OT-Special Needs Adult Programs

[laurafergie]

Hello all - I posted this in the Budget Forum, because that's where I hang out and it was suggested I post here:

Dear Aunt has a 19 yr old son. In his childhood he was mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD and treated for that. As a young teen he became uncontrollable and suicidal, and he was rediagnosed with Bipolar. With his meds, he does fine.

Dear cousin, bless his heart, though not retarded, is very immature, and learning disabled, along with his bipolar issues. Dear Aunt has realized that all these years they were just "getting through it" and not preparing DC for independant living. He did graduate high school, barely.

My question: I know there are adult supportive living programs out there. The kind where life and job skills are taught, job placement available, and sometimes even adult suppervised housing. Can anyone give me a direction for what this is called? Websites? I've drawn a blank.

They are budget challenged, so any help would be appreciated. They live in Naples, FL. (Natives, not snowbirds with the big house )

 

[LauraVV]

Try this.

http://www.suncoastcenter.com/adult_programs.htm

You might want to google things like "home community medicaid waiver Florida," "mental health florida," "supportive living florida," etc.

 

[arminnie]

This is the Florida vocational rehab site:

http://www.rehabworks.org/

There is a conference for individuals in about a week in Orlando. There's lots of information on the site.

There really are services out there that can help - but also remember that he has to be willing to participate. He cannot be forced to do anything at that age.

A friend's son (50) with severe CP (physical and mental) has a job and is able to live in a group home very happily too.

Another friend's son with Down Syndrome (26) has a job and is able to live in a small subsidized apartment with a life coach. My friend has worked hard for years for him to have this degree of independence.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to move this to the disABILITIES Community Boards, where it will be on topic.
The place I would suggest starting for information would be the Health and Human Services Department for the county they live in. There may not be anything exactly like you are looking for because Florida is not exactly a state known for providing services for people with special needs.
If he had any special services in school, they might also be able to get some assistance there because the schools still have some responsibility for students up to age 21 (it gets a little more 'iffy' if the person actually graduated with a regular diploma).

 

[laurafergie]

Thank you guys - This is exactly what I needed to research. Laura

 

[bookwormde]

You might also check with the local Autism society, there is starting to be a big push to supply services to individuals after they turn 18. If by “immature” you mean lacking in appropriate social skills, they should have programs specifically designed to help with this situations along with vocational training and placement and coaching.

bookwormde

 

[blondietink]

Please do not confuse Bipolar disorder and Autism. They are two very different disabilities with different eligibility and funding. Bipolar disorder is a mental health disability and is usually funded through mental health funds. Autism is a developmental disability and is usually funded through the developmental disabilities department of whatever stae you live in.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes Bipolar is not Autism but is one of the more common co-morbid conditions, which may be triggered by the chronic high levels of stress, which is common in misdiagnosed spectrum individuals who do not receive the needed level of support, as is depression and OCD.

It is very common for undereducated clinicians (particularly psychiatrists) to give this as a primary diagnosis to spectrum individual due to the nature of the manifestations, when it is really a secondary diagnosis to the more difficult and complicated diagnosis of Autism.

The first clue as to whether it is a primary or secondary bipolar diagnosis is if there is a significant lack of innate social skills and only a clinician who is current and highly experienced with spectrum individuals can make a definitive determination.

For Spectrum individuals with a secondary Bipolar diagnoses, Support for the underlying spectrum needs are critical for lower the chronic levels of stress so that treatments for the bipolar diagnosis can be fully effective

bookwormde