BusynMember
Well-Known Member
Ok, so L. is only sixteen, but that's 1 1/2 years from 18, and he's a sophomore, so he does have two and a half years before he graduates high school. I was wondering how to plan for his adult years NOW so that we don't fall between the cracks. I'd like L. to go to a two year tech college, which is like a junior college in most states, but...how sad is this?...I'm afraid that if he goes, even with a lot of supports and his IEP, he will not get SSI.
My son is a sweet, naive Aspie-type child who was once in a CD class (cognitive delays more due to his social delays than his IQ...it's in the normal range). He is now in labeled Learning Disability (LD) and mainstreamed and getting good grades with minimal supports. However, his case manager at school and me and hub see very clearly that his ability to maintain in school is not going to help him in the world because he will likely have trouble with a mainstream job and certainly with living alone unless somebody checks in on him. And at 53 and 56, we can't live forever. And his sibs don't understand how needy he is. They think because he can talk well and he gets good grades, he will be ok.
Is there a certain good way to prepare for the adulthood of a child like this? Should he be in therapy, even though he is fairly happy and doesn't really need it, but would it help that he's getting therapy for the Aspergers? I can certainly do this.
I think he'll need SSI to supplement his income. I'm sure he can get a local job if they are aware of his special needs, but not a job that will pay the piper without help. And I soooooooooooooo worry about him living alone one day unless he has a worker checking in with him to make sure things are going ok.
Any thoughts from the trenches or is this sort of out of the arena because he has Aspergers rather than a mental illness? All help is greatly appreciated.
My son is a sweet, naive Aspie-type child who was once in a CD class (cognitive delays more due to his social delays than his IQ...it's in the normal range). He is now in labeled Learning Disability (LD) and mainstreamed and getting good grades with minimal supports. However, his case manager at school and me and hub see very clearly that his ability to maintain in school is not going to help him in the world because he will likely have trouble with a mainstream job and certainly with living alone unless somebody checks in on him. And at 53 and 56, we can't live forever. And his sibs don't understand how needy he is. They think because he can talk well and he gets good grades, he will be ok.
Is there a certain good way to prepare for the adulthood of a child like this? Should he be in therapy, even though he is fairly happy and doesn't really need it, but would it help that he's getting therapy for the Aspergers? I can certainly do this.
I think he'll need SSI to supplement his income. I'm sure he can get a local job if they are aware of his special needs, but not a job that will pay the piper without help. And I soooooooooooooo worry about him living alone one day unless he has a worker checking in with him to make sure things are going ok.
Any thoughts from the trenches or is this sort of out of the arena because he has Aspergers rather than a mental illness? All help is greatly appreciated.