Advice on getting eval inexpensively?

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I'm a 57YO woman and I know I'm an Aspie, but I've never been evaluated. I've heard it's expensive. Does it have to be expensive? Is there a way of getting evaluated inexpensively?

At your age of 57 years, why is it so important to obtain such a costly evaluation for Asperger's Syndrome?

Since you live in Philadelphia, PA, you might try to obtain an evaluation through one of the major universities which has a Graduate Program in Psychology if one exists in your area. Oftentimes, colleges and universities offer psychological services and evaluations to members of it community
at a much reduced cost in order to provide their Graduate Students of Psychology with opportunities to practice their skills before graduating.

Thanks for your suggestions, but why wouldn't I want an evaluation because of my age? As a child and adolescent, and even young adult, I was called lazy, stupid, and crazy because of the way I am. As an adult I've encountered NTs who think Asperger's (and ADD and other tendencies) doesn't exist--that we're just obstinate, contrary whiners. I don't owe them an explanation. We don't owe it to NTs to justify ourselves. I'd just like an evaluation. I could learn useful things from it. I don't see what age has to do with it.

Also, I'm new to this community. What does NT stand for?

NT = neurotypical.

as for inexpensive evaluation I don' know what to say besides trying a psychiatrist who might diagnose you with 10 other disorders instead of AS because you're too old for a school evaluation.

NT = neurotypical.

as for inexpensive evaluation I don' know what to say besides trying a psychiatrist who might diagnose you with 10 other disorders instead of AS because you're too old for a school evaluation.

wollstonecraft, if your resources are as meager as mine, I recommend looking up a local Not-for-Profit or Government subsidized Mental Health care facility. I went in for help with chronic depression and told the therapist that I suspected I might have AS and asked her opinion. After some weeks of examination, she referred me to that facility's licensed Psychologist for evaluation and after a battery of tests, he diagnosed me.

As for the very rude question of why a mature adult might want an official diagnosis - in the US at least, it can qualify you for SSI Disability benefits - for those of us who've spent thirty-plus years in the work force, being fired from job after job after job, unable to prepare any kind of stable financial future, it's a tremendous relief to know you can qualify for some kind of assistance now that your very age keeps anyone from hiring you. Otherwise, a lot of us would end up in homeless shelters, or sleeping under a bridge somewhere.

Thanks so much for all of the replies, everyone. I'm very glad to have found this site.

I am in the same place and I didn't know they were expensive. I just can't find anyone to evaluate an adult. Someone suggested looking at U of Penn but just the thought of the many phone calls and explanations and voice mails is too much. I can't do that. It takes me weeks to be able to call one number and every refusal to evaluate me sets me back even further.
Let me know if you have any more luck than I've had.
BTW, I live right across the Walt Whitman.

I believe GRASP (grasp.org) has a Philadelphia group that could prove useful. GRASP, in case the group is unfamiliar, is a support group for AS, and often has good resources and contacts. You can simply use their website to find out, saving the frustration of phone calls, which I know from experience can be very irritating.

I'm quite a few years older than the OP and I certainly don't see what's so odd about wanting an evaluation for AP.

After years of struggling to achieve the kind of life that seems the norm for most of the people around me it would be a relief to have confirmation that there is a reason for the way I am.

Living in the UK I am presently attempting to get a diagnosis on the National Health but it's a real struggle. I can appreciate that they want to give help to younger people but all I'm asking for is a diagnosis - I don't feel the need for therapy since, over the years, I think I've done a pretty good job with self-therapy.

I'm happy with my own viewpoint of myself, combined with what I've learned about autism, Asperger's, and the spectrum, along with the results of the Aspie Quiz.

Although, in my case, I'm not sure I'd get one, especially without digging into my past, which I'm really not interested.

I know I'm different. I know that understanding autism has helped me understand my differences. I've no reason to invest much in outside confirmation.

But, if someone wants it, and is willing to go through the trouble and spend the time money (however much or little trouble, time, and money it may be) to get that confirmation, then, that's fine.