I have known I had Aspergers for years, and relatively recently went ahead with diagnosis. To be honest, until today I had thought that I had a pretty good handle on AS. I am a man in my thirties and have developed good coping techniques. I manage to muddle through most social situations. I have even found someone I don't drive entirely crazy and she even married me.
For reasons that aren't important to this post my wife and I decided that we would look into adoption. I must admit, as we entered the process, it was with some trepidation on my part. I knew that I would be in for a grilling by the social workers about the Aspergers Syndrome and some mild depression, which I had experienced during my late teens whilst at University.
With the process started, permission to view medical records given, my wife and I attended a great three day course on adoption and a couple of adoption evenings.
My concerns over the inevitable grilling as it turns out were unfounded. There was no grilling, or interview of any kind. This afternoon a social worker visited us and told us that we would not be proceeding any further - now I want to make it clear here that I have no problem with that per se - adopting a child is no easy thing and the social workers have to put children's needs first. I accept that completely. What did annoy me was the reasons given.
On the advice of the local adoption agencies medical consultant (a pedeotrition apparently), I would be unsuitable because as someone with Aspergers Syndrome and a history of depression, I would be unlikely to form a meaningful bond with a child and would struggle to perform parental duties due to likely social anxiety. Now I have never met this Doctor and I have spent approximately two hours in the presence of the social worker handling our application - and that was in a group setting, with a dozen other prospective adopters present, so I can only assume that this decision was made solely on a stereotypical view of my Aspergers Diagnosis.
Frankly, it has thrown me a little.
