told me

this and let me talk to a representive when I was going to have my

fahter's and mine septerated. She said it was my own name like last

time when my academic counciler had me talk to one. Someone at the

bank told them that I am old enouph to have it in my own name. The

advocate was told me what to say in a letter, but it would not have

to the right person since my father changed to SSDI or an adult with

a disability instead of SSI. In 2000 or 2001 My father came to my bed

room with a brief case said he changed it so I would get little mor

money and he would pay back the money he borrowed from my pell grant

check and the money. He might have also meant the money he somnehow

took out of my savings account which as half of my Countryside

Assooiation Paycheck. I only got about 40 dollars or 6 dollars for a

a check every two weeks and this was fall 1992 to February 1987. I

mean saved. I also spent the other half sometimes, but also gave my

father a lot of it when he was un employed or when he spent too much.

I was sure I realy had a disability until 2007 when the case manager

said I had aspergers syndrom I needed to a new test since it was over

20 years since the last one. My parents use it for groceries now that

my mother gave up getting a job. My mother used to work part time at

K Mart and had to get a full time job when it was too much for my dad

to have a full time and a part time job. My eldest sister who is a

little over a year youhger than I lived with us until she was thrown

out because of her boyfriend's drinking problem. I can probably tell

she did not pay rent then. The one who had the husband started to

live with her boyfriend at his mother's before they were married. She

had got married because of her pregnancy. She had job at Burger King

while the older one had a job ad Duncan Donuts and then The Super Gap

which was part of The Gap. the second from the youngest had a job I

did not know the name of then she worked at Home Economist which she

worked her way up to opneing and closing the store. She moved out she

got married. She never was told to move out when my mother called the

police n two of her past boyfriends. My parents had people rent the

garage in the early 90's before we moved. My mother was happy about

one of the part time jobs my father had where they could even get new

things for the house even though my mother probably used my money

too. I did not have a job then. My father probably started to use it

for utiliies after he told me about being behind on the bills. He was

unemployed then. He had to pay back taxes and that was probably why

my mother thought they got so much money from it. After we moved my

father started to use the it for his car payment. He got a new car

and let my youngst sister have the used car he bought. He bought a

old used car before, but it was reposssed. He said at the dinnner

table that people at work said he could not afford it. He got a

veteran's loan for the house that we moved into. My father started to

borrow 800 dollars from my pell grant check for it after he alread

got the ssi money which was over 600 dollars. My counselor at Harper

College wanted to have meeting about the social security money to

tell my parents they should let me have it in my own account. The

adviacate from Inpendant Living said it is not my car payment. He

even borrowed for the mortgage. Before he would just move to another

house when he could not afford it. My mother said he even used the

money that our relatives gave to me for a house that we moved out of

about 2 years later. I was only 3 then. I hope this was not too

long. In 2002 I saw the adivicate from " Lake County Center For

Independant Living told me that I should send the letter to Social

Security. There was a health fair at Harper College where there ewas

a Social Security Table and a lady said I should have it in my own

account and before the counelor at Harper said she wanted to have a

meeting with my parents. My mother did not believe me and my father

said the laws did not allow it to be in my own account when it is the

opisite. He said this the next time I brought it up though and my

father said I payed rent that time. My mother said once they should

show me how much hte rent is when I said I wanted to move out. This

was in 1989 or so when my parents rented. My friend 700 was ntthat

much for rent. My youngest sister said she thought was too much when

she found it in Lake Zurich. My parents are charging me about that

much for just a small bedroom. My younest sister has the whole

basement. It floods without a sump pump though. Her daughter lives

here too. She did not have a job when we first moved here. She was 19

when we moved her. My parents let her boy friend stay here too. Now

she does not do that though. They tried to get social securtiy for

her, but she did not get it. She was late in talking though. She

finally got a job after 1998. She probably does not pay rent because

she has a car payment and insurance, a cell phone, cigarett. She usd

have used cars and last year or the year before she got a new car.

She used help her last boy friend. He was not the one who stayed

over, but she stayed at his parents' house on the weekends. She broke

up with him in 2006. My sister has a job at a register at Petco and I

work at Dominicks as a bagger. I used to work at Walgreens. When I

fot that job my father said for me to save for a car. Before I had

the job my wife said she would help me to save some of the socil

security money after I said my father uses all of it. The advicate

said after I told her what my father said about my paying rent now

that if my parents act like land lords to give them some of it. She

wrote a figure down which was less than 200 dollars. My father used

up all of his credit union money after my mother did not go back to

her job or get another one and they got food from out church. They

got most of it from the store though. My father still had a job at

the Postal Service. My mother thought no one would hire her because

of the way her teeth looked. She worked at Target after she did ot

get to transfer to another K Mart. My father would drive her there

and she finally worked at Target. She said she got sick and Target

said she would not get to go back to work until she brought a note

from a doctor.

>

> I had a bus driver friend who told me about SSI and

> about the curcuit breaker, but only got it for one year and my

> parents scared me into letting them use the SSI.

>

> Wm, My heart breaks for you....I'm wondering if you have a

caseworker

> or somebody who could step up to bat for you? Would the Human

Rights

> or Guardianship & Advocacy help? Anybody know? I'm gun shy about

> contacting too many places, as we haven't had much luck with the

> places I have contacted.

>

> When my son was getting SSI, we were told we had to take some of it

> for household expenses, (I was going to use way less than what I

was

> told was the amt we should use).

>

> But I made sure he had what he needed & some of the things he

wanted.

>

> Hope this is happening, in your case.

>

> Liz

>