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)
Authors: Rudy Simone
Tags: #Asperger&rsquo
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
Pathway—UCLA Extension
10995 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 413
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.794.1235
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.
News, videos, webinars, and programs all about autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. A marvelous resource passionately run by Craig Evans.
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,
Rudy Simone’s official web site.
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.
The Bullying Institute. The website of Drs. Gary and Ruth Namie:
“Because Work Shouldn’t Hurt.”
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.
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.
U.S. Department of Justice
Americans with Disabilities Act
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
(software programs that block out noise)
Southern Arizona Association of Adult Asperger’s
Tucson, AZ
520.954.1490
F
OUNDER:
Dr. Barbara Nichols
A support network for adults with Asperger’s and their family members.
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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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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 personality testing,
103