[snapdragon928]

But He won't go to be tested. He knows of others who are friends with more severe asperger symptoms, and they are having trouble getting diagnosed and signed up for assistance. He has held a job in a school for special needs/autistic individuals for like five years where he used to live in Denver, but his contacts are not contactable. so the experience isn't shown here, and our schools you need a special license. So He has had on again off again jobs working with children to young adults in their homes as an aid. He can relate to kids well. It's adults he can't deal with. And adults hand out the jobs. I have offered him rides since he doesn't drive, and his wife takes care of her grandma. I just would like to see him get the help he needs, with out causing a stir where he gets his jobs from-CMH. Where he would likely have to go to start the diagnosis. I guess I have to accept that he will do this when he is ready, not on my time.

[birdcrazy]

Yeah, let him do it on his own time. Also does he really need a dx? I've heard people say different things about that to me. It is one more label, but it's also a relief knowing what is wrong and trying to get help for it.

That's about all I can say.

Oh, and CMH for the local mental health must me pretty common in Michigan, we use that term too, but oddly where I used to live in Calhoun county we didn't.

[Astridetal]

Well, if your brother is reasonably functional, chances are a dx won't help him, because you have to be relatively severe to qualify for assistance/services. Another reason for a dx could be confirmation of his self-dx, but that is up to him to decide whether he wants it or not. I was self-dx'd for several years, but I didn't obtain an official dx until I was totally getting stuck in life.

[Callista]

Yes, if he's employed and doing fine, does he need a diagnosis?

You have to understand--AS isn't something you "get help" for and it goes away. It's something he'll always have, something he'll always be, his whole life. It's the way his brain is wired, naturally, developmentally; not some kind of imbalance.

If he's coping on his own fine, getting the resources he needs without outside help, then there's no need for a diagnosis.