Hello I am a 34 year old individual with Asperger's Syndrome currently living in an adult family home. It is the third one I've been in because the other two were not very good having numerous problems that I left them. Where I am at isn't too bad but I am still dependent on others for transportation even though I have a drivers license, but no car or insurance. I want to have my own house someday and have lived in independent apartments before but other problems came up that I left them. I have been at my current place since Dec. 1st last year and want to know what the best way is to get out of group home life forever. I hate living with other people who have disabilities, especially ones who are rude and have no relation to me. They don't even know how to hold a decent conversation or talk normally. I don't have any friends here and getting rides to pick up job applications is a hassle because they are not always available to take me or are so busy taking others to things. None of the residents here work or even care about employment or moving on. Two of them hardly ever speak at all and one is known to get into physical altercations/fights with others at times. This isn't the way I want to live my life.
I am a highly functioning person who just has never had the chance to live on a full time income job. In the past I was dependent on family members to support me in my previous apartments but that came to an end almost a year and a half ago. Many times I've tried finding jobs but with the condition of my past group homes and one supported apartment with a bad roommate/staff, has caused employment to be on hold for quite a while (i haven't worked a real job in 10 years). My aunt who is my legal guardian doesn't think I'm ready to go back to even a supported apartment and wants me here until December 1st, when the protective placement order is up. The protective placement order was only put in place because they thought I would be eligible for a living center for people with developmental disabilities but a coordinator last Wednesday came to see me about it and he thought I was too high functioned for it. Plus I found I would be able to move into a supported apartment with or without the order so she was wrong. However unfort. it is up to her and my caseworker. What can I do about this? I'm just tired of living this way and want my freedom back. It is not fair to keep sitting here when I could be getting job applications and working a real job to try and support myself. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks.org