40 year old son with Aspergers? How can we get help for him??

January 26, 2011

Hi! I have a highly intelligent son by the name of Adam who will turn 40 in

March. He has a Masters in Public Policy from Berkeley and a law degree. For

the last 15 years or so Adam has progressed to the point that he is now living

with my ex-husband in San Diego (I live in Oregon) and spent a year living with

my brother in San Diego after he graduated from law school. There is a great

deal of history here to include a psychotic breakdown while in D.C. where he

went to work after Berkeley, and progressive signs of what I feel is Aspergers.

He fits all criteria and I feel he was subtle while growing up as a child and it

just was not noticed. Now he cannot find employment or operate in social

situations with skill.

The hardest part of all this is that he does not feel that anything is wrong

with him. so seeking help or support is very difficult as he is a grown man and

we cannot force him. After a conversation with his father this evening I had to

attempt to reach out for possible resources and ways to get Adam to recognize

that he does need help.

Can anyone out there provide resources to tap into, and possible ways to

approach Adam to get him some help? He has no health insurance at this point,

but I feel that counseling or some sort of therapy would be most helpful so

that he can recognize that he is functioning in a different way than most

people. Perhaps then he can be open to support so that he can live a full life

and realize his dreams.

Deep gratitude to anyone out there that can provide some information resources!

Gaye

January 27, 2011

I think the best bet would be to find a psychiatrist to help

you perhaps get him on a low dose of SSRI (zoloft, lexapro, luvox)

if he has anxiety or a low dose of Abilify if he is very withdrawn.

If the psychiatrist sees him as emotionally distrubed you

can get him on SSID disability and he would get Medicare

and a check ($400-$600 month). Most likely you need a special

needs lawyer to help with this process.

It probably is his emotional problems that prevent him

from working.

I think trying to prove he has a developmental disability is

harder to do. You need a neuropsychological evaluation,

that he has to cooperate with. It would help

narrow down the diagnosis. Having a developmental

disability may get some extra services depending on the

state you live in. I think the first step is get him

medicare and SSID. Most states may have a process for

medicaid and a small check until he qualifies for

medicare.

I would also look for a therapist that specializes in

DBT. In DBT they teach skills to live a better life.

It does not require insight. AS people often

argue with insight approaches. In DBT he would be

validated (what ever he thinks) yet encouraged since

it is not working so well to try some other steps.

DBT is usually used for people that have personality disorders.

Some may tell you it doesn't make sense. But AS people

can be very ridgid thinkers and not agreeable to cognitive

therapy alone.

Best of luck,

Pam

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> Hi! I have a highly intelligent son by the name of Adam who will turn 40 in