This article appeared on the Columbus Dispatch last Monday and I've been pondering its deeper meanings since then. It highlights an important problem and is well worth a read.
Young adults with Asperger's syndrome struggle to find jobs
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/12/hiring-hurdle.html?sid=101
Young adults with Asperger's syndrome struggle to find jobs
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/12/hiring-hurdle.html?sid=101
By Rita Price
The article raises important points which I think are worth discussing but it also uses some language, terminology and concepts that I'm not overly fond of. In some ways, it leads the reader to believe that while aspies are generally quite smart, their social issues get in the way so much that it becomes a "favour" when an employer gives them a job.
Employers already have enough power over their employees without us making out that it's a privilege to even be considered for a job. It's not a privilege. It's a right. An equal opportunity right.
In this series, I want to look at the aspie employment issue and suggest some ways it could be improved.
An Imbalance of Services
There are plenty of Aspergers Services for early intervention but not much for after-school assistance.
To be honest, I don't think this is a problem that is confined to Aspergers Syndrome. I think that this is also often the case for the better known disabilities such as blindness, deafness and downs syndrome. People are always much more willing to provide support for children than they are for adults. It's mainly a cute-factor thing but there's also a sense that adults can fend for themselves.
The problem is that many adults on the spectrum really can't fend for themselves. Sure, they sometimes seem very capable but the problem is that academic and social capability are entirely separate things.
It seems silly to think that someone who holds a masters degree in language or communication may actually be unable to communicate socially but it happens. The same goes for people who hold excessive qualifications in business studies but are fazed by simple forms - that's right, it's not just a social issue. Then there are sound engineers with aspergers who have sound tolerance issues. It's true, I've chatted with some.
"We weren't Ready!"
The other thing that the afforementioned article says is that society just wasn't ready for the influx of individuals with Aspergers;
"This wave of what used to be preschoolers with autism is moving on, and we're really scrambling to meet that need."
This is all based on the idea that Aspergers and Autism in general are on the rise. It seems to suggest that there was an "aspie boom" about 15 years ago similar to the post-war baby boom and that suddenly a whole bunch of autistic children appeared.
It's not a theory I subscribe to.
It's my belief that autism rates have risen due to a number of factors, mostly increased tolerance and changes in the nature of our society. Children who, in the past, would have been institutionalised at an early age now live full and healthy lives. Aspie adults can now (sometimes) find appropriate work or government support. Either way, the aspie generation now has a much better chance of passing their genes onto their offspring. It's clear that there are a lot more "carriers" around today but that in itself doesn't account for the "aspie boom".
I think that the other factor is simply recognition.
Have you ever bought something that you thought was fairly unique and taken it out of the shop only to start noticing that other people already seem to have your "unique" item. I believe that label of aspergers is similar.
Once you have a word for the condition, you start to notice more and more people who fit the description. Their numbers aren't necessarily increasing, it's just that we're now much more perceptive about their condition.
My point being... not being ready isn't really a good excuse.
Moving Forward
So, how can society start moving forward from this? Not surprisingly, the answers aren't entirely simple. There are things that aspies need to do and there are things that employers/society needs to do.
Aspie Tasks
- Limit your education
- Limit your expectations
- Be less picky about your initial jobs
- Choose suitable jobs
- Try not to make waves
- Consider your interests
Employer Tasks
- Stop Focussing on the idea of "giving" jobs to the disabled
- Recognise aspie strengths
- Be flexible
- Be mentoring
- Be accepting
Next Time
Both the aspie and the employer tasks deserve exploratory posts of their own, so I'll be exploring them in more detail in my next posts.
Comments
The county's unemployment rate is growing rapidly and the country is in a deep recession if not a full fledged depression.
I would find that stance really offensive.
We should never limit what have the capacity to achieve especially in terms of education.
I'm degree qualified and no. I do believe that aspies should get themselves a "normal" education.
I certainly don't accept that there are limits on what an aspie can achieve if they really put their mind to it. It's more about doing things in an order which is appropriate and affords the best opportunities.
My next post will cover this topic in a lot of detail. The points I'll be making there apply equally to neurotypicals and aspies alike.
I've seen too many overqualified people talking about the jobs that they just can't get.
Securing a job when you are out of work proves to be a tricky and difficult thing at best for a lot of people. My Aspie son is only going on 10 yrs old, but that does not stop us from exploring the future potential employment opportunities. It is never too early to begin strategizing how to make himself a more attractive applicant when looking for a job.
Our future steps are as follows: 1)pick a field of great interest so as to use his passion and knowledge to his advantage-basically his Aspie traits 2) determine if it is something that he will even want to do, to do this he could volunteer if possible, and if he likes it and does well it is a foot in the door and he has an established relationship 3)get necessary training or schooling for the job 4)my personal opinion, never neglect schooling for business-both my hubby and I have successfully been self employed, not a bad set up for an Aspie that can do it. It allows you to create the perfect job for yourself.
My sons current interest is working with animals, we explored all the possible jobs and schooling required and he settled on wanting to work at a pet shop. He can volunteer at a vets office, pet store, animal boarding, Zoo, etc. See which one suits his fancy, then get a job when he is old enough, get appropriate schooling, and eventually own his own operation. It sounds great in theory, plans don't always work out the way we think they will, but we at least have a plan and are thinking about ways to find the right line of work and be sure about it before college, classes, degrees that take him in a direction that he may later decide he really didn't want to go in.
My job is to support my son, and make sure he has the opportunity to see all his options and test the waters if possible before he makes decisions on the paths he wants to take in life.
Working in a pet shop is his current interest, however, since 8 yrs old he has been doodling "to scale" the human body, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and internal organs. This began at the age of 4 when he began drawing all his pictures with digestive tracts, hearts, lungs, stomach (always with food in it). I think he has the potential to work in medicine, but I remain silent and support him in just wanting to feed and care for animals. It makes him happy and it may just make him successful!
I agree the problem is huge. And while the "not being ready" isn't an excuse, it is an explanation.
I recently obtained my degree in business administration with a concentration in business management. They're not only "not ready," they don't have a clue what they're not ready for.
The training available to adults on the spectrum is not the only thing that's inadequate. Business professionals require training, too. Diversity programs tend to cram gender, racial, and ethnic diversity together--sometimes covering it all in a matter of an hour. Disabilities gets a mention, but there are no specifics and the topic of "invisible disabilities" doesn't come up--even in my months-long classes.
That's why my first non-fiction book will be a manager's guide to neurodiversity. It's needed.
I hate this kind of thing but this is a true reality of things, one that my fellow employee was well aware of. I celebrate his strategy and his victory!! Hurray to the doctor!!! Boo to the employer!!!!
Employers pretty much expected me to be a bit awkward anyways as a software developer.
The only thing which really is a problem for me is the future, because my social anxiety issues limit me to grow beyond my current position.
So I'll probably always be a developer.. Never a manager or anything like that.
That's something I'm trying to accept lately.