Partial Disclosure

All the debate about disclosure among users so far has been about either disclosing or not disclosing.

I am though reading a very interesting book at the moment (which I will review on the site shortly) in which a contributor talks about partial or limited disclosure. Very interesting.

He starts by saying that you shouldn't divulge your AS in a work context because of its potential to harm. However, he goes onto say that you should disclose any social impairments and specific issues you are having difficulty with.

His rationale is that everyone else has certain difficulties so doing so doesn't make a person with AS any the lesser for it. It should be done on a "need to know basis" only.

By asking people upfront in a matter-of-fact-way to verbalise (give clear instructions) it will enable any important information that they would normally transmit non-verbally and help to de-emphasise your disability. Moreover, it sends a signal to others that you want to focus on getting the job done.

I thought this was sound advice and not something I had thought of previously. As he goes on to say: at a minimum you will avoid misunderstandings that can frustrate and delay.

I think that this is going to be my new posiiton and approach!