Blogs

Very interesting article from a new organisation called the Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association here in the UK about the lack of support for people with Asperger syndrome in the workplace.

It is run by adults with Asperger syndrome and Dr Paul Shattock from the University of Sunderland who has conducted some very important research into diet and Asperger syndrome is part of the project.

Visitors to aspergermanagment.com may remember he very kindly contributed an article a few months ago.

http://www.aspergermanagement.com/diet-asperger-syndrome-and-work

The report contains some recommendations which I found very interesting as well.

http://www.danda.org.uk/pages/danda-focus/conclusion-of-a-dissertation-o...

MJ

The National Autistic Society (NAS) here in the UK have announced that The Autism Bill has made it through its final parliamentary stage and will now become the Autism Act. The Act is the first ever disability-specific law in England.

This is great news. For the first time in the UK, there will be a formal structure and strategy that addresses many of the concerns of adults with autism or Asperger syndrome, (AS).

As visitors to aspergermanagement.com will know, I have been working with the Careers Service at Nottingham University on a Transitions Programme for students with AS to conduct an effective job search and then prepare them for workplace entry. The project was submitted to the government as part of the consultation process of the strategy and we are currently awaiting feedback.

I was reading a report by the National Health Service (NHS) Information Centre that was published recently into the prevalance of autism or Asperger syndrome in adults. According to the report, 1 in 100 adults in the UK are on the spectrum.

The report points out that this is the same rate as for children which is contrary to that previously stated. Before apparently, it was assumed that rates could have been lower among older groups because people would gradually recover from the condition (or die prematurely).

I have always assumed that the rates would have been comparable. There is no reason why I can see it should less for adults; it is more a question of more being found out about the condition; I personally did not find out about my Asperger until I was 35!

I had my appraisal today which, I think, went quite well. There were no
major gremlins and they seemed quite happy with what I have been doing.

I found it difficult - as I often do - to be assertive in relation to my own requirements. I still feel apprehensive about bringing up issues that may cause contention.

What I am going to do is discuss things again formally with my boss when I get a moment. I thought of a couple of extra things after the meeting that could have added to my tasks for the year. I also want to emphasise more explicitly that I need to see some form of career progression, particularly in relation to financial recompense.

Against that, I am quite happy at the moment. My position seems fairly
secure which in this climate is important and I don't feel under any
undue pressure or anxiety.

There was an interesting debate at work today.

I was in a meeting discussing a variety of issues. One of my colleagues is quite blunt and has strong views about various things and is not adverse to stating them.

I have found her quite knowledgeable since I have been with the company; in fact, I quite respect her and think that what she has to say holds a great deal of validity. Only yesterday she gave some insight which I thought was very beneficial from my own personal perspective.

Anyway, she got on her hobby-horse about one subject which really upset most of my colleagues and one in particular; so much so that the latter got up and walked out saying the words "I don't have time for this [same] argument".

I thought afterwards about a comment that more than one person has said to me throughout my career. Namely that "its not what I say, but the way I say it".

I met a Police Officer last week whose son had autism. I made contact with her via a autism newsletter when a discussion developed about the police dealing with people on the spectrum. Most people who contributed were negative about, and ill disposed to, the police.

I dropped her a line as I have had a couple of incidents with the police in my life relating to traffic. One was an unplesant experience and, rather than criticising people who do an important and difficult job, I thoyght I'd try and provide some insight from an AS perspective which - hopefully - they would find useful.

It was very interesting. I was struck by how approachable the police woman was and how keen she was to learn more about AS and to try and assimilate my point-of-view. I have to say, I found it very encouraging and really quite warming.

I am working on a variation of a product at the moment and was asked to attend a meeting with my two superiors.

Thye made some comments about my delivery and asked me to make some changes. I wasn't sure how to take it. I suspected that it may be implied criticism but my wife thought otherwise.

I always take these things negatively. I asked to see another one of the people delivering a different variant the next day and she said that she was having difficulties with the product also. However, the comments that superiors made were less directed at her personally.

A couple days later I am fine. However, I have worked hard to produce additional work and I have run the next piece of work past the superior with ultimate respnsibility. He seemed happy enough.

Forget and move on!

I also went to a social event last night which went really well. It was only a drink and, needless to say beforehand, I wasn't too keen to go.

I was reading an article yesterday published by the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK about the prevalence of autism amongst adults.

The reserach found that 1 in 10 adults were affected by the condition - the same as children. The report seemed to imply that this was a major finding!

I am always sceptical of these type of surveys. The sample is always small and I am not sure that they are of sufficient size to be statistically robust.

What I am convinced of though is that there are more people afflicted by the condition that was once thought. What I find more convincing is the assertion that I read in a new book yesterday about Asperger syndrome (AS) that there are grey areas where it crosses over with other developmental disorders like ADD.

I am going to review the book for more next newsletter. Already it has thrown up some interesting points about the last point, something which I have always thought to be the case.

Its been quite a good week so far.

There was an occurrence earlier in the week where I was able to put into practice a useful lesson that I have learned from past experience. It was based on protocal, discretion and political sensitivity!

A colleague had used some data in relation to customers that was personalised in nature. It related to an internal identifier that allowed for access to their individual information.

I had to replicate a report that required the same information and assumed, as my colleague who is more senior and experienced was using it, that it was both acceptable and the norm to use the data in a similar fashion.

I was told when I requested the information that it was confidential and shouldn't be disclosed.

I acknowledged this, but didn't disclose that my colleague had been doing so, so as to avoid putting her under the [negative] spotlight in any way.

I have just been reading an article on Autism Speaks about the Obama Administration committing $92m for research into autism in the US.

Yesterday here in the UK, there were two newspaper articles about Asperger. It seems that there is a fascination in the media about the subject that won't go away.

Broadly speaking I think that it is good news. The UK Government's Adults with Autism Strategy Consultation process and both the current government and the Conservative opposition are commited to developing the strategy and developing services for people with adults beyond childhood.

I was speaking via e-mail to Thorkil Sorne of Specialisterne, the company he has founded in Denmark to employ people with autism yesterday. He is going to about an office in Glasgow next year to extend his operation which I think is great news.