The school psych thinks that my son as Apsergers not ADD. Others have suggested that I look into that before, including this site, but we have had some psychs and Dr.s say they don't think so, so it seemed that they ruled it out. Much of what I read did not seem to apply, but as she was pointing out some of the things he did, it finally makes sense like that AHA moment. The ADD never seemed to explain everthing.

I spoke to my psych and he said that was not his first thought, but that he didn't have that much experience with Aspergers, but the school psych has worked with lots of Aspie kids. My first thought was that I should go to Children's and finally do the full testing, but my psych said to be careful getting him diagnosed because that will carry with him forever and may cause problems down the road with things like job discrimination. What????

I am going to get him diagnosed anyway. Any bad experience out there with discrimination?

I would also love to here from those with AS about their experiences, and what has been helpful.

I'm not an aspie, but...

Well, it is always good to know what is really going on when dealing with these matters. There are some drawbacks.

A lot of places do not consider AS to be a disability. A diagnosis of ADHD is universally considered to be a disability. A lot of people who have AS are underemployed and underpaid because they have AS. It is amazing, and a sad comment on our societal values when a brilliant aspie with a PhD has a hard time getting an appropriate job with an honest wage because he has a neurological disorder.
It may be better to be considered to be a little eccentric and sneak by in society...

Consequently it is a lot easier to be discriminated against for having AS as compared to ADHD. It can also be harder to get aid from county, and state organizations that are supposed to help those with a disability. If he has both he is covered as far as getting benefits goes because ADHD is an "official" disability"....

ME :D

So maybe, what you are implying is that we can get an IEP based on ADD. But not get an offical diagnosis with the Asperger's. But knowing that he has those characteristics, we could deal with them anyway?

I don't know what the laws are in your state. You need to find out. But from what I've been reading on the forums it is easier if adhd is deemed to be present... don't hold me to this. I'm no expert in this area, but I know there are issues. I just thought I"d bring it up in case nobody else did.


ME :D

we need to hear from some parents and educators in the forums on this.
There is some info on it in the autism forum in the "So you think you have Aspergers syndrome" thread.

ME :D

Thanks.

Consequently it is a lot easier to be discriminated against for having AS as compared to ADHD. It can also be harder to get aid from county, and state organizations that are supposed to help those with a disability. If he has both he is covered as far as getting benefits goes because ADHD is an "official" disability"....

ME :D
Odd, because it seems to me that AS is more 'disabling'
than ADHD, though I guess that depends on how severe the ADHD is. I suppose it's because ADHD has more awareness associated with it.

Has anybody looked into if the has a Non Verbal Learning Disorder? NVLD can mimic both AD/HD and Aspergers.

By the ways just having AD/HD, Aspergers, or any other condition does not automatically make a student eligible for an IEP. There has to be a measured difference in the testing scores to qualify for an IEP. It differs from state to state though. I worked with several students who had these conditions yet didn't qualify for IEPs.

Students should be eligible for a 504 with these conditions though. However, it not automatic. The disability must interfere with the students learning. Make sure you are documenting ALL of the struggles your child is having including social issues. If your child seems to be doing fine during the day at school but come home and falls apart make sure you document that.

I'm not sure how old your child is but getting him the help now to help through his school years is more important than the possibility that he may get discriminated at work in 10 or 15 years.

Aspergers is covered under the ADA. It's falls under the autism spectrum depending who does the diagnosing it's may also be called PDD.

By the ways just having AD/HD, Aspergers, or any other condition does not automatically make a student eligible for an IEP. There has to be a measured difference in the testing scores to qualify for an IEP.It's the same situation where I live.

Odd, because it seems to me that AS is more 'disabling'
than ADHD, though I guess that depends on how severe the ADHD is. I suppose it's because ADHD has more awareness associated with it.

This study mention how ADHD is more severe for somethings.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16682102&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum

talks about meds and ASD

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16919137

There is a good bit of overlap between ADD and Aspergers. You mind find the book The ADHD Autism Connection by Diane Kennedy interesting.


Take care,
Scattered