Sufferers of ADD, Apserger's, and/or PTSD - are your illnesses included in

[Deja Q]

the Americans with Disabilities Act?

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. I have Asperger's (I don't, however, "suffer" from it; bad phrasing)

and I know Asperger's is not covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (it wasn't even a recognised diagnostic category in the US when the act was signed into law); the others I'm not sure about.

[Olney Blue]

2. Spider, my best friend's son (7 yr) has Asperger's-

he perseverates alot and has trouble controlling his temper. Does it get better as one gets older?

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. Um...

not so much, really. I have a tendency to perseverate--mainly when it comes to intellectual pursuits; I go through periods of reading obsessively about a subject, and then when I start to lose interest (which can be after a few days or several months), I move on; and I have a bad temper--I tend to have out-of scale responses to mild frustration, and to get annoyed at things that peobably wouldn't bother most people. Anti-depressant medication helps some, though.

You might recommend the Usenet group alt.support.autism to your friend...there are quite a few adults with Asperger's and autism there, and it might prove to be a good source of information on what to expect and effective coping strategies.

[Olney Blue]

6. Thank you for the link- I will share it with her.

btw, I always like reading your posts- sometimes they are edgy, and I like that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. You're welcome...

and thanks for the kind words :)

[Deja Q]

5. Sadly, no...

I get very emotional very easily. Often over what turn out to be misunderstandings. And as I am prone to taking things personally, that doesn't help either.

Mind you, I don't go about throwing objects or screaming, but I do feel getting angry. It's containable but I obviously do look stressed if not outright perturbed to others, which in turn makes them feel rather intimidated and scared of me...

I also perseverate; I've not outgrown that either.

[Olney Blue]

7. How old were you when you were diagnosed?

I know that Asperger's is a relatively recently defined condition.

[Deja Q]

12. I've been MISdiagnosed all my life...

treated for conditions entirely wrong... from bipolar to schizophrenia of all things (though that hasn't stopped some diarrhetic vermin from making cruel jokes in my face to others about it...)

The Asperger's was recently diagnosed ONLY because the new counselor bothered to discuss my childhood in greater detail.

At least I know.

Won't save me in the end, but at least I know. :D

[Deja Q]

3. Pity about that one... but I just did find out, by accident,

that ADD is covered.

:wow:

http://add.about.com/od/addadhdintheworkplace/a/ada.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I am no expert

but I teach special ed. And I believe ANY disability is covered.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Should be

Why do you ask?

[Redstone]

11. Fuck if I know. And if it / they were, I wouldn't take any

advantage that it might offer. That wouldn't be right. Just like I could get a handicap plate for my car, but I won't.

Just my opinion.

Redstone

[Deja Q]

13. I wouldn't... until I required it to save my fuckin' JOB.

And even then I'd be inclined to do nothing about it anyway...

(I think that's a good hint. :7 )

[Old_Fart]

14. "Which one do you suffer from?"

If you let us know which ones you suffer from I can let you know if it is covered under the ADA.

[Deja Q]

16. I've been classified with all three at some point...

I know ADD is.

Asperger's probably isn't...

I hope PTSD is.

Thanks!

Not that I would WANT to use PTSD as a crutch, but I kinda like the idea of surviving given the current job market...

[Old_Fart]

17. "The first thing that you need to do is apply"

Get the ball rolling so that when they approve you they will back date your claim.

Document everything and when you go in for any medical procedures make sure that you write down what you want to tell them. You don't want to forget something that would get your claim approved quicker than if you left it off.

Hire a Lawyer. He will take a percentage but its worth it in the end. The people that are in office right now are out to deny every claim that comes in. Lawyers make sure that you don't forget to send in everything that is needed. If you miss one document they will deny your claim.

Good Luck.

[usedtobesick]

15. I was diagnosed with PTSD

on my way out of the Army but... never have believed it is true. Have always been angry... I'm Irish, it's a gift. Seriously though I have no clue if it is included. I could ask if you nee to know. I have a good friend who is a VA case worker.