What kind of support did you get while growning up/now?

[Shamar]

I never did because I was never diagnosed. But I'm sure I have Asperger. I even flap my fingers all the time, and a million other things. I never got any support from anyone, including my parents, who think everyone should be the same, it's wrong to be different. And have ordered me to make friends, and to follow the crowd and always do what the other girls were doing.

Ditto, except I'm a guy. No support until diagnosed at age 60, after which.........no support.

 

[Major Tom]

Zero really, then or now. Parents even reject my diagnosis now after being diagnosed twice. Support from the country? Hahaha... Nope

 

[midlife aspie]

It seems to be a fact that it is up to ourselves and each other for support. One cannot expect understanding from those who cannot or will not understand.

 

[Khendra]

I didn't need supports growing up, and I wasn't diagnosed until I was two months short of 30. I was presumed to be eccentric, shy, and nerdy. I did well academically without any accommodations, graduating with a degree in English. It wasn't until I had lots of problems with friendships and employment that I sought out diagnosis.

 

[Metalhead]

During fifth and sixth grade, I was in a specialized school with other children who had autism. There, I was just another kid.

But my mother decided that I belonged in the public school districts. The public school districts did not want to have anything to do with me, so they stuck me in their program for students who were in and out of the legal system, despite the fact that I was nonviolent. I was an autistic child who had meltdowns being placed in a classroom full of gangbangers, essentially. That did not end up well for me at all. Those were my middle school years in a nutshell. By the time high school came around, I trusted no doctors, I trusted no teachers, I did not trust anybody at all. It was not until I turned 18 and I started to take control of my own treatment that I started to have some degrees of hope.

 

[Peter Morrison]

My difficulties in school slid under the radar many times. ASD was not commonly understood, so I just kept on confusing my teachers with poor work and exceptional work. Consequently, I took to activities and projects that many on the spectrum prefer to satisfy hyper focus interests. I still believe that if I had been diagnosed with ASD, I would not have understood what to do about it. Tutors might get you over 1 bump in the road, but nobody recognized what I needed to do about the other 100 coming. In short, no guidance, Just a lot of stress and failure.

 

[Judge]

None. Doctors in the early 60s pronounced me as being "just fine".

But I did get a jock strap in high school. Does that count?

 

[OkRad]

Similar story here.

I got a lot of family support, but when they took me to specialists, it was downright horrific. Those of you that got no help may have been better off than getting the nightmare "help" I got.

 

[felines are superior]

During fifth and sixth grade, I was in a specialized school with other children who had autism. There, I was just another kid.

But my mother decided that I belonged in the public school districts. The public school districts did not want to have anything to do with me, so they stuck me in their program for students who were in and out of the legal system, despite the fact that I was nonviolent. I was an autistic child who had meltdowns being placed in a classroom full of gangbangers, essentially. That did not end up well for me at all. Those were my middle school years in a nutshell. By the time high school came around, I trusted no doctors, I trusted no teachers, I did not trust anybody at all. It was not until I turned 18 and I started to take control of my own treatment that I started to have some degrees of hope.

This is so wrong, and so sad.

 

[Nellie]

I was diagnosed about 5 years ago, when I turned 10 which is also the year we decided to start homeschooling me. I've had an EA every year to help with my school and a BI and at one point had a speech therapist and an OT. I'm doing a lot better now though so I just have my EA. A lot of my school has been adapted to how I learn and it makes it a lot easier for me, like I might have to take an extra year of school just to finish everything off. I'm glad I got the support I did though.

 

[LadyBird84]

I didn’t get support as a child because I was only diagnosed as an adult. When I was diagnosed age 29 I wasn’t eligible for any support because I functioned reasonably well.

I’m currently looking into an institute that offers coaching for high functioning adults on the spectrum. I think it could be useful for me.

Since I think we're in the same country.. Would you mind sharing the name of the organisation? Or is it something very local to you? I think something like that could really help me too.
PS. If you're not comfortable sharing I completely understand.

 

[Mr Allen]

My sister in law is an Occupational Therapist in London, England. However a few years ago when I was still living at Home, we had one come up and she was a complete nightmare! She had me make Cheese on Toast myself, which was a complete nightmare, I hate Cheese on Toast anyway but that's beside the point, the way she tried to "teach" me to do it was completely wrong on a LOT of levels, even my carer agreed.

The final straw was when I had 2 hands full with a tray of Cheese on Toast and a coffee, I asked the OT to get the Kitchen door for me and she refused saying "What would you do if I wasn't here?", by this point I'd had more than I could take of HER so I blew my top!

All that from Cheese on Toast? WTH?!

 

[Bolletje]

Since I think we're in the same country.. Would you mind sharing the name of the organisation? Or is it something very local to you? I think something like that could really help me too.
PS. If you're not comfortable sharing I completely understand.

Ordevos coaching

 

[Amber Cook]

At the time I started school (1987 ish), ASD wasnt a thing. For the most part, I got very good grades, except for Math. I did excellent at reading, so much so that in first grade, I was working out of the fourth graders textbook. While I did well grade wise, socially.....not so much. Granted I wasnt the type to get in trouble, but I had a very tough time all through childhood relating to my peers. While most of my peers were into the typical pop culture stuff, I was into far more obscure things. Things like mythology, silent films, a wide variety. I thought it was normal at first to be into things like that, until I got older and became more aware that it wasnt. Because I didnt relate to them, I kept to myself alot. To most, including my family, I was just a very weird kid and Im not sure if they ever considered that something might be up. My family was and still is the type that if something is off, they prefer to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. So even if they had know, I highly doubt they would have done anything to help me.

 

[megacomic]

Growing up people hated me because I was odd. Kids at school I never even talk to would say things like "I hate that kid he's so weird why does he even go to this school?" Thats about the closest thing I had to support.

 

[Tesseract]

No support whatsoever, but a great deal of stupidity and intolerance came my way. There is never a shortage of that for some weird reason. We hear a great deal these days about how we should all be "tolerant" and accept differences, but that general rule doesn't apply to those who think differently, or see the world in a way that ensures they simply cannot conform to the demands of a society that is profoundly sick.

 

[Comradelisa]

My mom is very supportive, when I go somewhere I've never been before, she makes sure I find it and gives me the sdress and I can call her and stuff, my mom read books about aspergers aswell

 

[Benboy0202]

I also had no help as a child because like many I was only diagnosed as an adult.
Looking back my parents thought I was a naughty child/teen who was rebellious in many ways. In school I was bullied on a daily basis for the whole of my secondary school life and still suffer the repercussions to this day eg anxiety, nightmares, socialising etc.
As I left my teens and and school I had few qualifications and therefore ended up taking a job in a factory where to my horror the bullying began again! After enduring a further two years of abuse I left and tried my hand at care work in a residential home, only taking the night shifts due to what I now realise was my attempt to limit the people around me and over time I became a recluse. Eventually I moved on from the care system and began working in various pubs as a chef. Once again I preferred to work later shifts and almost quit when I was told that front of house training eg bar work might be required. It also seemed impossible that lightning could strike for a third time but I was once again bullied, regularly underpaid and not given sufficient hours despite this being in my contract.
In early 2010 I quit my job and locked myself away in my bedroom of my parents house where I had always lived with my two sisters and fell into a deep depression.
I would hardly speak to anyone in the coming months until my father announced that we were selling the family home and leaving in the coming weeks.
During this time I felt extremely depressed and contemplated suicide on many occasions until the dreaded day came when we upped sticks and left. Not having an immediate property to move into the family became scattered and I found myself living in B&Bs for several months until one night I finally snapped! I went down the woods late one night after having a lot to drink and too a knife with me to end it. It was only after I had deep lacerations to my arms and wrists and I was bemoaning the knife blade having snapped off that I went to my sisters and the police and ambulance services were called.
I suddenly found myself in Arrow Park hospital being bandaged up.
My dad was with me and we spent hours waiting for and then seeing as specialist who was almost positive that I had aspergers syndrome and once discovering the various symptons I knew that this explained a huge part of my life.
My constant anxiety in most situations, my inability to talk to people and make friends, my subservient attitude in school and work and the noises and beatings I had been giving myself due to sheer frustration at the person I was. Suddenly I had answers and I had the ability to rectify many of the problems that had plagued my life for so long!
Over the coming months I gained a better understanding of my condition and had since moved to Wales with my parents to start a new journey.
It took some time to get settled and apply for the help that we new was available for people with aspergers and the various ends of the spectrum that there is with different individuals.
I could go on all day as I seem to be doing, but to cut a longer story short I now have a team of wonderful experts behind me who encourage me to be the best I can be despite having limitations. I go out shopping and catch public transport which I had completely sworn off in the past. I have also found the basic skills to communicate with people in society again and in the near future I will be starting a fitness by referral course at my local gym to not only improve health but further advance my integration back into society.
With the aid of anti depressants I also have a more positive outlook on life that I used to have and no longer feel suicidal or self harm.
Whilst I know aspergers can never be cured it can be managed and improve over time with the right help and support.
I would urge anyone who can relate to my story and who suffer in numerous ways to tell someone how you feel and never bottle up your emotions.
I had all but given up and now I have a new fresh outlook on life.

Thanks , Ben

 

[Mr Allen]

I get support now from a company called Choice Support UK, based in Nottingham but have an Office in Sheffield.

The support workers are beyond excellent, but the Managers have NO communication skills, they never answer the phone or respond to email correspondence, this is a problem that needs to be addressed with the local Social services IMO.

 

[Progster]

Managers have NO communication skills, they never answer the phone or respond to email correspondence

People in general are spectacularly bad at replying to emails and communicating. It's not such a big deal for social emails, but when you are trying to run a business that relies on good communication, it's a nightmare.