Autism in employment.

chrissycn

Trina90 wrote: »

Yes, my husband is actually a colleague of mine. He was diagnosed at the age of 4 as being on the autistic spectrum.

I suspect my husband and his brother have it (and passed it onto their children). Both have very good careers, in fact BIL is very wealthy. Neither have been assessed for ASD though.

Feyfangirl

It's also a strange thing in a way, especially as my career field is the care industry. I love working with the service users and I understand employers need to ensure the right people work with their service users and colleagues, but it really does bug me when they say to you in order to cover their backs and to protect their friends they need to let you go as you are a safeguarding risk when you have done nothing wrong, but on paper you are more likely to do something wrong as a result of your conditions.


Or in the case of care agencies: "why if you have aspergers, do you want to work in care, as surely you don't like people?" yet they are okay in taking me on as a free worker (especially as I am qualified to level 4 in adult care and 2 in childcare). It's so annoying

chrissycn

Feyfangirl wrote: »

It's also a strange thing in a way, especially as my career field is the care industry. I love working with the service users and I understand employers need to ensure the right people work with their service users and colleagues, but it really does bug me when they say to you in order to cover their backs and to protect their friends they need to let you go as you are a safeguarding risk when you have done nothing wrong, but on paper you are more likely to do something wrong as a result of your conditions.


Or in the case of care agencies: "why if you have aspergers, do you want to work in care, as surely you don't like people?" yet they are okay in taking me on as a free worker (especially as I am qualified to level 4 in adult care and 2 in childcare). It's so annoying

That's a disgusting way to treat you. Recently a psychologist told me that "lack of empathy" in ASD people is a myth. I think there is a huge lack of understanding.

consumers_revenge

Clixby_Bream wrote: »

Are you able to name this 'huge multinational company'? I could get my autistic son to apply to them.

Applied a few months back and remember seeing something about actively recruiting. Sorry cant fins the exact page. https://jobs.axa.co.uk/life-at-axa/axa-stories/dont-hide-who-you-are-engaging-and-understanding-autism

consumers_revenge

chrissycn wrote: »

consumers_revenge wrote: »

Hi,


Just interested if you know anyone ( or are the anyone ) on the autism scale thats employed? Just trying to gauge if lots of people know someone ( not that it may be generally known ) at their company.


Reason I ask is DS has aspergers and is now classed in the autism spectrum. Wife said she noticed something on a site earlier that said only 28? percent of people diagnosed with autism have full time jobs.


Oddly I know of a huge multinational company that actually activley recruits people with autism.


Any thoughts?



How old is your son?

My boys are 10 & 12 so I haven't got as for as employment yet, but have similar worries to you. Although my concerns are mainly about getting them into 6th form/college at this stage. They are both mainstream in an excellent catchment area.

Has your son been diagnosed and then dropped out of the system with no further help? This happens a great deal. Getting our family support worker opened many doors for us and now we have a large team of experts behind us. This is making a huge difference and we have just discovered they have hypermobility in their fingers (co-morbid with ASD) and my eldest might have dyspraxia (also co-morbid with ASD).

In regard to employment, my mother recently had a meeting with her bank and they said that the banking industry is actively seeking ASD employees due to their attention to detail. So times are changing thank goodness.

Hes just start 3rd year of seniors. Always knew something was there but went for full diagnosis a few months back. Been on the radar for years though.

YORKSHIRELASS

My adult son has a chronic illness, mild learning difficulties, has suffered with severe anxiety and has been told that he is probably on the autistic spectrum but chose not to be formally diagnosed.

He has learnt to adapt and fit in and has successfully completed an apprenticeship and is about to go to residential college. The key thing for him was finding the right work place - he tried a summer job in a busy kitchen and it was a disaster - too busy, too noisy, too many conflicting instructions, no real routine or structure.

He works best in a small group where there are set patterns of work and someone who can give him clear instructions. I cant see him in a public facing role as he isn't great at reading people but he is a darned hard worker and is very cheerful and easygoing. He also knows his limitations and is prepared to be honest about that.

The hardest thing can be getting work in the first place, there is still an awful lot of ignorance out there, but once you have some work experience it gets easier.

My son has made huge leaps forward in so many ways by working and it is definitely possible.

SingleSue

chrissycn wrote: »

That's a disgusting way to treat you. Recently a psychologist told me that "lack of empathy" in ASD people is a myth. I think there is a huge lack of understanding.

Youngest doesn't have empathy, he doesn't really feel (apart from fear/anxiety). He made a joke last week when we were packing his stuff for uni that there would be two robotic things in his room, him and Alexa. What he does is study other people to work out the suitable emotional response to a situation but unfortunately it doesn't always go to plan.

I must admit it upset me greatly when he first started talking about being like a robot but I have got past that now.

Middle son does have some empathy and is his uni group's agony uncle as although there is empathy, it is not as much as others so he doesn't get over emotional like others would and is an excellent listener and problem solver.

chrissycn

SingleSue wrote: »

Youngest doesn't have empathy, he doesn't really feel (apart from fear/anxiety). He made a joke last week when we were packing his stuff for uni that there would be two robotic things in his room, him and Alexa. What he does is study other people to work out the suitable emotional response to a situation but unfortunately it doesn't always go to plan.

I must admit it upset me greatly when he first started talking about being like a robot but I have got past that now.

Middle son does have some empathy and is his uni group's agony uncle as although there is empathy, it is not as much as others so he doesn't get over emotional like others would and is an excellent listener and problem solver.

My two boys are opposites too. My eldest is lacking in empathy, whilst my youngest is hugely empathetic. It just shows that it isn't something employers should be making assumptions on.

No wonder you felt upset at you sons robot comments. He must relate to technology more than people, which is understandable because there are no grey areas. Is he studying IT by any chance?

Tabbytabitha

chrissycn wrote: »

Sangie, I find you astoundingly argumentative and rude. When your buddy Marliepanda had the opposite opinion to you on this, you were polite, yet you can't extend that courtousy to me. I am going to block you now goodbye.

You'll miss some of the most knowledgeable and informative posts on this board if you do; I really wouldn't.

Les79

Sadly I doubt that this will backfire on you, but if you were ever having problems with your employer then Sangie is probably the most experienced FREE person on here that you could speak to about it.

This is more constructive criticism than "a swipe", but consider growing a thicker skin when people challenge your opinions.

Autism is not a "one size fits all" condition, as evidenced with the differences between your two boys. So you may be an "expert" with regards to your children, but that doesn't make you an "expert" on either the condition as a whole or with other people (nor does it make "experts" an "expert" on your children). So don't be so dismissive of other people's insight/experience and block them when it challenges your viewpoint. Just be open-minded