{"id":60,"date":"2011-07-14T14:58:50","date_gmt":"2011-07-14T18:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/?p=60"},"modified":"2011-07-24T22:04:44","modified_gmt":"2011-07-25T02:04:44","slug":"autistics-in-the-workplace-building-social-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mfw.us\/blog\/2011\/07\/14\/autistics-in-the-workplace-building-social-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Autistics in the Workplace: Building Social Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Social Integration in the Workplace<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Autistic Individuals Face Special Challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

and also have Special Abilities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Remarks and Information <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Prepared for Job Counselors of the <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

July 25, 2011<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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NB: this is a work in progress, and is not to be quoted.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Your comments and suggestions are welcome and invited.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a9<\/strong><\/span>2011 Michael Forbes Wilcox<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The Answer to the Great Question, of Life, the Universe and Everything”<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“I checked it very thoroughly,” said the computer, “and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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From The Restaurant at the End of the Universe<\/em>, by Douglas Adams <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I don’t know that question<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Great Question, of Life, the Universe and Everything is not something that comes trippingly off my tongue. I do think I know why you are all here today, however. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The great conundrum, as I understand it, facing the MRC is, why is it so easy<\/em> to find jobs for Aspergerians (that is, people who, like me, have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome), and so difficult<\/em> for them to retain those jobs?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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As an Aspergerian, my job, in the next few minutes, is to share with you some of the things I have learned over a long lifetime; I have held many jobs, I have lost many jobs. I know some of what works and some of what doesn’t. Maybe, just maybe, I can give you some pointers on advice you can give to your clients.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I have written much for you, as I’ve pondered this conundrum, and you have a copy of something I prepared just for today. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I won’t attempt to read the whole thing to you, because I want to give you the big picture, and leave time for you to ask me questions. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Topics That I Will Cover, If Lightly<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Before I’m done, I hope to have time to say a few words about a whole bunch of things.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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First, Some Vocabulary and Basic Terminology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Let me hasten to add that my opinions here are my own, and do not necessarily represent the positions of any of the many organizations with which I am affiliated.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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First: please! expel the word \u201cunacceptable\u201d from your vocabulary when you speak about the behavior of people with disabilities. Let it join that trash heap that now contains the word \u201cretarded\u201d and the phrase \u201cmental retardation.\u201d Instead of \u201cunacceptable,\u201d let us refer to \u201cexpected\u201d and \u201cunexpected\u201d behaviors. You will see examples of what I mean when I later talk, or you read the reference I give you, about social skills in the workplace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Likewise, strike the word \u201cdisorder\u201d from your vocabulary. Disabilities are a normal part of the human condition. Many of us who are autistic believe that we represent a different<\/em> order, not one that is better or worse. We believe in the concept of neurodiversity, meaning that autistics and non-autistics deserve to be treated as equals. If you haven’t already done so, read Jim Sinclair’s excellent piece, \u201cDon’t Mourn for Us<\/em>,\u201d written in 1993 and just as relevant today as it was then.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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http:\/\/www.autreat.com\/dont_mourn.html<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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When you speak of me, please do not refer to me as \u201ca person with autism!\u201d I am an autistic person. I know that the people who have advocated for \u201cperson first\u201d language have done so to great advantage for many sectors of the disability community. Some self-advocates, however, have rejected specific aspects of an otherwise respectful approach to speaking about people with disabilities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Blind people, for example, so not want to be called \u201cpeople with blindness.\u201d The deaf community is even more strident, and insist on being called \u201cdeaf\u201d \u2013 not \u201cpeople with deafness.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Here, too, Jim Sinclair has some elegant words to express why autistics prefer to be called what we are: autistic.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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http:\/\/www.cafemom.com\/journals\/read\/436505\/Why_I_dislike_quot_person_first_quot_language_by_Jim_Sinclair<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I am right-handed. You would not call me a \u201cperson with right-handedness\u201d \u2013 being right-handed, like being autistic, is part of who I am. There is nothing wrong with being left-handed (although not long ago, it was thought so; my partner, who is<\/em> left-handed, grew up attending parochial schools in Springfield, and would be soundly rapped on the knuckles if she tried to write with her left hand in class). Being left-handed is<\/em> a disability, however. Most tools are designed for use by right-handed people. If you are right-handed, have you ever tried to use left-handed scissors? I have. It isn’t easy. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Similarly, there is nothing wrong with being autistic, but this world was not designed for us. Autism is part of my identity. It is not something I can leave at the door when I enter a room full of non-autistics. It is not something I caught one time because I didn’t wash my hands, and it is not something that is going to go away. Nor would I want it to!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Okay, With All That Aside, Here Are My Words of Wisdom<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I have provided you with a handout that contains the following items, and a web link to my blog for a more complete discussion. Also, you have my email address; I welcome any questions you may have that I don’t have time to address or answer today, or that may occur to you later.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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