Need advice: Appropriate supports- AS adults: indep. living.

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Hello,

Asperger (AS) adults have the least restrictions to independence; yet peroidically need in-depth advice from trustworthy people.

Yet, the social difficulties experienced by people on the Autism spectrum often inhibits the development of both formal and informal relations.

One example regards advice on finances; which periodically goes beyond simple day-to-day budgeting.

The question here is how can AS adults find trustworthy people (to act as advisors) in their own communities; that is advisors who may have had experience in relating with Asperger adults?

Any specific examples of (AS) adults in this Forum who've successfully established relations with trustworthy people willing to act as advisors?

By any chance, have educators i.e., teachers, professors, administrative personnel with secondary and post-secondary schools proven to be one group willing to act on behalf of (AS) adults on the more formal, complex issues that go beyond the typical day-to-day concerns?

Thank-you

Hello,

Thank-you for your response.

I had mentioned educators as one example; in reference to a Aspergers (AS) young-adult's family who listed a trusted friend, and colleague in education as an advisor in a Special Needs Trust.

The needs for appropriate assistance over the short to medium-term are best kept separate from "Special Needs Trusts" and hence are the main discussions in this thread.

Educators are one of several examples of people who can be those "solid, stable citizens" (for lack of a better term) in their commuities; that is people who visibly make long-term investments in their communities; which includes voluntering to assist people (who are too often judged as low priorities in need of assitance).

"Yes, I could go on and on about Aspergers being described as - 'a not disabled enough, not able enough never never land of sorts in the world at large!'"

Professionals (such as financial advisors who've had experience with AS adults) would be terrific; yet it's best to "cast a wide net so to speak!"

In regards to assitance in the adult (AS) community, we often hear terms such as 'self advocacy,' 'life coaches,' and 'Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).'

At this time, LCSWs seem to be the most favorable people to consult, as an LCSW may at least be 'six degrees of separation' from trustworthy people I've spoken about in this thread.

Let's refrain from "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" regarding the posssibilties of benfiting from assistance.

It has become a "self fulfilling prophecy of sorts" that continues to keep "assistance for AS adults almost non-existant" -- despite the several years of Asperger awareness.

In short, Asperger awarenes is at "a tipping point of sorts;" that is the collective conscious of the adult Asperger community is ever ready to leverage Internet, and face-to-face community resources alike to allow a progressive "self fulfilling prophecy of sorts" to actually support, develop, and maintain community resources appropriate for adults with Aspergers!

Thank-you

In the UK, different professional bodies have taken over Asperger's support needs eg social services, mental health charities, probably others.
I have a trustworthy support worker from a mental health charity.