Read Online Asperger's on the Job: Must-Have Advice for People With Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and Advocates by Rudy Simone - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rudy Simone
Tags: Asperger&rsquo
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if they can accomplish it in their own way, and at their own speed, without being scrutinized. When asked what they needed from their boss:
“Explicit expectations with clear instructions; being able to organize my work the way I need to in order to do it. A structure within which I have the autonomy for creation.”
- ALLISON
“Clear written instruction, clear feedback, and appropriate time to review and learn things. I would need an environment that would not be so fast paced that it would feel like I am running non-stop without a breather.”
- MIA
Deadlines are a necessary part of life and are part of the aforementioned structure, but for a person with Asperger’s there may need to be some flexibility within time frames. Sometimes a person with AS needs to think about an idea or project for a while first, before he/she tackles it. If you force them to dive into a task without giving them a chance to digest the Big Picture—where all the parts fit and what the outcome will be, they might not “get it.” As stated, people with AS have average to above-average intelligence but the pathways to comprehension are different—things that are quite difficult to others may be understood immediately, while things that are obvious to non-autistics may take longer for the AS person to comprehend.
While some of us can multi-task, many cannot, and need to apply systematic focus:
“I can handle just one task at a time and need enough time to get used to the routine (if there is one).”
- BRIAN
Down-time is necessary to proper functioning. There are times that an Aspergian needs to tune out both the outside world and the thoughts in their own head. In other words, do nothing. Because of sensory issues, people with AS need to stop, or limit, sensory input from time to time. This can be accomplished through periodic breaks throughout the day, in constructive use of time spent out of work, or in flexibility from the employer as to when and where the employee works.
Being trusted vs. being scrutinized impacts a person’s confidence and social skills. Trying to relate to customers and coworkers is easier when one is not being watched like a hawk:
“I catalogued ancient Native American artifacts. I worked alone, I could go outside, I could set my own hours/pace, and I was trusted to do the work well. Heaven! On my own I can do things that make me feel smart and capable. I fall apart under the stares of judges.”
- ALLISON
“Bosses do not seem to trust my abilities. They seem to pass judgment upon me based on something other than my performance. The less they trust me, the less I like working with them. The less I like working with them, the less they trust me. It becomes a death spiral.”
- HUMPHREY, BS, UNEMPLOYED
Flexible working arrangements:
Flexible Hours/Telecommuting
Depending on the type of business or the type of position that the Asperger employee occupies, an employer should consider the possibility of allowing them to telecommute. With modern technology, many jobs can now be done from home. While this might be something the employer has not considered before, with traffic, the price of gas, the cost of office space, and energy bills, there has been a strong trend among larger corporations to allow some workers to telecommute (Fawcett 2004).
“Plenty of the work that I do can be done from home. With faxes, phones, internet, etc., there is almost no need to have an office for some businesses.”
- DR. G
If there are concerns that an employee would not be doing his job, there should be solid evidence to show whether or not this is the case: tasks/projects/etc., will either be done or not. But that would likely not be an issue where an AS employee is concerned:
“I often spend a great deal of time to get things perfect, and the extra time is often uncompensated. I just love it. Also, I don’t have to deal with co-workers and I control the environment. I turn on some music, go to work and sometimes five hours
“Explicit expectations with clear instructions; being able to organize my work the way I need to in order to do it. A structure within which I have the autonomy for creation.”
- ALLISON
“Clear written instruction, clear feedback, and appropriate time to review and learn things. I would need an environment that would not be so fast paced that it would feel like I am running non-stop without a breather.”
- MIA
Deadlines are a necessary part of life and are part of the aforementioned structure, but for a person with Asperger’s there may need to be some flexibility within time frames. Sometimes a person with AS needs to think about an idea or project for a while first, before he/she tackles it. If you force them to dive into a task without giving them a chance to digest the Big Picture—where all the parts fit and what the outcome will be, they might not “get it.” As stated, people with AS have average to above-average intelligence but the pathways to comprehension are different—things that are quite difficult to others may be understood immediately, while things that are obvious to non-autistics may take longer for the AS person to comprehend.
While some of us can multi-task, many cannot, and need to apply systematic focus:
“I can handle just one task at a time and need enough time to get used to the routine (if there is one).”
- BRIAN
Down-time is necessary to proper functioning. There are times that an Aspergian needs to tune out both the outside world and the thoughts in their own head. In other words, do nothing. Because of sensory issues, people with AS need to stop, or limit, sensory input from time to time. This can be accomplished through periodic breaks throughout the day, in constructive use of time spent out of work, or in flexibility from the employer as to when and where the employee works.
Being trusted vs. being scrutinized impacts a person’s confidence and social skills. Trying to relate to customers and coworkers is easier when one is not being watched like a hawk:
“I catalogued ancient Native American artifacts. I worked alone, I could go outside, I could set my own hours/pace, and I was trusted to do the work well. Heaven! On my own I can do things that make me feel smart and capable. I fall apart under the stares of judges.”
- ALLISON
“Bosses do not seem to trust my abilities. They seem to pass judgment upon me based on something other than my performance. The less they trust me, the less I like working with them. The less I like working with them, the less they trust me. It becomes a death spiral.”
- HUMPHREY, BS, UNEMPLOYED
Flexible working arrangements:
Flexible Hours/Telecommuting
Depending on the type of business or the type of position that the Asperger employee occupies, an employer should consider the possibility of allowing them to telecommute. With modern technology, many jobs can now be done from home. While this might be something the employer has not considered before, with traffic, the price of gas, the cost of office space, and energy bills, there has been a strong trend among larger corporations to allow some workers to telecommute (Fawcett 2004).
“Plenty of the work that I do can be done from home. With faxes, phones, internet, etc., there is almost no need to have an office for some businesses.”
- DR. G
If there are concerns that an employee would not be doing his job, there should be solid evidence to show whether or not this is the case: tasks/projects/etc., will either be done or not. But that would likely not be an issue where an AS employee is concerned:
“I often spend a great deal of time to get things perfect, and the extra time is often uncompensated. I just love it. Also, I don’t have to deal with co-workers and I control the environment. I turn on some music, go to work and sometimes five hours
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