Finding resources for adult with autism and for communication with autistic person

[Ravin]

My public defender office (which is very small and has limited resources) has a client with autism. I've done a google search looking for tips, but other than basic things about how to talk to an autistic person, most of which I already knew, I haven't found much. We were able to interview her, but there didn't seem to be much communication going on in either direction, though it was hard to tell. It was difficult to understand her, much of what she actually said in the interview sounded like nonsense, but I could get a clear sense of her feelings about certain topics relevant to her situation, even though we couldn't pin down any clear recollection of the specific incident. Her time sense, or ability to express it in standard terms of dates and such, seems to be nonexistent. 

 

We also need to find resources we can maybe refer this person to or suggest to the prosecutor for the court to order her to.  If we can get her into a stable situation, the prosecutor can probably be persuaded to drop the charges. But getting the client's cooperation is going to be very difficult if we can't effectively communicate with her.

 

Her family is, without going into specifics, completely unhelpful and ignorant with respect to her condition, and the client is clearly at odds with her mother, who is frustrated that she cannot "control" her. The criminal complaint is from a relatively minor domestic violence incident in which her mother called the cops--and which the police escalated by chasing her and tazing her, though they didn't know until afterward that she's not neurotypical because the mother didn't bother telling them.

 

Next time we talk with the client, I'm going to ask if written communication is easier for her, but any other ideas for establishing good rapport and effective communication would be very welcome.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Ravin

[OneStepAtATime]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

I don't have any helpful suggestions but I really hope someone else does.  Poor woman.

[prairiewindmomma]

Call the autism advocacy group for your state. They should know the resources in your area.  It's usually called ARC...

 

When I worked in Legal Aid, we paired with social work students from a university in a type of practicum. They were often able to help connect clients with the needed resources.

 

ABA has resources on working with disabled clients. You might also check there. 

[8filltheheart]

She should be eligible for services from your state dept of rehabilitative services. Ours has an autism liaison with info on available services. They provide job coaches, so I wonder if they might offer an advocate to help her communicate with you. (In terms of her moving out, they would be one of her best resources for employment and other services.)

[8filltheheart]

Fwiw, I though I should mention that perhaps her issues with communicating might be due to stress, not the actual inability to communicate. When our ds is stressed, he starts to shut down and sounds childish. Spending time just building a rapport about nothing important might ultimately lead to more productive conversation.

[Dmmetler]

Do you have a state office of Protection and Advocacy? That's what their job is-to advocate and work within the state legal system for those with special needs, and their staff will be experienced in dealing with autism, especially. Sadly, getting involved in the justice system can often be a short-cut in getting an actual long-term placement, even when doors seem to be shut, and an unsupportive family may be one that has tried to get support repeatedly and hit walls.

[8filltheheart]

Do you have a state office of Protection and Advocacy? That's what their job is-to advocate and work within the state legal system for those with special needs, and their staff will be experienced in dealing with autism, especially. Sadly, getting involved in the justice system can often be a short-cut in getting an actual long-term placement, even when doors seem to be shut, and an unsupportive family may be one that has tried to get support repeatedly and hit walls.

It has actually been easier to find some services for our ds now that he is an adult. We were actually told by one of his therapists when he was a teenager to have him arrested bc then the judge could order services that we couldn't afford to pay. One even went so far as to suggest that we relinquish custody to the state so the state would pay for the services!

 

What a messed up system! He was surrounded by a loving family who was trying everything to help him, but the affordability of mental health care for kids in this country just plain stinks.

[Innisfree]

Fwiw, I though I should mention that perhaps her issues with communicating might be due to stress, not the actual inability to communicate. When our ds is stressed, he starts to shut down and sounds childish. Spending time just building a rapport about nothing important might ultimately lead to more productive conversation.

This is an extremely good point. Professionals who take the time to find out about my dd's special interests and connect with her by talking about them generally find her cooperative. She can be very difficult when she is under stress, but her special interest helps her relax.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Innisfree

[Ravin]

Fwiw, I though I should mention that perhaps her issues with communicating might be due to stress, not the actual inability to communicate. When our ds is stressed, he starts to shut down and sounds childish. Spending time just building a rapport about nothing important might ultimately lead to more productive conversation.

 

The stress thing was something we kept in mind. 

 

I will talk to my colleague about checking with Adult Social Services. We have had problems getting Rule 19 competency evaluations done--most of our clients have no money and neither does the court or our office, and IHS for some reason decided they don't have to provide that particular service any more, so we are hoping to find a way to sidestep this problem by getting her into a stable situation that will reduce the chances of another run-in with the law and get the charges dropped. I also sent an email to the state Department of Developmental Disabilities office here in town asking what services might be available to facilitate communication.

 

I really appreciate the suggestions!

Edited April 1, 2016 by Ravin

[Innisfree]

It it also always possible that autism is not the only appropriate diagnosis. There might be another comorbid condition.

 

What a difficult situation. She's fortunate to have you on her side.

[Ravin]

It it also always possible that autism is not the only appropriate diagnosis. There might be another comorbid condition.

 

What a difficult situation. She's fortunate to have you on her side.

 

Yup.

 

Thanks for the suggestions and brainstorming help! 

Edited April 1, 2016 by Ravin

[kbutton]

Our son doesn't shut down to this extent. If she is in obvious distress, could you get an order for an anti-anxiety medication? A relative works in emergency medicine, and he recently had a client who usually speaks in one or two word sentences become very talkative with a mild anti-anxiety medication (which was given so that the patient would be able to tolerate a procedure). The patient's family was surprised he talked so much (and my family member is hoping they will follow up with their doctor to consider whether he's more anxious in daily life than anyone had guessed). 

 

Many hospitals have social workers. You might be able to network with one even if your client isn't receiving care at the hospital. 

 

 

[Ravin]

 She was a lot calmer at her court hearing today, and communication went a little better.

 

Right now we are caught in the ridiculous catch-22 that she doesn't seem to be capable of filling out 15 pages of forms for the clinic that has agreed to do the competency evaluation, so her mom filled it out--but she didn't want help and the clinic won't take the forms not signed by the client which the mom provided to us.