The Policy Gap - Older adults on the spectrum

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I hear you. My current feline mate has recently arrived, he spent 18 months unwanted in a shelter being an "older cat" at 7 when he arrived. He's a handsome and appealing character, age was the only factor as you say that he was passed over . However that meant that I got to live with him eventually :0

Good to know that somebody's out there rooting for older autistic folks.

The system does seem to take the view that if you've survived to adulthood without help, then you don't need any.

I suppose I do have this thought that since I grew up in a era long before Asperger's or HFA were even recognized - I grew up as someone who was very delicate and sensitive but was treated brutally and harshly in a world that could only see my autistic traits as weirdness that did not deserve any empathy, sympathy or consideration. I guess in that sense - I feel quite cheated.

This quote from another WP member references the issue of unsuitable ASD support groups, social isolation within the family of origin, under-employment and an overall sense of exclusion:



"I too was diagnosed later in life ( I'm now 55). I went to a HFA/AS group when I was first diagnosed a few years ago. I pointedly asked "would there be other older adults there?" I was told yes so I went. I found it was full of giggly kids. I have never been back. I too would be somewhat of an underachiever. I have been working in a lab in a steel mill for 11 years but before that I had a hard time finding meaningful (and lasting) work. Prior to getting a diagnosis I was viewed as an eccentric misfit that was too smart for my own good. I would also be described as book smart but socially dumb. Surprisingly, some members of my family seemed to be pissed by my diagnosis. I even have some family members that refuse to talk to me now. Maybe they preferred dealing with an unsure person eager to please than someone that has been diagnosed with AS".

So then that's why it's ultra important to keep up your hygiene and look as cute/handsome/pretty as can be, so that the service agencies will help you the most.

Not always easy, I know.

I'm in Canada, and it was only since October 2013 at the age of 47 that I was finally figured out with HFA.

Now, I have all these orgs. "helping" me. I'm on assistance, and have been out of work since April 2011.

I get that same sense too. That's why in 2013 I told my great grandmother spirit guide that I'd rather just die, and start all over, as another boy, in another city. Thing is that country would be Paris, France and they're even more behind than N. America in terms of autism treatment.

However, I'm not allowed to die. Not until I've had my two sons, and have stayed around long enough to meet my 4 (more or less) grandkids. Otherwise, I've been told that I'd go to Hell if I commmited suicide or wished myself to die (by being hit by a car).

So I'm here for another 35-40 years. Yippee!

It is interesting to see a growing number of people, such as myself, who got our diagnoses later on in life. Whilst I found the diagnosis very liberating in many ways, it also focussed my attention on the lack of services for me going forward. I am lucky to be able to hold down a job - or a series of jobs in reality - but at least I can make some provision for my future. Many more of us are not in this position and I am heartened to see more of us starting to stand up and call for the health and social care support and recognition we deserve.

I will be pushing to include a number of specific social groups for over 45's at our Resource Centres with a view towards breaking social isolation and fostering friendships.

54, and undiagnosed. It seems very difficult, or to me impossible, to have a diagnose and would it be any help?
I'm so depressed still, after a long abusive relationship, anyway I have much trouble standing up for myself, it's become like trauma based behaviour, expecting to be the guilty person of everything !
I need to sort these things out but I keep turning round in circles.

Traven have a look at "traumatic bonding" (google) and see if that seems to be relevant to you.

This is a very good point. A lot of these children who are non-verbal are not going to magically become "normal adults" when they turn 18. They still have to live with the disorder, and often, they end up in group homes that are not adequately equipped to care for them.

Personally I'd be happy with something for, high functioning, adults. Indeed I might find one with such an age criteria less interesting than one which also had younger people. Since plenty of my interests are, if anything, better represented amongst people in their 20s than those in their 40s or 50s.

This is a link to a list assessing trauma symptoms by Dr. Laurence Heller, who especially focusses on developmental/bonding trauma.
http://www.drlaurenceheller.com/collateral/E1TraumaSCheck.pdf

I can completely understand that. The social anxiety group I go to has a huge age range, from early 20s to late 60s, and we all get along really well - there is no generation division within the group. However the older members don't do annoying things which can poison these inter-relationships, like harp on about "how much better things were when I was young"! I stay informed about current things and share my younger life experience only when younger people request it (which they often do, re things like problems or issues they are having at university).

The policy needs of SOTS (Seniors on the Spectrum, like it?! ! I just made that up!) are much wider than groups in which to socialise together though. Financial security is a very important issue, because people on the spectrum have often been under-employed, unemployed or sporadically employed, have faced discrimination and stigma, unsuitable work conditions and so forth, so the capacity to save for retirement has been impaired by having to compete for employment as if they were NT's.

The issues are so much bigger than social contact, not to minimise the importance of that too. Economic oppression affects many of all ages on the spectrum, and I think in a policy sense it needs to be recognised as such, rather than a case by case set of difficulties that each person may have. Policy is very ineffective when it takes the latter view, though support on a one to one basis is valid and important.

There is absolutely lots of economic oppression. The inability to contribute fits right into that. Society generally demands certain things, and we are all subject to those generalities that we can't meet very well. We can't really change society's wants by policy, but maybe we can funnel ourselves into areas that are less general and more specific. I hope that makes sense.

Yeah children do grow up at some point...

I have not read every response to this thread yet just because I have very little time right now, but I did read the OPost and I say Excellent! Absolutely excellent B19. I am so glad you are addressing this. Thank you.

I'm sorry B19, but I am shamelessly going to pinch your 'SOTS', that is just brilliant!

I agree with you wholeheartedly, I guess I am looking towards trying to look at some very "quick fix" ideas in the short term and then try and look to the long term for the wider discrimination and lack of services. So much of this, in the UK certainly but I'm sure it is the same across the globe, comes down to funding. This is where ASC proves problematic as everybody is so different and face very different challenges. That said, with co-ordination, our voices are getting louder and they can only resist for so long!