Hi there. My name is Kam

Post Reply New Topic

I'm wondering that if I have autism. I have written to a few autism associations in the US for help, although I'm from Hong Kong. As an adult, I found it difficult to look for an experienced health professionals to make a diagnosis for me here in HK. By the way, I decide to study in a community college in the state, probably in California. I would like to ask for your advices on choosing a CC suitable for people with autistic traits. Thank you.

For more details about me, you could read the email below that I have sent to AutismSpeak which has refered me to this forum for further help.

-------------------------------------

Help!

I am desperate for help. I am a 31 years old man living in Hong Kong. I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety since 2005 by a psychiatrist in the government hospital. A few years ago, I thought that social anxiety was just a "outside" symptom, deep inside my mind I was a person with Autism characteristics. But my psychiatric doctor did not agree that, either two other private psychiatric doctors did.

But recently, I strongly believed I have such characteristics and trying to find a psychologist to do an assessment for me.

However, I am now in trouble. I am being bullied by tens of people outside in person or, i guess, in the forums on the internet. They are my former high school classmates, a teacher and students of the evening school which I have just quitted, also some ex-colleagues who I had been working with, and maybe many others who are doing that secretly. Since they are doing these things undercover, I do not know how many people know my weird situations in this city.

For the case in person, as an example, I had a school picnic last weekend. During the time, a teacher who is also the vice-president of the evening school was trying to tease me by mentioning topics about Disabilities in impolite way, like saying a joke in front of me and other students who are mostly on the side of the teacher. As I have been identified with permanent disability around 2012 by the psychiatric doctor from public hospital, I felt embarrassed and angry when I heard their terrible conversation about disability. The teacher also stated that the disabilities did not deserve to have special arrangement like extended time period in the public examinations, which I have asked for the psychiatric doctor if I am valid for. I am really scared that even the doctor is talking about me anonymously on the internet or else. And strangely, this doctor has been substituted by another new psychiatric doctor in my last follow-up consultation suddenly. This doctor had been following me for more than 5 years, although we had had some bad time occasionally. This is only one of the examples I have cited happened in my past 10 years.

Now I do not believe in the health care system provided by the government or even in private sector. There are only a few hundreds of certified psychiatric doctors and psychologists in Hong Kong. First, I am afraid there are none of them willing to do the autism assessment for an adult. Moreover, these doctors and psychologists may not believe me. I mean they may already have heard about of me from their colleagues or on the internet. As you know, Hong Kong is just a very small yet highly populated city. News can be spread over easily.

For my background, I am a drop-out university student as I could not get used to the environment of a normal university. Then, I have been working in different companies, and none of them could be lasted for more than a year, mostly less than 6 months. In between the intervals of being employed, I also went back to university trying to finish my bachelor degree, but unfortunately I could not, mainly because I felt frustrated to build up a social network in university.

I know my abnormal behaviors and weird thoughts may offense people around me. I am not meant to do it.

Before, I decided to take the public examination next year to update my academic qualification, then try to finish a degree in local. By now, I want to study in a US community college which has friendly environment for people like me. I am looking for an institute suitable for me.

I felt desperate now. I can not find someone familiar to my condition here in Hong Kong. Would you please give me a hand?

Thank you very much.

I'm pretty sure that most colleges and universities in the United States are willing to work with students with disabilities. I don't know of any in California, as I do not live there. But the college I am attending has a supportive services center to help those with disabilities. You may have to have an actual diagnosis to get services or accomodations for autism, such as extended test times.

Should I ask for help directly from the college service center? I'm afraid they would be reluctant to receive my application after I exposed my real status to the school office.

What do you mean by your "real status"? Could you be more specific?

I mean the reality that I have the traits of autism. Moreover, I'm also having regular follow-up consultation by a psychiatrist for my anxiety disorder. Would these things matter when I apply for a college and show them my background of disability?

I doubt it. Sometimes it may help you, if they are looking for those with disabilities to make the campus more diverse.

Hey Kam welcome.

Welcome to WP!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hi guys. Thx for your greetings

I'm not sure should I clarify my health issue in the application

Maybe I can also find some supporting groups near the college. There is a website called GRASP providing such groups worldwide. Is there any other similar organizations there in the US?