Frequently Asked Questions

I have a daughter who is diagnosed with Asperger's and she doesn't qualify for disability services through the Department of Economic Security Division of Development Disabilities. She can't find work and has never been on her own. Are there any other resources for adults with Asperger's syndrome? Thank you, Karen.
Dr. Nichols, my son is 27 years old and has Asperger's. He can't drive because he is too emotionally volatile. He experiences road-rage in traffic and is distractible. His social anxiety is so severe that getting on a bus to go to work is troubling to him. Are there any services that could provide transportation to people with Asperger's? Thanks, Mary.
My son who has Asperger's syndrome is 29 years old and lives with us because he can't find steady work and can't afford to live on his own. Are there any group homes for adults with Asperger's syndrome in Tucson? Thank you, Helen.
I am a 33 year old woman who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome a year ago in Tucson, AZ. I have been unable to hold down a job for more than a couple of months. Then I get fired. I would like to go through some kind of job training so that I can keep a job. Are there any state benefits that will give me job or vocational training? Thanks, Kathy in Tucson

I have a daughter who is diagnosed with Asperger's and she doesn't qualify for disability services through the Department of Economic Security Division of Development Disabilities. She can't find work and has never been on her own. Are there any other resources for adults with Asperger's syndrome? Thank you, Karen.

Hello Karen, you may want to help your daughter apply for Social Security Disabiltiy services. Go to your local Social Security office and request an application. You may be able to download an application on line. There is no guarantee that your daughter will qualify but it is worth the try, especially if she suffers with depression, anxiety, OCD, ADD, or any other mental illness along with her Asperger's syndrome.

Dr. Nichols, my son is 27 years old and has Asperger's. He can't drive because he is too emotionally volatile. He experiences road-rage in traffic and is distractible. His social anxiety is so severe that getting on a bus to go to work is troubling to him. Are there any services that could provide transportation to people with Asperger's? Thanks, Mary.

Hello Mary. Many young people with Asperger's syndrome do experience emotional problems associated with driving. Driving requires multitasking and lots of sensory data processing of all kinds: noise, lights, moving vehicles all around, signs, pedestrians, hot sun beating in, and finding ones way to a specific location. Sensory overload and difficulty with multitasking are common problems for people with Asperger's. One possible avenue to take may be professional driving instruction and lots of practice with a responsible adult. People with Asperger's can learn to overcome many of the problems they experience with driving. Counseling may also help. There is a transportation system called Van Tran in Tucson that transports people with disabilities but one has to have received a clear diagnosis that qualifies them for disabilitiy services. At present, Asperger's syndrome is not considered a disabilitiy in the state of AZ. However, if anxiety and/or depression are a significant problem for your son, he may qualify for a mental health disability designation. You would need to go to the Department of Economic Security to initiate that process.

My son who has Asperger's syndrome is 29 years old and lives with us because he can't find steady work and can't afford to live on his own. Are there any group homes for adults with Asperger's syndrome in Tucson? Thank you, Helen.

Hello Helen. You are in good company. There are many parents of adults with Asperger's syndrome who are supporting their adult child(ren) who are having problems launching into an independent life. I do not know of any group homes specifically for adults on the autism spectrum. You may want to call La Frontera, a community mental health agency in Tucson. They have resources for indigent adults with mental illnesses, such as group homes, counseling, and psychiatric services. Since many people with Asperger's syndrome have co-existing conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, ADD, and Tourett's, they often can qualify for services at La Frontera. The adult would have to qualify under La Frontera's income guidelines. Contact them to learn more details: La Frontera Center, Inc, a nonprofit, community-based behavioral health agency, (520) 838-5600, http://www.lafrontera.org/index2.htm

I am a 33 year old woman who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome a year ago in Tucson, AZ. I have been unable to hold down a job for more than a couple of months. Then I get fired. I would like to go through some kind of job training so that I can keep a job. Are there any state benefits that will give me job or vocational training? Thanks, Kathy in Tucson

Hello Kathy in Tucson: I am sorry to announce that at present, AZ state does not consider Asperger's syndrome a disability. Therefore, an adult with an Asperger's syndrome diagnosis does not qualify for state disability benefits through the Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities. There are a number of private organizations and individuals who do career counseling. You will find them under the heading of "Career Counseling" in the Yellow Pages and online. Additionally, there are a number of companies in Tucson that support disabled individuals. I understand that Frys Food and Drug Store is one of them, as is the Century Theaters. You may want to check with the Beacon Foundation also. Many people with Asperger's syndrome find that jobs in call centers work out for them and there are a number of them in Tucson.