Urgh, I'm 20 years old but I still have to live with my family and share a messy room with my younger sister, I have no space of my own, my Dad had to turn my room at his house into an office for work, and because of my Aspergers not only can I not live on my own, I also can't get a job very easily and I'll never manage uni and a job at the same time, but I can't take it anymore and it just sucks, it freaking sucks, I want my own space but I can't get one, so what else am I supposed to do?

I'm in a similar situation. Can you spend a lot of time outside? With friends? Basically being somewhere else than home?

I've never been in that exact situation, but I am familiar with sharing a single tiny room with another person and 2 cats while sharing a house that really isn't big enough for 4 people with 2 roommates and another cat. It pretty much sucks to not have your own space. Are you in college now? Is there the possibility that you could live on campus while you're doing that? That would at least get you out of the house for a while. Otherwise, I would spend as much time outside the house as possible. Hang out with friends. If possible, spend the night at friends houses. Is there anyone that you know that is looking for a roommate, where you could have your own room?

That really sounds like a tough situation, I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I know how swamped one's mind can get when not rested properly from being around other people, especially when you have Aspergers. Would it be possible to ask your sister to give you some privacy? Like maybe try out a sharing schedule so both you and her can get some alonetime in your mutual living space, because I'm sure she is probably not too fond of having to share either.

I really wish I had more time to respond here before I had to leave for work.

Why would you feel your Aspergers keeps you out of employment? I was diagnosed as an Aspie at 13, yet I've worked a retail job for almost the past six years. It's not easy -- some folks have thought me rude, as I "can't" look up at them, but for those folks I simply just explain the issue and most understand. For those that don't, it gets under my skin for a few days, but after that it's okay.

To keep myself sane with all the chaos around, I write down how many items I'm scanning. Keeping track helps me from flipping out, honestly. I've also done several fast food jobs in the past, but have a tougher time with them because my hand eye coordination is really bad due to other medical issues. Yes, full time may be rough for you, but if you manage money well, then you could potentially get your own place away from what is bothering you at home on less than full time. If you live in a big enough city, also there are usually places that help people with disabilities get and maintain employment. Where I currently live, that place is the counseling center. Don't give up!

If you want to go to uni, you should absolutely do it! If your family doesn't have money to help you, and you don't think you can hold down a job at the same time, then you need to do serious research into scholarships. There are loads and loads of scholarships out there. I'd do some serious research, and apply for every one you can find. Actually, in that respect, your Aspergers may actually be a benefit to you! Anything that makes a person unique or gives them challenges in life is usually a good place to get scholarships. :O There are scholarships for women going into "men's fields" like science, there are scholarships for left-handed people, there are scholarships for people who like to write, there are scholarships for people who've grown up with one parent. And yes, there are scholarships for people with Aspergers!

Do some research, and see what you can find, and the more scholarships you apply for, the better. Then, you can supplement with a few loans, if necessary. I finished school with less than 30k in loans, and I even did a fifth year of school (and most of my scholarships applied to four years, so most of that 30k was actually from my fifth year of school). If you really work hard on scholarship and grant applications, you may be able to get away with little or no student loan debt...

I just did a minute or two of research, and I already spotted the following:

http://www.feldmanroyle.com/autism-scholarships/ This law firm offers a $1000 scholarship to two students each year who have a form of autism. You don't have to be currently enrolled in school to apply. You have to fill out an application and write a fairly short essay about how your condition has affected your education.

http://www.top10onlinecolleges.org/scholarships-for/autism-spectrum/ This is a list of 25 different scholarship programs for individuals with forms of autism or learning disabilities.

http://autismandu.weebly.com/scholarships1.html Another sizable list of scholarships for forms of autism.

https://www.edvisors.com/scholarships/win-scholarships/free-scholarships/autism-scholarships/ Another long list...

There are TONS of scholarships out there for Aspergers, actually. So, if you're serious about it, I'd suggested sending in applications to several schools that interest you ASAP if you want to attend this fall, and then start a log of every scholarship you want to apply for, and their deadlines. Since this is February, some deadlines will already have passed (for unis and for scholarships), but there should be plenty more with later deadlines (March through May). Apply for the ones with earliest deadlines first, and work to send out as many applications as you can!

If push comes to shove, and you still have to get a job, keep in mind that colleges towns often have TONS of jobs with really limited hours. You might be able to work just a few hours in the school library, or cleaning, or work just a few hours a week in a store, or gas station, or anywhere really. Most university towns understand that students have homework, and weird class schedules, and they're often willing to work around that, and give you as few or as many hours as you're comfortable with.

So mainly, my advice is not to give up and assume you're doomed. Get out there (or at least out into the internet world) and figure out your options. You're not trapped unless you decide to be trapped, I promise. :O

If you are able to go to Uni, I think it would best for you to do that :o If you could get a scholarship someway to be able to live on campus!

Also, I would just be out of the house as much as I could. I know its not permanent and you still would be returning home to chaos. But the more you are out enjoying fresh air away from annoyances, it could relieve A LOT of stress.

Also, You still should be able to get a job ! It might not always be easy, but being independent and having more time away from home would be refreshing!