Specialist to screen for autism/mental disability?

Question

Seeing a specialist to diagnose mental disability?

Hey all,

I asked a question a few hours ago about my bf's sister's behavior being linked to autism. Everywhere I've been looking I've been told to go to a specialist. I got some fantastic on yahoo! answers, but now I want to know something else.

I am 19, and my BF is 20. Does he have any legal or legitimate right to take his sister (who is now 17) to a specialist to perhaps get diagnosed with a mental disorder? His parents are unwilling to take her to a psychologist to get a diagnosis, even though she is ALREADY in a special ed program. They are convinced that she'll "grow out of it" on her own... even though they don't know what "IT" is. See where I'm coming from???

My BF and I are doing our own research to try to figure out if there's anything WE can do, even though I'm not related to her and my BF is not her parent or legal guardian.

Is there anything that WE can do? Is it legal for him to take her to a specialist, and would

Answer 1

honestly this is a hard one to answer, if she is autistic she won't grow out of it this late in life... BUT, it could make a HUGE change in her life if someone knew how to better help her... and of-course this change would be for the better.

   With the legality of it, you need to call a family lawyer in your area, Most of them will talk to you for free (free consultation) over the phone.  Just tell them you have a quick question and want to be sure there will be no legal repercussions for your actions.  They will give you the most accurate answer, since this will vary by county and state.

   Good Luck, and thanks so much for having a heart large enough to help that girl!!! (esp when her parents won't).

P.S. you can always have her brother (since he's related to her)  talk to her teachers in her program to get better advice also :)

----- insurance will usually cover this stuff... but again you'll want your bf to find out for sure, since we live in the U.S. each insurance company will be different...

   the answer below me says to check out wiki.. if you do, please just remember anyone can "update" that stuff so it may not be very accurate...

   Also Asperger Syndrome is the highest functioning form of Autism, and normally a school would recgonize it quickly, an online test may not be a good way to go, as there is no specialist involved to observe what is really happening.  (sometimes we see things that are or aren't there, because our minds want us to)

  I'm really not trying to put anyone down but I have 2 nephews with Autism... and have worked with special needs children, so this is a big deal to me.

Answer 2

Here's an on-line version of the test for Asperger Syndrome (the Autism Spectrum Quotient test) developed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University.

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/19822154501...

Also wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger%27...

Answer 3

Tell your BF to talk to her case worker in the public schools. Fined her/him through special services.

Answer 4

Your bf's parents probably aren't willing to accept reality; which you can't really blame them for. As long as they don't have a diagnosis staring them in the face, they don't have to accept and acknowledge the condition. At the same time, your bf's sister is possibly going on without proper treatment/programs that could  impact her life in a very positive way. I would do as much research as possible, gather as much info and facts that you can to present her parents with. While it is their daughter and their decision, you may be able to help them come to a more informed decision with the work that you are doing. Good luck.