Diagnosing adult autism costs between $2,000 and $4,000 and is not covered by B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Medical Services Plan. From age six, people with autism experience a sharp decline in government support until age 19, when most funding dries up.
Iris Gray was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome around her 35th birthday. She was relieved.
She suspected she sat somewhere on the autism spectrum but was told, for many reasons, that it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 possible. Gray was too intelligent. She was a girl. And by 19, she was too old.
B次元官网网址淗elp diminishes after age six, and even more after school is over. Some universities, like our own University of Victoria, have services for autistic people, but for those who arenB次元官网网址檛 able to go to university, help just ends,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淐hildren show the most benefit from autism treatment and the funding and policy aligns with this,B次元官网网址� confirmed Andrew Pinfold, director of operations for Autism BC.
Under the current system, children under six can receive $22,000 a year toward therapy. Government funding for those over six is capped at $6,000.
Funding after age 6 is diverted to the school district who receives $18,850 for every student with autism, stated the B.C. Ministry of Health website.
A representative from the B.C. government advised that funding for adults is available through Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
The current system is not of much help to Gray, who has independently built networks in the absence of government support.
B次元官网网址淭he best thing I ever did for my autism was actually done before I knew I was autistic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 went to the Bridges for Women Society back in the early 1990s, where I learned life skills and communication skills. I belong to a few autism peer-support groups on Facebook and I now organize an in-person, peer-support group of my own in Victoria.B次元官网网址�
She currently works full-time as a transcriber, using her fastidious nature B次元官网网址� commonly associated with AspergerB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址� to her advantage.
Meanwhile, Pinfold remains hopeful about the future for adults with autism.
B次元官网网址淲e are certainly talking to government about considering extending therapy to align with other programs, but itB次元官网网址檚 early days,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎s children age out of care, they can access Community Living BC, job training, community.B次元官网网址�
That is, if they were already diagnosed as a child, he added. B次元官网网址淭he reality is, once you turn 19, thereB次元官网网址檚 no money for therapy. Then youB次元官网网址檙e kind of on your own for treatment.B次元官网网址�
For those without funding, Gray suggests sourcing a specialist that charges less.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 also the possibility of accepting a self-diagnosis as valid,B次元官网网址� she said.
