Anyone declared disabled b/c they have AS?

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how do they qualify you as disabled to the point you can"t work?

I'm declared disabled for the purposes of being covered by my moms insurance for longer (as long as I live at home) because I'm considered a dependant. My mom used my AS diagnosis for this purpose. I don't get disability money because I am still living at home and depending on my mom's income for my living expenses.

yes id' have no idea why either

Lots of data-gathering. Of course they have a doctor examine you. They will also talk to friends, family, etc., and have you fill out lots of forms asking you everything from "Can you pay your own bills" to "Can you use a toilet". It's somewhat embarrassing because everything's about what you can't do, and feels quite invasive. But the people who go through it are usually desperate enough to stay warm and fed that they put up with it.

Hey, Washingtonians whose brains I can pick!

Is there any way to get DSHS to arrange for the diagnosis process? I can't even begin to afford that on my own - I currently get $704/mo for watching my daughter (Exceptional Family Member Program - her stepfather is in the Army).

This is the process that I am going through:

I applied for disability lifeline. After examining my work history and reported symptoms, I was diagnosed with some stuff and labeled "unemployable." They then gave me a small monthly stipend, Medicaid, and assisted with applying for SSI.

The thing is when they evaluate you, you'll see a psychiatrist who will give you an hour-long interview and if they think anything stands out, give you the personality assessment inventory (PAI).

In my evaluation, I was asked to interpret an idiom ("Don't judge a book by its cover") and I suspect that had I interpreted it literally (as I really wanted to do, but I was asked what it meant, not what my first thought was - oh compounded literalness!) that there would have been more interviewing to determine if Asperger's would make a good provisional diagnosis.

I don't know what all the information is that was written down, but apparently in my evaluation I was also described as having "limited social function."

That idiom is really common, and easy to decipher/learn the meaning of, it's not really fair to use it... :p

Last edited by dunbots on 30 Mar 2011, 12:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

My previous therapist gave me the PAI in 2009. I wasn't aware of it being used to diagnose anything.