Guineapigged

The psychiatrist who diagnosed me with Asperger's has written that I require a community care assessment because of "poor daily living skills". I have googled community care but I don't really get what it is or how it is relevant to me. I don't think I am disabled enough, if that makes sense ... it's not like I need a carer to come and wash me, or I need access to a day centre. I still live with my parents anyway so they help me with the things I do struggle with. What exactly is the purpose of the assessment? Is it really worth having one? Thanks.

My advisor at the Job Centre said he could refer me to a place called Finchale College which is a residential college for people with disabilities. However, I've looked at the website and I don't think it's suitable. They seem to teach vocational subjects like gardening and plastering but I'm more interested in something which is more mentally challenging. I was doing biology at university but I couldn't cope with university life and the workload. So maybe a course that is closer to university level but in smaller chunks and with more support, including residential support like at Finchale. Does anywhere like that exist or am I being unrealistic? All the colleges for disabled people I've found so far seem to be focussed around NVQ-type subjects (hairdressing, carpentry, admin). I even looked for Asperger's-specific colleges but they seem to be for severely autistic people with very high care needs and are more like care homes than colleges.

I am worried that I'll turn up and not remember anything to say and will kick myself afterwards for leaving things out, but at the same time I don't want to turn up with this big list in case they think I'm over eager or trying too hard to get a diagnosis. I have a huge fear of looking like a fraud. Is that a reasonable worry or is it paranoid? I am worried that they will ask me a question like, "Did you do any self-soothing activities as a child?" (something I've been asked before) and I will not be able to think of an example, and answer "not that I can think of" when in fact, if you gave me 20 minutes to think about it I could come up with a long list of things. Basically: would it look bad if I prepared a file with a page on "Repetitive Behaviours - past and present", another on "Sensory Sensitivities" etc?

Did anybody go here for their assessment? This is where I will have my assessment in May. I am nervous because I still don't know what exactly happens in an assessment and it seems to vary from place to place. Therefore I would be grateful if anybody who has been assessed in Sheffield could tell me what was involved. Thank you

I saw the consultant psych of my area at the beginning of December and he said he was going to refer me to a specialist to be assessed for Asperger's. I trusted he would do it and felt happy that things were moving ahead. Today, since we've still not heard anything regarding my referral, my parents said I should call the CMHT and check that the referral has actually been made. I rang up and they checked my notes and said that they had no record of any referral. I am gutted because I have been waiting so long, have seen so many doctors, and I am so tired of being promised over and over again that certain things will be done that actually never end up being done. I am sick of being the patient who is constantly ringing up, pestering, asking things over and over again. Each time it gets more humiliating. I have just about had it. I really thought I was going to be referred this time but, yet again, I've been let down. I can't be bothered with it anymore. At the beginning of this whole charade, "Asperger's" was like a ray of hope, an explanation for all that's gone wrong in my life, but now it's got to the point where I don't even want to think about it anymore because it's caused me nothing but stress. I wish nobody had ever brought it up.

I was recently told I may have Asperger's and am awaiting an assessment (Dr said he would refer me to Sheffield?) In light of this I am going to be discharged from the CMHT within the next 6 months. This means I will no longer have access to services such as respite. I asked my keyworker if there was another service they would pass me onto but he didn't know. It doesn't seem likely. Are there any official services for Asperger's or do they basically just leave you to it? I'm feeling a bit abandoned and bewildered.