Freebies and Perks

[Kelly Campbell]

Thanks for sharing it very informative stuff!!

 

[SD_David]

I think it'll be too cynical to call it a 'freebie', but the disabled students fund (not sure if that's the official name) has been very useful to me when I was at uni, I even got a laptop from it.

 

[Streetwise]

The UK is terrible DONT waste your time

You can't get $200 a month for SNAP just for being on the spectrum. Unfortunately they make it as difficult as possible.




Yes...I am unmarried, unemployed with a 2 year old daughter and I only get $115 from Snap a month. I live in VA. (worst state ever to live in for things like this) I have Medicaid but it doesn't cover dental. And dental is very expensive. So basically none of us have our teeth looked after.

I wish I lived in U.K. or Canada This place sucks.

 

[SD_David]

The UK is terrible DONT waste your time

I guess it depends which kind of benefit you're getting. Student benefits have been very inclusive and helpful, but general disabled benefits like the DLA are subject to the monsterous and disrespectful entry examinations by people like Capita.

 

[Streetwise]

I guess it depends which kind of benefit you're getting. Student benefits have been very inclusive and helpful, but general disabled benefits like the DLA are subject to the monsterous and disrespectful entry examinations by people like Capita.

Any means tested benefit is equivalent to INDENTURED servitude now the winter heating allowance for the disabled and pensioners is to be stopped
you can lose your home if your parent goes into a nursing home or if if jsa is stopped no food for two weeks and no medicine possibly go to a&e
lose your rented house as housing benefit will be stopped
Starve to death after JOBSEEKERS allowance is stopped

 

[@liamod]

In Australia there is the National Disability Insurance Scheme & the National Disability Services - you get mentorship, medication (sometimes), and the Aus government just gave $6 billion AUD to those services.

-Limo

 

[CMZ]

Is the general consensus that there's not much help available in the US?

 

[fairy_girl]

At Almo's Draft House they have a quiet area on certain days but it's mostly for those with toddlers and the cell phone users. In New York they have some of their Broadway plays that are autism friendly on certain days with certain plays.

 

[Gift2humanity]

This may not be a list of all the available cards, as these are just the ones I can find an application form for.

These are free to get your first one, and £1 for a replacement card.

England​

North
Cumbria: Autism Alert Cards
Cheshire: http://www.cheshireautism.org.uk/news/attention-card
Midlands
West Midlands: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/attention
Staffordshire: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/attention
Warwickshire: http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/attention
Leicestershire: (not autism specific) Leicestershire County Council | Serving the people of Leicestershire
Rutland: (not autism specific) Leicestershire County Council | Serving the people of Leicestershire
East
Norfolk: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
Suffolk: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
Essex: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
Cambridgeshire: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
Bedfordshire: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
Hertfordshire: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/get_support/alert_card
South East
http://amazebrighton.org.uk/amaze_news/new-alert-card-people-learning-disabilities-use-emergencies/
Oxfordshire: http://www.autismoxford.org.uk/index.php/alert-card/apply
Berkshire: http://www.autismberkshire.org.uk/berkshire-autism-alert-card.aspx
London: http://www.rcmh.org.uk/index.php?id=38
Hampshire: https://www.autismhampshire.org.uk/professionals/projects.html
Sussex: http://www.autismsussex.org.uk/our-services/autism-and-the-criminal-justice-system/
Kent: http://www.kentautistic.com/autism-alert-card/
South West
Wiltshire: http://autismalertwilts.com/
Dorset: http://autismwessex.org.uk/public/uploads/Alert_Card_Leaflet1.pdf
Devon: http://www.dimensionsforliving.org/Devon-autism-alert-card-application-process
Cornwall: Coming, details here: http://www.dimensionsforliving.org/devon-autism-alert-card-plymouth-torbay

Rest of UK​

(these I'm less sure on if they're free)
Scotland
http://www.scottishautism.org/family-and-professional-support/autism-alert-cards/
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5884
Wales
http://www.asdinfowales.co.uk/home.php?page_id=6406
(not autism specific) http://www.south-wales.police.uk/en/contact-us/keep-safe-cymru-card/
Northern Ireland
http://www.autismni.org/alert-card.html

Edit: Oops, forgot to say what these are.

They're called "autism alert cards" and you carry them with you (in a wallet or purse) whenever you go outside. Should you get into an emergency situation you show this card to the police/emergency services. They have a space for 2 contacts. They're for anyone with an autism spectrum disorder of any age, from what I can tell.

I'm not diagnosed yet, however my autism assessor says I am likely asperger's. This link is forbidden, for our boys in blue http://autismalertwilts.com/

 

[Gift2humanity]

Some Aspies in the UK have been given O points for PIP.
I went on Facebook and said noooo, they are doing light touch assessments but one person got it taken away.
Later found out they are not doing these until 2023, dunno why they are waiting that long to bring it in.
I get DLA, should I inform the DWP, I want to, however I don't want to bring myself to their attention in case they assess me for PIP and I get O points.

 

[Aeolienne]

Some Aspies in the UK have been given 0 points for PIP.

Me for one.

 

[Gift2humanity]

Me for one.

I know, it's unfortunate that the ten year light touch PIP assessments are not coming in until 2023 over two years away, dunno why the time delay. Well I could guess but it sounds cynical. Leave people short.

 

[Gift2humanity]

Me for one.

I decided not to inform DLA because my diagnosis won't make a difference to them. In the context of change of circumstances, they are only interested in improvements.

 

[Gift2humanity]

Hello
I am in the UK
I get DLA middle rate care.
Diagnosed Asperger's in October 2020.
Can anyone tell me if I am eligible for a free bus pass?
Thanks.

 

[Streetwise]

Hello
I am in the UK
I get DLA middle rate care.
Diagnosed Asperger's in October 2020.
Can anyone tell me if I am eligible for a free bus pass?
Thanks.

you get a letter from your gp(stating your disability) send it to the relevant transport organisation in your area ,if you're over 60 (I presume?! some proof of age)you get it without medical proof , in my area it's still not free, just very reduced cost, just in case you have to include transport costs in your budget.

 

[ucrenegade]

Is the general consensus that there's not much help available in the US?

yes this seems to be the case I have found.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

What is the "Open University"? Is it truly free, and can you get an actual college degree?

 

[VictorR]

What is the "Open University"? Is it truly free, and can you get an actual college degree?

If I'm not mistaken, the name comes from the fact that it's open admissions (e.g. regardless of background - no need for grade requirements, application essay, or references, and regardless of if you flunked out of other schools), and generally flexible in degree, diploma or certificate completion time, whereas some "mainstream" university programs may require you to complete a credential within a certain period of starting it. They offer a lot of distance education options as well and are a pioneer in that.

They offer credentials at all levels - certificates, diplomas, foundation degrees (Associate degrees, in the US), Bachelor's, Masters, and Doctorates.

They are accredited in the US.

In Canada, Athabasca University is pretty similar in that it's an open university that holds also US accreditation and welcomes learners from anywhere.


On the topic of fees, I browsed the Open University's website and didn't see anything that would suggest that students with disabilities would get free tuition, but rather, that they may receive financial assistance with supports / accommodations. The original post was from some time ago, so perhaps things have changed.

 

[JesseRBassett]

For the record,
In the united states, SNAP benefits vary based on one's income level and eligibility. There is not a $200/mo guarantee as the first poster stated on the topic. I just wanted to clarify that.

 

[DK’s_Ghost]

The Open University link doesn’t seem to be working.

This is really helpful, though. I didn’t think I could be eligible for PIP (it’ll be PIP in the UK, if you’re an adult, not DLA).