Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.
Hello all - I need some help brainstorming a next step...
My adult sister Janie (pseudonym, aged 51) is living in a supervised apartment overseen by a mental health agency 600 miles away from where I live. Although we do not have a diagnosis more specific than a generic description ("organic personality disorder") we have suspected for years that she may be a high-functioning autistic. At least if we operate under this assumption and use strategies with her as if it were true we usually have good success with her.
She is currently engaged in a power struggle with her (we think) young and inexperienced case worker, over allowing her to look in Janie's refrigerator to see if she has enough food. Janie has refused. The appliance was bought by our parents, Janie is paying them back, so Janie's perception is that the fridge and contents are "no one's business."
When I suggested to Janie that perhaps they just wanted to check that she wasn't starving her reaction was an almost hysterical "are you SIDING with them?"
Sigh. No, I'm just trying to understand the situation, trying to figure out where it was going wrong, and at Janie's request called our elderly mother to try to get more details.
Well - apparently this seemingly trivial standoff is just one in a long series of harangues this case-worker has been using, nitpicking and micro-managing Janie into a state of nervous exhaustion. Mother has tried to find out what the duties and qualifications of a case-worker are, in an attempt to understand how the agency functions and to try to tease apart whether Janie's treatment is deliberate harassment or merely incompetence.
Janie is now a ward of the state, so it is difficult to get information... and Mom isn't quite savvy enough to know how to navigate the bureaucracy or obtain information that ought to be available to the general public.
Neither sister or mother want me to contact the agency for clarification (although they might tell me more than either of them). I'm not sure what to do next, or where in the state hierarchy of things to look for addressing what at the moment, from 600 miles away is sounding like (at best) inept or (at worst) mean-spirited treatment... judging by the hysteria that is coming up because of it.
ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
peace,
Brian
My adult sister Janie (pseudonym, aged 51) is living in a supervised apartment overseen by a mental health agency 600 miles away from where I live. Although we do not have a diagnosis more specific than a generic description ("organic personality disorder") we have suspected for years that she may be a high-functioning autistic. At least if we operate under this assumption and use strategies with her as if it were true we usually have good success with her.
She is currently engaged in a power struggle with her (we think) young and inexperienced case worker, over allowing her to look in Janie's refrigerator to see if she has enough food. Janie has refused. The appliance was bought by our parents, Janie is paying them back, so Janie's perception is that the fridge and contents are "no one's business."
When I suggested to Janie that perhaps they just wanted to check that she wasn't starving her reaction was an almost hysterical "are you SIDING with them?"
Sigh. No, I'm just trying to understand the situation, trying to figure out where it was going wrong, and at Janie's request called our elderly mother to try to get more details.
Well - apparently this seemingly trivial standoff is just one in a long series of harangues this case-worker has been using, nitpicking and micro-managing Janie into a state of nervous exhaustion. Mother has tried to find out what the duties and qualifications of a case-worker are, in an attempt to understand how the agency functions and to try to tease apart whether Janie's treatment is deliberate harassment or merely incompetence.
Janie is now a ward of the state, so it is difficult to get information... and Mom isn't quite savvy enough to know how to navigate the bureaucracy or obtain information that ought to be available to the general public.
Neither sister or mother want me to contact the agency for clarification (although they might tell me more than either of them). I'm not sure what to do next, or where in the state hierarchy of things to look for addressing what at the moment, from 600 miles away is sounding like (at best) inept or (at worst) mean-spirited treatment... judging by the hysteria that is coming up because of it.
ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
peace,
Brian
What if you approach the subject as what you can buy her to eat for the holidays. Maybe Jane would be less upset if it was handled on the phone and then relayed onto the social worker.
What if you approach the subject as what you can buy her to eat for the holidays. Maybe Jane would be less upset if it was handled on the phone and then relayed onto the social worker.
My worry is that it's a mirror of how our father treats her. We think he's an undiagnosed Asperger's (again, if we operate under that assumption it seems to help him cope better). His MO when Janie lived at home was to find fault over insignificant minutiae until she would explode in frustration. Sometimes it was deliberate harassment on his part to vent his own frustration.
Again, I don't have all the facts, but Janie's response and Mother's report have those qualities to them.
First off, if one of my clients refused to let me see their refridge..........and I was concerned if they had food or not????????Then I'd gladly say" That's ok Janie, you have the right to refuse, I tell ya what, why don't you and I go buy some extra groceries, that way you will have extras for the upcoming holidays, is that ok with you?" Now, this is how this case manager/worker is/ must handle any situation with any of his/her clients........she may be pushing a button for Janie.........this will cause incitement, and cause Janie to act out..........THIS IS ABUSE!!!!!!! You cannot persue an argument with a client, violate their HUMAN RIGHTS, SET THEM OFF, AND WALK AWAY WITH A CLEAN SLATE.............NOPE........You must get involved! You need to talk with your parents and get their permission in writing, to advocate Janie's rights!!!!!! I'm sorry,,,,,,I just get so upset with ignorant people who violate a person with a disability! That is the whole purpose of the Americans' Disiability Act! Please keep me posted!!!!!
She's worried that her continued refusal will land her in the psychiatric hospital, so she's afraid to talk to the staff. I'm not sure how ungrounded that fear is. She lives in a small city in a mostly rural area, so it's not like she has a choice of finding a more qualified agency/facility for services.
LV2BMOM, oversensitive? I wouldn't say that, but once something starts to worry her she does start to fear the worst. She's supposed to meet with the staff tomorrow, but I have a feeling she might not go.
Yes, I will keep you posted!
Her ability to organize and maintain her apartment is borderline. They've tried different strategies to help her not get lost under her own clutter with varying degrees of success. Some of the micro-managing has been around this house-keeping - according to my Mother what makes it more infuriating is that she's just been through a bout of the flu, and rather than (like good neighbors) asked her what help she needed, continued to criticize the (lack of) neatness.
Brian