asplanet.info

The spectrum where a wealth of knowledge often wasted, let

us in and help us help you truly see, the insight and diversity

within the world, dare to step outside the confines of conformity.

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Autistic individuals often are not understood, but to me we are a brilliant resource, an insight that others often do not understand, a wealth of knowledge often under resourced. Others need to look behind our facades and tap into the wealth of often creative, different, outside the usually intellect and intelligence, unfortunately that talent so often wasted.  

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And far too often others discriminate, bully, hold at arm’s length, scared of what they have no idea about. Of course let’s not forget the majority of people with autism are completely undiagnosed, unrepresented in all statistics used to support resource allocation decision making, and are excluded from any realistic role in shaping public perception/identity (of people with ASDs), so often wrongly represented, misunderstood. So for many they work and have no idea why it has always been so much harder for them!

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So many work issues arise for people on the autism spectrum because of lack of real awareness and understanding.  When allowed we can be brilliant workers, but not easy trying to live and do things on everyone else’s terms, which can be very stressful and can be extremely exhausting, sadly I found out the hard way, at the expense of many things including my health.

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 We need work stations where we can function, we need to be allowed to socialize on our terms or not, we need not be victimizes for being different. We need to be accessed according to our varied needs, I have worked in the past for many years and it was always on everyone else's terms, eventually it took it toil, work places often do try to accommodate for some differences, but because ours is mostly invisible others often feel they can ignore!

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At present I am doing so many things, on so many committees cannot seem to find the time for self or apply for a job, I feel I should, but not sure would cope unless Asperger friendly etc...  So I guess will have to continue to educate and alienate myself even more than I am, over prove myself yet again and maybe someone will look pass all my varied needs, differences, label!

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The only thing all of us can do on the spectrum is speak out and be heard and continue to, because I generally find however many organizations say they are inclusive, most will only go so far and usually all to do with cost and funding, but that's not what it should be about, we need lives also. I had no choice but to work in situations that were damaging, a matter of surviving, but at the expense of my health, a no win situation..

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While we can help other's instigate change, I partly feel maybe there should be some large autistic friendly organizations, as feel together we would achieve a lot more, understanding each other's needs, maybe an ideas center for new concepts, breaking boundaries showing differing ways of achieving!

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  Aspies are far from unemployable

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/16/aspergers-syndrome

-employment-problems?showallcomments=true#end-of-comments

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Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your

profession is what you were put on earth to do with such passion

and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling ~ Vincent Van Gogh

"If only, as for me earning a living keeps getting in the way!"

Succeeding In The Workplace - A conversation

with "Asperger's On the Job" author Rudy Simone :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjgd3l_5jCk

 http://www.daveluptoncartoons.co.uk/

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http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=182

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integration dysfunction | Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist:
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome

-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/

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Aspies can be great employees

Aspergers syndrome often causes more stress to us the "Aspie" than it does to his or her co-workers. The differences between people on the autism spectrum and neurotypicals, can sometimes make for unnecessary conflict in the workplace. People blame what they do not understand, but with a little education and understanding, both sides can be happy and productive. With the recent explosion of information about autism, many busy employers are hearing bits of research and may be forming an incomplete picture in their minds of the sort of jobs that are best suited for someone on the autism spectrum

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ASD includes a wide range of diagnoses including Aspergers syndrome, autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is 3 years old. Other disorders on the spectrum, such as Asperger's, are milder. But can still have a huge impact on the person and colleagues with little understanding, so its vital we all start to truly understand these differences.

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It has been said that if Aspergers syndrome did not exist, neither would the Internet, or computers for that matter. This poses the question "What did Aspergians do before the computer was invented?" The answer is nearly everything. They designed and built telescopes, steam engines, light bulbs, telephones and automobiles. They created works of art such as Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. They created graceful buildings that we admire to this day.

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A lot of the recent reports would make many folks think that people on the spectrum are only useful in narrow areas of machinery and mathematics. This is not so. The belief that all people with ASDs are unable to communicate well is completely false. Many people on the spectrum are authors, editors and speech writers. It is true that for many, small talk can be difficult, but an employer may be pleasantly surprised to discover that their new employee has done a great deal of reading on the subject of how to get along in the workplace with all sorts of people. A great many Aspergians are careful and diplomatic, preferring to avoid giving opinions on politics, race or religion. Knowing full well how incendiary these topics can be, many are loathe to discuss them at work.

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The office cookie exchange or birthday party can be a hurdle. Many people on the spectrum have sensitivities to different foods, and with the addition of singing, games and carousing, they may feel overwhelmed. It is common for neurotypicals to form cliques in the workplace, lunching together, carpooling and even visiting each other's homes. Many people on the spectrum understand the need that "NTs" have to do this, but prefer not to get emotionally involved with their co-workers.

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Many "Aspies" are married with children to support and prefer to relax after work with their families. Any experienced manager can tell you that office friendships sometimes dissolve, leading rapidly to gossip and often sabotage of the co-worker's tasks. This may be entertaining for a few neurotypicals who see their employer as a sort of high school principal, but many Aspies can see the big picture: enough monkey business and soon there's no business.

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People on the spectrum who grew up wanting to fit in have often studied etiquette. They are reserved about discussing their personal lives and are surprised sometimes by probing questions their co-workers may ask about an Aspie's spouse, children, or background. Often, they hesitate to answer because they are afraid of boring the co-worker. People on the spectrum often greatly enjoy quiet hobbies that NTs would find dull.

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So, if you are in a position to hire someone, please don't assume that people with ASDs are only good at one narrow field. It is true that their brains are "wired differently," but if treated fairly without condescension, an employee on the spectrum can be a valuable and innovative asset to the workplace with a desire to do expected tasks in the most efficient, effective and cost-productive way possible. (referrances - Kathy Ferrells news item)

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http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/better-

faster-and-no-office-politics-the-company-with-the-autistic-specialists-1693057.html

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"Bosses say I'm not a team player"

"The novel approach to a problem often employed by aspies allows

them to find solutions which simply would not occur to neurotypicals.

Prof. Edward De Bono has developed "Lateral Thinking", a process which

involves looking at problems from unconventional angles. I believe this

process is very similar to the way that we aspies think. Prof. De Bono's

thinking methods have gained international recognition, and he is considered

to be the world authority on the processes of thought. Top company

executives pay oodles of money just to hear one of his lectures or attend

his courses. I find it amusing to think that this guy is making money

teaching rich neurotypicals to think like an aspie."

- The Mind Within: http://within.autistics.org/gift.html -

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Please do not judge me, before you know me

In any new situation, my mind seems to work like an express train and the words and thoughts can become muddled, leaving me no option but to stay silent. Otherwise my words would just jumble out in chaos, leaving others confused with a blank stare!

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But please do not judge me on first meeting me. I may not be great at small talk, reciprocal conversations, as that's not something that comes naturally to me, even though over the years of course I have learned to have good conversations, act the part, fit in to a point, but it's not what you would call natural communication. But please do not dismiss me, as I do have many other strengths, even if so misunderstood at times.

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You could say it’s a plus that we do not usually like to " stand around and chit-chat" prefer just to get on with things, often like to be very organized, are able to really focus on things, even the smallest details. Often being the perfectionist wanting to get things 100% right, we may challenge things that seem or are wrong and want to do in our own way, but is that really such a bad thing!

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If you are on the autism spectrum use your individualism, believe in yourself and others will. You don't have to like or be friends with all your co-workers or join in their pecking order politics. Do what your good at and that’s getting on with things, does it matter if we do not want to waste time with small talk, socializing…. If anyone ask, calmly explain being social is not something you're good at, and you don't see it as all that important to get the job done - it's ok if they think you're weird or they don't like you.

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I guess we cannot expect the world to fully understand us yet, or be fair, but do not feel we should have to continually worry to the point of dysfunction, maybe we just need to explain more, to help others understand and help change things, or work around them. We are usually very honest, intently focused, habitually, precise, compassionate and so much more:

http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=87

 

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Communication

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Basic communication, what is happening to it! After years of working in offices, have been amazed by some of the changes in communication. To me being a good boss was always including my staff and making them feel a part of a team. I think I manage to do this pretty well, considering my lack of education. But then when it comes to good old fashion common sense – at times I feel it gets lost.

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For instances, bosses actually will email someone sitting next to them, rather than speak to them. This I have seen can often lead to misinterpretation, and growing resentment. Where as a quick word and explanation would have meant a happy all round work environment So many office disputes are often caused by lack of communication and understanding.

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As an asperger person myself, I know we can learn to do the things that are not natural to us. I still hate being on the phone, but always tried for a good balance when working, using answer phone for part of the day. Computers were a godsend to me, but still remembered real people like real conversation. Do not pressure / dump on staff, embrace them and work with them, it really works…

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If teamwork skills were a priority and bosses played a crucial role in developing group skills by setting goals, and not over monitoring performance, giving praise and good feedback, just basic common sense really. Work should be where people listen to one another, and help each other to want to change and understand as/if required.....

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Warning new species alert welcome to my alternative universe,

sometimes its like I live in a parallel world that at times does not

want to let me in. My mind like a continuous hyper active processor,

give me too much new information I may over process, over think

and over analyse. Within my own zone and space I function, but in

your reality I may even shut down, so I simply offload to stop overload!

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I keep hearing so many stories; one that really amused me recently was about an Aspergers person wanting to become a member of a large organization and help out. At first they were made to feel really welcome and when ask if they had or knew of anyone with Aspergers, they replied yes I do, me. The response to this was o dear would you like a glass of water. I was appalled by this, as I usually find Aspergers people very intelligent people, who from childhood have been put down and told they are wrong. All big organisations really do need to embrace members with Aspergers if they want to make a real difference. Every group and person needs to unite on this, and work together.

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On my own journey I feel one of the things that has really helped me, is seeing through other people eyes, realization that I in fact see, sense and feel differently to others and how that also impacts on them. There are no easy answers as my mask has been peeled off and I no longer wish to pretend, misinterpretation of me will always continue, as I often do get others myself so wrong. But do feel we all need to be a little less judgmental of each other, step back from time to time, there are many ways of seeing things and communication wise the thread below I feel gives a great insight.

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Forced to Talk: http://asplanet.info/forum/index.php?topic=684.0

"Should we really force autistic people to talk? I talk with some

propriety (at leastin my mother language); but this costs me

a tremendous effort.  So what I say is in some sense a lie, a falsity, 

something extraneous to me.  I think that there should be areas

for not talkers, the same way that there are areas for not smokers"

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AF Bradley

 Brief History of my Work Experiences

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My name is Alyson Bradley, I started out doing various temp jobs (more on this later). But first I’ll going to talk about the job that seem to take over the first part of my life, this is a quick brief history and will be doing some more in-depth work / life experiences soon.

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I worked for Camden Council in London, Environmental Department (Planning and communications) for around 25 years (it was the safe option for me at the time, but with no real support can see now, that they took advantage of me) unfortunately us aspies are good at sticking to stressful jobs, because firstly we are not good with change and secondly good honest workers...

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From the start I had problems, and as for interviews I just fell apart. Even though I ended up with a good job before leaving the UK - took a lead role in streamlining & implementation of a new computer systems into the Council [Senior Planning IT System Implementation Officer] mind you would not have got job if had to be interviewed, just eventually managed to just get upgraded.

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Whenever I was interviewed I just few apart, and even though bosses knew how good I was, often giving the job to someone a lot less capable than me, this was partly due to my bad interview skills, bad spelling etc.. and didn't help had no real qualifications school and me never worked. But all the years I worked for the Council, I was never really given any real training or help, partly others didn't know, partly I came good at disguising my differences, partly no one knew including me, but there were people who did realize I may of needed some support over the years, especially in my earlier work days, but choose to leave me doing what I was so good at.!

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As I also have just found out I have Dyslexia and I'm Dyspraxic, was tested by SPLED here in NZ. This lead to me recently being diagnosed with Aspergers, this was with a Registered Psychologist (Clinical Scope). This begins to explain why I always found courses, meeting and social events quite dramatic, and change almost impossible to deal with. I ended up being the one every one remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Over the years trained up many people, which I know I was as good as or even better than. But often had to sit back as they went on to be my boss or even do better, leaving me always very frustrated. I always worked very hard; there are still lots and lots of people at the Council who would be more than happy to confirm how hard I worked and how good I was.

I also often worked excessive hours (not paid) which lead me to be very stressed most of the time and I also suffered deteriorating eye sight, working excessively long hours on computers, did not help my bad eye sight - so decided to move to New Zealand with my husband and family, we are at last able to be a real family, but has taken me nearly 3 years to recover from London and working in such a stressful environment.

Since arriving have found firstly for 2 years unable to work because of eye sight, until had operations. Having all this quality time has since arriving has made me have to face up to certain factors, with no qualifications and bad interview skills there is no way I could get a job, that would not bore me silly, that’s if I could get one and at the moment I’m happier than I have ever been, but think that is partly due to the fact that I live here in my own little world with no pressure.

It makes me angry that some of the managers in the Council where I use to work had always known that I had problems with this and spelling etc... But decided not to help, just put me on a back burner as easier for them. But were more than happy to let me work in one of the most stressful departments and do the job no one else would or could for too long. In fact when I left, the section was rearranged, probably because no other person could take on such an excessive role.

I feel sad that when leaving, because of my deteriorating eye sight, the council seem glad I was leaving, made things easier for them. After all the long stressful hours, in a very high stressful environment, they did not even arrange a leaving party, had to have my own. I know this was partly due to the excessive workloads at the time, and the fact that lots of other people were leaving, but really its just that Councils are not like the private sector.

I work for the Council for 23 years and 244 days. I hardly ever had sick leave, except for my sight and to have children. I was over ready to move on, been there far too long. I feel like since leaving my life has really began, and the best gift of all to me since leaving, has been having time and finding my true self.

The eye sight bit is something people really need to consider, for staff with bad sight already. Because on the same floor as me, 2 very hard working more senior staff, who worked excesses hours in a stressful environment, just like me – had the same eye problems as me and had detached retina’s (one of these staff is now retired and the other has left the Council, but it is fact.

It is a known fact that Asperger people find change hard, and will stick to very stressful jobs, even when not happy. I am telling you this because I do not want to think of anyone else, having to suffer for so long, as I had to in the Council. Hopefully my children who seem ok now, were not affected by the way I was when working for them.

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Not having an education does not make you less of a person. I myself had

to employ lots of temp staff over the years. The one thing I found, it does not

matter what qualifications someone does or does not have. It’s the person, do

they have good common sense, self motivation and can think for themselves.

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 Maybe we should all add a para like this to our letters, emails, application forms!

"Having tried for years to fit properly into an NT world and failed unless I got the pretending really right, I have now largely rejected it and avoid social situations where there are mostly NTs if I think the event will go on for a long time (I cannot keep the pretending up that long), also if I will have to make a lot of normal' responses, that always catches me out and I either get into a lot of trouble for saying the wrong thing or I get pushed out as being a little bit too different. Lastly, I tend to avoid the predominantly NT situations because its hard work trying to make a go of it and I am tired of trying to do that. The cost to me as a person has been too high."

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If the situation is not working for you, maybe change is in order. People continue to ask me does the work situation get better with age, but I feel it gets worse as we get more set in our ways. I was in my early 40s when decided enough was enough, me and my husband worked long hours in very stressful jobs in central London, gave that up and moved to NZ earn about 1 fifth of what we did before, but so much happier. Do not feel living in the fast lane suits all of us, I could not handle the continual overload of city and people. Moving to NZ also gave me the time to find my real self, hence getting diagnosed with Aspergers etc..

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So my advice would be, if you’re not happy and can change your life style do so... what’s the point of working so hard you cannot enjoy life... if you’re not happy, this can impact on others around you family, friends. Sometimes it takes big steps and changes to really view the situation... life is never prefect who ever we are, but we have a better chance if the circumstances suit us rather than others. If you not happy now, try and change the situation, as only will get harder as you get older....
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I know people on the autism spectrum do not like change and often stay in bad situations far longer than would otherwise, because of this and I am not trying to be the bearer of bad news, want you to think positively about a different, better future, begin to make small changes with a goal in mind, it can happen it did for me. If it happens or not, better to have those dreams than not at all....

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Conclusion: After working for 25 years nonstop, long hours taking work home and for 10 of those years being a mother and trying to do it all, my health suffered and mentally I was shattered. Of course I did not know I was on the autism spectrum and why so many things just never seemed to connect....
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But really with me it was I had a need to be 100% correct, worried far too much about every think, unable to stop until tasks complete, couldn't separate home and work... no life balance... would carry on working or doing to avoid social situations, or feel a need to drink to try and fit in.
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So if there is any think that you can do to help yourself, do it... I highly recommend on line shopping, I started when my sight was bad... try shopping in a super market with bad sight, a jumble of words, apart from the fact have never really driven, and always hated supermarkets... but still have to inter react with people who deliver!... but what I am saying any think that helps all good, as all very well talking about all this extra support... understanding... allowing our differences...

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STILL such a long way to go until we can feel able to just be and not have to continually try and do and figure out ways of fitting in, when society in general would still rather keep many of us locked out... so do what's feels right for you, as continually trying to fit in, your only damage yourself long term....

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Work one of those things that seems to make our lives so difficult, have been thinking about this myself of late... need to work for money, but also a need to keep my life balanced for my own sanity sake. It can be so difficulty working in a world, where the majority do not understand or support you. 
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Employers really need to be more tolerable and understanding of other peoples differences, they may even benefit. It frustrates me that often they seem to have a problem with us being to honest, maybe if they really listen they would learn from our different work visions... 

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