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Autism/my son age 12 was diagnoised...

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Expert: - 3/14/2006


Question
my son age 12 was diagnoised with highly functionalm autism will he recive ssi? he is doing well at school but not at home. he has no friends nor wants any

Answer
Hi Vanessa,

I can't tell now, nor can anyone else.  SSI is for those whose disabilities prevent them from earning a living.  He may find his niche in society and do very well.

On the other hand, the social demands of the working world may be too much for him.  Only time will tell.

I do not advocate putting a kid on SSI the minute he is out of public school.  It tells him he has no hope of living on his own.  Bad message.

Adolesence is a hard time for all kids and more so for those with autism.  He may become easier to live with after the hormones settle down.  Set clear limits and stick to them.  He needs to know that he is required to behave at home as well as at achool.  If you need help, find a counselor who can work with both of you.

A good book for you and your son would be "Ask and Tell" edited by Stephen Shore.  It deals with the transition from high school to college or work for those who have grown up with the supports of special education.

Best wishes,
Catherine

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Catherine Ridenour

Expertise

I can answer your questions about parenting your High Functioning Autisic or Asperger`s Syndrome child. In particular, questions about family life, discipline, siblings, finding resources, and working with (sometimes opposing) the educational system are welcome.

Experience

I am the parent of an Asperger's Syndrome child who is now 22 years old. She went undiagnosed for 14 years of her life, so I have done extensive reading and Internet research into the possible cause of her difficulties. Even a short 8 years ago, A.S. was practically unheard of by the public educational system.

We fumbled our way through her childhood and early adolescence without any effective outside support. In some ways, that may have been a blessing as we were focused on her abilities rather than a label for her disability. However, I can think of many times when knowing WHY would have been comforting.

Had we known very early on, some social skills interventions might have made her life in school easier. At this point, I like her for who she is so I do not regret how things have turned out. More importantly, she likes herself.

Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Science in Education.

I have worked to educate myself about Autism in general and HFA/AS in particular.

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