Whats Happening Fellow Boat Riders!!

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Hi,
My name is Joel and I'm 44. It’s good to have a site and forum where I can relate to people with the same condition. I was labeled a "Hyper-Active" kid by my mother and her research led her to one Dr. Feingold (feingold dot org) back in the 70s. Concluding that artificial flavors and colors where the bane of my erratic existence and they must be banished from my diet at once! All the while, it was difficult to interact with other kids at school and around the neighborhood.
I had a real problem picking up on the body language or telling when a kid was joking around or serious, so I was easy to mislead or trick making me quite gullible. When I was in my junior year of High School, I was doing well in English, Computers and History however, I was having a real bad time with Algebra and Biology.
In 1996, my mother decided that I needed to see the school psychologist. He ran some tests and concluded I had a LD (Learning Disability) and I was put in a special "Psychology of Life" IRC Group Discussion class for on of my periods. We would sit around and discuss or problems and issues, or not say anything, Kinda like a verbal therapy thing. I don't believe it did much good. With the proliferation of the internet, I started researching my "LD".
I personally concluded I had Non-Verbal LD at the time. I was never given any diagnosis paperwork from the school Psyche, I wrote him once for a record but received no reply. So having no proof, I kept it to myself and stayed working. I have always had social-interactive issues with peers and supervisors.
It's like an anxiety builds up with any mistakes I make that I somehow appear or behave different from others, making me stand out. It’s difficult to hide my emotions and facial expressions appearing to be mad or stressed out to others.. It's only recently that I have refined my self-diagnosis to High-Functioning Asperger. I have never run across someone on the "Street" with High-Functioning Asperger, not an easy thing to spot as you might imagine.
I have always wanted to get a formal diagnosis from a clinical/neuro psychologist or Autism specialist but my financial resources are limited. I am not sure what the cost of a typical diagnosis runs. And No, I'm not looking to jump on SSI "just because", I would like to avoid that if possible and have a rewarding career. However, If somehow my condition worsens, I wouldn't mind having certifiable proof and help if I need it.

Welcome to the community.

G'day Joel
Welcome to WP and what is SSI ?

Hi Bill,
Sorry about that, I should have explained. SSI is Supplimental Security Income from the U.S. Government Social Security Adminstration. Its basically financial (Stipend) assistance for those who are physically or mentally disabled in some way and cannot work a full-time career. A person is usually assigned a county social worker and checked on from time to time. From what I understand, You can work part-time but only up to a certain amount, I think $1,010 a month.

Hello.

It isn't shameful to be on SSI if you actually need it (that is, you actually can't work full time). I think this is true for most SSI recipients, by the way--most of them can't work full time, or, at least, when they started getting SSI, they couldn't. At the very least, they were out of a job and needed the cash.

Well, anyways. Like I was saying. It isn't shameful to be on SSI.

I agree. If I have no other choice, I'll opt for it.

Oh OK, we have similar thing here I believe.
You wouldn't be buying champagne on it from what I understand.
My aspie traits were never realised by my parents or teachers and I seem to have slipped through the gaps undetected until a few weeks ago.
I worked as a auto mechanic, drove trucks and currently work as, I think you call them longshoreman. Loading and discharging ships. Money's OK but it's shift work, which is a bit of a mongrel.
I google mapped La Porte, pretty part of the country huh? Looks flat, no hills. You a fisherman by chance?

No, I work as a contractor for one of the chemical plants close by. Just electrical repair work. The pay is decent and were not rushed to fix everything were assigned that day. Not a bad gig really. Houston is about a half hour drive away. I'm not from here so I'm getting to know the area.