Asperger's on the Job: Must-Have Advice for People With Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and Advocates (18 page)

BOOK: Asperger's on the Job: Must-Have Advice for People With Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and Advocates
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404.308.8548

F
OUNDER:
Dave Nelson

“The Community School is designed for students in junior high and high school (ages 12-18 years old) who have had difficulty keeping pace in traditional academic settings, and who need more emphasis on social-emotional development, communication and relationship skills, and contextual, experiential learning. This program offers a nurturing and highly interactive learning environment built around experiences of strong personal interest. We are accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, enabling students who are ready to work towards a high school diploma to do so.”

The program is limited. For more information visit
www.thecommunityschool.net

ASAT: The Asperger Syndrome Adult Transition program (at South Connecticut State University)

www.chapelhavenaspergerprogram.org

203.397.1714

D
IRECTOR
: Judy Lefkowitz

Chapel Haven, a private nonprofit agency founded in 1971, is dedicated to helping adults with special challenges live independent and productive lives, and is proud to offer an Asperger’s Syndrome Adult Transition Program. ASAT is designed to address the needs of this currently underserved population.

Contact information/admissions applications available at their website.

Pathway at UCLA Extension

www.uclaextension.edu/pathway

Pathway—UCLA Extension

10995 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 413

Los Angeles, CA 90024

310.794.1235

[email protected]

Pathway is a two-year certificate program for students with developmental disabilities, providing a blend of educational, social, and vocational experiences, taught and supervised by an expertly trained staff that is sensitive to the individual needs of our students.

On campus, students attend intimate-sized classes and participate in the many social, recreational, and cultural activities of a major university. They engage with other students and enjoy learning opportunities for career exploration through coursework and employment on and near the UCLA campus.

Other Websites

www.autismhangout.com

News, videos, webinars, and programs all about autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. A marvelous resource passionately run by Craig Evans.

www.grasp.org

GRASP—The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership

666 Broadway, Suite 830

New York, NY 10012

1.888.474.7277 (888.47.GRASP) phone and fax

E
XECUTIVE
D
IRECTOR
: Michael John Carley,

[email protected]

www.help4Aspergers.com

Rudy Simone’s official web site.

www.templegrandin.com

The website of a true pioneer, animal scientist, and author. You must read one of her books and see her speak if you really want to understand the wondrous nature of Asperger’s and autism.

www.workplacebullying.org

The Bullying Institute. The website of Drs. Gary and Ruth Namie:
“Because Work Shouldn’t Hurt.”

Books

Myles, B., Trautman, M., & Schelvan, R. (2004).
The Hidden Curriculum.
Kansas: Autism Asperger Publishing Company.

Hendrickx, S. (2009).
Asperger Syndrome and Employment: What People with Asperger Syndrome Really Really Want.
London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Meyer R. (2001).
Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook.
London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Films

Laura Ziskin (Producer) & James L. Brooks (Director). (1997)
As Good As it Gets
[Motion picture]. United States: TriStar pictures

Jack Nicholson’s obsessive-compulsive character has many classic Aspergian traits. The whole film is about relinquishing control and allowing in the unpredictable, mainly in the form of people and relationships.

Lawrence, R. (Producer) & Næss, P. (Director). (2005).
Mozart and the Whale
[Motion picture]. United States: Big City Pictures. Based on the book by Newport, J., Newport M., and Dodd, J.

The book/movie is a true story of the relationship between two people with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Max Mayer, (Director). (2009).
Adam
[Motion picture]. United States: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The story of a man with Asperger’s and his relationship/employment challenges and triumphs.

Government Agencies

U.S. Department of Justice

Americans with Disabilities Act

www.ada.gov

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

131 M Street, NE

Washington, DC 20507

Phone: 202.663.4900

TTY: 202.663.4494

1.800.669.4000

[email protected]

Software

chatterblocker.com

(software programs that block out noise)

Support Groups

Southern Arizona Association of Adult Asperger’s

Tucson, AZ

Aspergers-tucson.org/homepage

520.954.1490

F
OUNDER:
Dr. Barbara Nichols

A support network for adults with Asperger’s and their family members.

Index

A
  |  
B
  |  
C
  |  
D
  |  
E
F
  |  
G
  |  
H
  |  
I
  |  
J
L
  |  
M
  |  
O
  |  
P
R
  |  
S
  |  
T
  |  
V
W
  |  
Y

A

Abilities, Asperger’s Syndrome

     attention to detail,
3

     desire to please,
2

     fluid knowledge,
3

     focus and diligence,
2

     honesty,
4

     independent thinking,
2

     logic over emotion,
4

     pride in work,
2

     visual, three-dimensional thinking,
3

Accommodations, requests for

     and employer’s responsibilities,
xix

     instructions, explicit,
ix

     sensory,
ix

Alexythimia,
27

American Psychiatric Association,
7

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
118

Anxiety

     in body language,
33

     from bullying,
85

     from criticism,
90

     and education,
109

     and empathy,
27

     and job dissatisfaction,
122

     and medication,
95–97

     from meetings,
95

     and sleep disorders,
97

     from social situations,
73

     from sound sensitivity,
39

AS.
See
Asperger’s Syndrome

As Good As It Gets
(film),
68

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS)

     abilities of,
2–4

     advantages, in workplace,
2–4

     advantages of,
xviii

     anxiety as part of,
32
,
81
,
96

     “arrogance,”
21

     as Autism Spectrum Disorder,
xv

     blunders,
25–26

     bluntness,
19–23

     boundaries,
26–27

     bullying, object of,
79–85

     characteristics,
xvi–xvii

     and clothing,
59–63

     and criticism, sensitivity to,
13
,
80
,
88
,
91

     cultural differences, workplace,
xiv

     depression as co-morbid symptom,
96

     diagnosis, difficulties of,
8

     diet and,
124

     disclosure of,
115–120

     discrimination against,
103
,
116
,
137

     and diversity in the workplace,
63
,
103
,
106
,
107

     education,
109–114

     emotional detachment,
27–28
,
31–36

     empathy, capacity for,
27–28

     employment difficulties,
xviii

     environmental sensitivities,
37–43

     “geek syndrome,”
xvii

     gossip, as subject of,
71–78

     and hyperlexia,
15

     interview versus job performance,
6

     as “invisible syndrome,”
6

     job dissatisfaction,
121–125

     labels,
5

     motivation,
51

     “normalcy,” achievement of,
7

     and personality testing,
102–108

     praise,
87–91

     and psychometric testing,
102

     rationales for hiring someone with,
1–2

     ritual and routine,
65–69

     savant skills and talents,
xvi
,
94

     sleep apnea characteristic of,
54–55

     and social skills,
11–18

     strengths and interests,
93–99

     stress.
See
Anxiety

     trauma-related disorders,
xvii–xviii

     trust issues,
52–58

     visual over-stimulation,
45–50

     workplace failure, xviii–
xix

Autism Spectrum Disorder

     High-Functioning Autism versus Asperger’s Syndrome,
xv

     prevalence of,
xv

B

Blunders,
25–26

     employee recommendations,
28–29

     employer and advocate recommendations,
29

Bluntness

     arrogance,
21

     as complaining,
20

     employee recommendations,
21–22

     employer and advocate recommendations,
22–23

     perfectionism,
22

     questions for reflection,
23

     versus tact,
21

Body Ecology Diet, The
(Gates),
124

Body language

     and emotional detachment,
33–34

     in interview,
138

     reading, xvii,
17
,
89

     yoga as a remedy,
138

Boundaries,
26–27

     employee recommendations,
28–29

     employer and advocate recommendations,
29

Bullying, object of

     Aspergians as targets,
80–81

     by bosses,
82

     and confidence,
127

     definition,
79

     depression,
80

     employee recommendations,
83

     employer and advocate recommendations,
84–85

     forms of,
79–80

     legal protection from,
82

     questions for reflection,
85

     results of,
80

     and self-esteem,
124

C

Career aptitude tests,
102
,
131–132

Centers for Disease Control,
xv

Clothing

     comfort versus style,
59–60

     employee recommendations,
61–62

     employer and advocate recommendations,
63

     for interviews,
137

     questions for reflection,
63

     skin sensitivity,
60

Confidence

     and bullying,
124

     and education,
113

     in eye contact,
33

     and gossip,
73

     from praise,
35
,
87

     and strengths and interests,
125

     from trust,
53

     through writing,
17

Control issues

     organization,
66–67

     perfectionism,
67

     ritual and routine,
65–69

     Criticism, sensitivity to,
13
,
80
,
88
,
91

D

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio

University School of Medicine (Tokyo),
21

Depression

     and bullying,
80

     and environmental sensitivity,
46

     and holistic medications,
98

     and job dissatisfaction,
122

     as sympton of Asperger’s,
xvii
,
96

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV),
xvi

Disclosure of Asperger’s Syndrome

     and Americans with Disabilities Act protection,
118

     and discrimination,
116
,
118

     employee recommendations,
119

     employer and advocate recommendations,
120

     fear,
119

     in interview,
138

     and labeling,
117

     pros and cons,
115–116

     questions for reflection,
120

     risks,
117

Discrimination

     and disclosure,
116
,
118
,
137

     and personality testing,
103

BOOK: Asperger's on the Job: Must-Have Advice for People With Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and Advocates
9.3Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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