How is awareness and support for Aspergers in Thailand and Indonesia?

[Mozzie89]

I'm doing Asia Studies with a South East Asia focus for my degree and have been interested in working there for a bit after graduation.

Has anyone else every been there?

If so my issues are:

-Is there much awareness in the medical profession of it there?
-Is society either tolerant of neurodiversity due to knowledge from the medical perspective, or without much knowledge of the conditions just a greater cultural tolerance for people who aren't mainstream?
-Are the follow medications (this is for a host of conditions I have co-morbidly) readily available: Xanax, Ritalin/Aderall, Luvox/Venlafaxine?

 

[142857]

Been there?

I live in Indonesia (Jakarta) now, have done since 2003. Apart from a 2 year stint (2007 to 2009) living in Thailand (Bangkok).

In terms of the drugs you mentioned, I only know of Ritalin being easily available in both countries. At a guess I would say that all of the drugs you mention would be available at the pharmacies in international hospitals in Thailand. Not so sure about Indonesia though. Most drugs in Thailand and Indonesia are simply sold "over the counter". The exceptions are pontential drugs of abuse such as stimulants, so you need a prescription for Ritalin.

Getting a prescription for Ritalin is as simple as going to a doctor and saying "I would like a prescription for Ritalin please". Seriously.

I have never seen anything regarding the awareness of neurodiversity in these countries. Tolerance for "non mainstream" people in general is very high though, I'm sure that being an Aspie and being a little odd is far more tolerated by society in general in Indonesia and Thailand than it is in most Western countries. To get along you really only need to know how to smile and show respect.

In terms of the medical profession... in Thailand the standards are pretty high for doctors. Not so sure about dentists, the two dentists I went to were both evil. In Indonesia the standards for the medical profession are very low, to the extent that there are no internationally accredited hospitals in the entire country last I heard. I could rant for hours on my experiences and the experiences of others I have known with the medical profession in this country. My niece wants to study medicine, she is a very smart kid so she only needs US$5K to buy her way into medical school. If she failed the entrance requirements she would need US$15K.

 

[Dani Evar]

That's interesting, quite a unique choice. I'm sure there are quite many young people from all over the world there at the moment. I know some volunteers in the field of clinical psychology -- working with autists, but not specifically Aspies.

Of course, 142857 knows best about such things. What about the awareness in Singapore? (Spot-nudge for him: the Atlantis book, www.atlan.org.)

I've been to all of SE Asia (yes, I guess all). I find naked and wide indigenous civilizations (blending with modernity with no problem) in summer chapels of gold there, in many places. Especially in Indonesia, where three continental plates ('three continents') meet: Eurasian, Austral-Indian, and the Pacific, creating immense stress in terms of tectonism and volcanism. And the warm southern shores... harboring tides and bearing the color of distant love, I shall never forget.