"Diagnosed" With Asperger's by a School Diagnostician

Page 1 of 1 [ 5 posts ] 

futuresoldier1944
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

Joined: 2 May 2017
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 204
Location: USA

19 May 2017, 1:12 pm

How many of you were formally diagnosed with Asperger's or other autism spectrum disorder by a psychiatrist or psychologist? How many of you just received a finding or determination that you had Asperger's or other autism spectrum disorder from a school diagnostician or other education official?

I only received a finding that I had Asperger's from a school diagnostician when I was in high school. I have never sought a formal diagnosis for Asperger's. One reason is that I haven't thought it to be necessary. And another reason is that I have been afraid that a formal diagnosis for Asperger's might impair future job opportunities with the U.S. government for me, including a prospective job process that I'm going through right now. However, I did visit with a mental health counselor for my Asperger's off and on for about 9 years. And I've recently been asking him for advice on how to solve a personal social problem that I've been having.



kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

19 May 2017, 2:16 pm

I wouldn't worry about the government "finding out."

You're not put in a government database for something like "Asperger's."

If they do explicitly ask about a diagnosis on your application, I would tell the truth about it, though. If not, don't say anything.

The government is not as thorough when screening candidates for civilian positions that don't require a security clearance. If you already happen to have one, more power to you.

Even if a security clearance is required, I don't believe "Asperger's" back in your school days would disqualify you.



futuresoldier1944
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

Joined: 2 May 2017
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 204
Location: USA

06 Jul 2017, 1:23 am

Who on here has Asperger's and either has or had a U.S. government security clearance or has experience with the U.S. government security clearance process? I have Asperger's and am going through the security clearance process in order to obtain employment with a U.S. federal government agency.



sun.flower
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 10 Jun 2017
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 62

06 Jul 2017, 2:27 pm

I was looking into government jobs at one point and the things that stood out to me were questions on whether you have a mental illness, have you ever been hospitalized for it, (aside from the more obvious questions about jail time, committing crimes) as well as they want you to not have used any illegal drugs in the past year.



rowan_nichol
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Jul 2016
Age: 61
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 773
Location: England

07 Jul 2017, 3:07 pm

I think it unlikely any who has security clearance would disclose this. Clearance means access to confidential stiff, stuff which if revealed could put important things st risk, which could include people's lives. It would also put their own security at risk.