It'll sound weird but sometimes I wish I was more disabled.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome/PDD when I was a child and I am living on disability while I wait for my vocational training funds that should come through in the summer.

But when I am asked about what I am doing with my life (i.e. am I working or in school), the universal question asked during all first impressions, and I tell them that I am on disability, I find that people respond with this negative attitude towards me, as if they immediately begin to check me out and think, "I don't see anything wrong with you…?"

The three scenarios I have witnessed and/or encountered the most…

Scenario 1:
Person A: "What are you doing with your life?"
Person B: "Oh, I work at x, y, z."
Person: "Wow, that's so cool!"

Scenario 2:
Person A: "What are you doing with your life?"
Person B: "I am attending the University of X, Y, Z."
Person A: "Oh, what are you taking?"

Scenario 3:
Person A: "What are you doing with your life?"
Me: "I am on disability."
Person A: "Oh…*looks me up and down*" and that's the end of that conversation.

People don't think the issues I have are legitimate to warrant needing assistance with employment. The fact that I have a functional body and can talk relatively well (and that's after over a decade of speech therapy and behavioral therapy) must mean I am a lazy person that wants to live off social assistance the rest of his life .

It makes me think that unless I am working or in school people think I am not worth consideration or being around.

[Open Eyes]

((Mr V)),

You don't have to tell anyone you are on disability you know. You can just say you are planning on vocational school sometime next year. You can also say that you have been studying insects and have been photographing them and have given talks at schools etc.

You have to share the things you do have V, you don't have to give people the "negetives" you know. People start those questions to get a conversation going, if you send out a dead end answer, ofcourse you will get nothing, you need to send out information that can be shared more V.

Besides, alot of people are unemployed right now, even with college degrees. So don't think you are alone in the overall struggle these days.

((Hugs))

[-jimi-]

I have a severe physical illness on top of my Asperger's, ADD, depression, anxiety and sleep disorder. It doesn't help, believe me. Those days I'm really suffering I'm told that I'm whining if I mention it. If it shows like my elbow or shoulder lock up or if I'm dead pale from anemia or if I can't breathe normally, people don't see that. If they do, they make it a joke. So naturally I try to appear fine because if I don't, I get harassed. They will just find a new way of harassing you.

Now they might think you look fine. I've been told that to death, by coworkers, family, friends and even doctors. The problem is adding a physical illness they will still think you look fine.

I might die and I get it a lot from people that I'm just lazying around at home.... It's not you it's not me it's those brainless zombies out there that are unable to learn or empathize.