Are there any independent aspies here?

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Are there any aspies here who don't have troubles with anything like can you manage your money and budget, hold down a job, take care of yourself, drive a car? Any aspies here who actually do meet that part in the criteria where you don't lack adaptive skills or self help?

I feel like I'm the only one here who can do all those things so I'm wondering if there are any aspies on here who can do all those things too.

I am a lisenced driver, and I hold down a job. Budgetting effectively is tough tough work for me. Taking care of myself, or at least my diabetes is really hard. In general, I get along ok, but if I didn't have my bf here splitting the efforts in half, I'm not sure at all where I'd be.

I did 6 years in the military, got married, completed an Undergraduate degree, own a small condo and a car and have been consistently, if poorly, employed since leaving the military in 1992.

There are difficulties, but there are work arounds for most of them.

I don't have any diagnosis and I don't know if I have AS. But:

Money

I can manage my money (very well, IMO)

Jobs

I have a job since 1999 (I had two jobs: in 2003, I quit my first to go to my present job).

Downsides:

- I spend 4 years in job interviews until I am accepted in a job

- My direct boss does not have many trust in me in matters involving social relationships. An example: when the management changed, somy years ago, he said to me "The new managers don't know you. We will try that, in the first times, they don't have much contact with you. If you have to talk with them, try to have a behaviour according to the uses of civilized people"

Drive a car

I drive. However I had to take 114 driving lessons before I get my drivers licence.

Taking care of myself

Things that I can't do in these field:

- Ironing clothes
- I only know to cook a very few dishes

I`ve worked driven and lived independently since I left school in the 80s and own my own home.Aspies should be able to use their focus and persistance to achieve anything.

Yes, I can just about manage my money, take care of myself, drive a car. I've never been very lucky with holding down a job though because of problems relating to people. So the things from the list that I can do, can be done without relating to other people.

I have High Functioning Autism and I can say that I am independent.

I sort out my own budget.
I dont have a job, I get paid from the government, but I am not lazy! I write/draw a comic book that I want to be big someday.
The police said I cant drive because of my autism but I do ride a bike.
I can cook, do dishes, do the laundry, and take showers.

And people still see me as incompitent. T.T

can you manage your money and budget,
Yes, i'm in charge of out money.
hold down a job,
Yes
take care of yourself,
And someone else too, if necessary
drive a car?
Since I was 15
Any aspies here who actually do meet that part in the criteria where you don't lack adaptive skills or self help?
Oh I've got my problems. And I do meet the criteria. Years of "sink or swim" taught me to deal.

- I manage all of my accounts and bills on my own.

- I manage my schedule with University and other commitments.

- I will cook and clean if I have to. Personal hygiene is no problem.

- I haven't had problem holding down employment.

- I can drive, but I haven't bothered trying to get my full license due to lack of time (and lack of instructors willing to work evenings).

I did get two master's degrees and I published two books.

I need help with budgeting. I can't drive. I'm on SSDI. I haven't been able to work at any job more than a year and a half, and I have more gaps in my resume than swiss cheese. I had to rely on family a lot.

Sorry---accidentally did a double post. Real post is below.

Last edited by glider18 on 04 Mar 2009, 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I not only support myself, but my wife, daughter, her boyfriend (on occasion), and granddaughter.
Been driving since 1977, even had a house once...

How can aspies meet the criteria if they lack self help skills or cognitive or adaptive?

That's why I say the criteria is bull and no wonder one of my online friends say lot of aspies don't meet it, because of that one part in the criteria they don't meet because they have problems with self help skills and adaptive and it says there is no delay in it. It also hurts them too because the ones who do need extra help don't get it because the gov thinks aspies are sooooo close to normal they can make it in the real world without help. They have to have other conditions too that would give them extra help.

I have lived independently or semi-independently since I was 18. I remember to pay the bills. I drive. I can cook enough to feed myself. I can dress myself. I can take care of my hygiene, but like most aspies I neglect it. I never get lost if I study the map first. I have lived on family owned land since I was 23 simply because rent got too high. The only thing I can't do is hold down a job. I started a business from scratch, but the economy killed it on startup. Now I'm starting another one. I have a college education, albeit just a two year degree, and a computer technician certification.

I used to never fold my clothes, just leave them wadded up in the hamper and grab what I needed. Finally my mom bought me a brand new chest of drawers (vertical dresser) so I'd put my clothes away. Eventually, it worked, but it took a year. I remember to take my medication, although it took some training with a pill timer. I built my own computer. I budget, the best I can, but it took some learning.

I am pretty much self-sufficient. I must be very HF-it seems that most aspies end up relying on parents or spouses to do much of their everyday stuff for them. Even Warren Buffett relies a lot on his wife, he's NEVER been able to cook or dress himself, despite being the world's richest man. He can't cook his own hamburgers, but at least he has the money not to. I do grill my own, with an electric grill.

I'm sure there's a bunch of us.

I used to have a decent job. I Finished college and beyond. I have a car. Married 20 years, and didn't want out until six months ago. (Stupid bas***d.) Managed a check book and stuff. I have two teenagers, and I know that I'm a better mom than most. They were my obsession. I'm a little lost lately, cause they hardly need anything. I stink at housework. Everyone figures I'm lazy & depressed, which is partly true. But it's more than that. Probably something about executive function.

Mainly, my issues are about social interaction.