Should You Disclose Asperger Syndrome to Your Employer? The Asperger Autism Network AANE

I don’t know if I have Aspergers Syndrome but I know that I am not the same as everyone else. I am highly intelligent logically but am an emotional cripple. It’s taken 51 years to reach this point but I’m tired and weary now. This has brought out one of my key strengths as an Aspie. When my mind is fully on task, I can really get to grips with it. There was a new part of my job which had just started to cause me a little difficulty.

What Employers Need To Know About Aspergers Syndrome are obligated to make reasonable accommodations for you to do the job. People with AS can be hypersensitive to sensory stimuli, awkward in conversation and have difficulty with loudness, vocal tone and other nonverbal speaking skills. Coping with these challenges at work can require some kind of special accommodation. If, for example, noise is too distracting for them to concentrate, Synapse says wearing headphones or ear plugs are among the possible accommodations. The business community is beginning to recognize that people with Asperger’s Syndrome also confers specific strengths that make them particularly well suited to jobs requiring attention to detail and prolonged focus.

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People with Asperger syndrome may have difficulty coping with change or unexpected events. This can impact their ability to do their job if there are sudden changes at work or if they have to travel for work. The person must prove that he/she needs vocational services to obtain and retain employment.

As mentioned above, Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer diagnosed as a condition in and of itself. It is part of the range of conditions included in Autism Spectrum Disorder. We do know that Asperger’s Syndrome is NOT the result of a child’s upbringing or poor parenting. Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder, meaning it is just a part of the child’s brain development, whose causes are not fully understood.

One of the most common concerns adults report to AANE is work failure.

For many who are college-educated and in salaried positions, autism is a hidden disability. The characteristic difficulties with interpersonal communication appear to be attitude problems, and are treated accordingly. Minor misunderstandings can quickly escalate into disciplinary actions or firings. Even those who manage to avoid sticky social situations may be ostracized or bullied for being different. The workplace is unforgiving of those who are judged as not being team players. For people with ASD and other “invisible” disabilities, however, the decision to disclose your diagnosis can be complicated.

• There is no single approach that will address every person’s needs.
• One thing about Meena, she is very pushy sometimes, but not in a bad way.
• ASTEP is taking a unique approach in creating employment opportunities for people with ASD by focusing on the significant benefits to corporations and other large employers that people with Asperger syndrome can bring.
• I didn’t say no but I forget what I did say after all that.
• Each person is different, and while many autistics may truly be unable to perform these jobs, I don’t believe you should avoid them just because “it’s a bad job for autistics”.

In addition, people with Asperger Syndrome may be less likely to receive promotions or be considered for leadership roles due to their challenges with social skills. Keep your disclosure statement short, simple and to the point. Do not go into a long explanation of the history of Asperger Syndrome, scientific theories about its cause, or all of the ways that someone can be affected. Instead, summarize the condition in 1 or 2 sentences, state your challenges, and list the specific accommodations that you believe will address them. If you decide to disclose, prepare a strategy in advance. Simply saying something like, “I have Asperger Syndrome and can’t multitask” is a poor approach because it puts the burden on your employer to find a solution.

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Though wonderful for job seekers, employers are having difficulty filling positions. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Information industry unemployment rate is 3.9% percent, a full percent lower than the total unemployment rate. To fill these positions, companies like Microsoft have launched programs to hire IT graduates with Asperger’s Syndrome to capitalize on their strengths . It is critical to understand specific laws that have shaped adult services and access to them when a student transitions from school. The Americans with Disabilities Act , for example, is designed to ensure that people with disabilities are offered reasonable accommodations to access public places and activities.

Therefore, I had been a little more apprehensive and tentative when I had approached it. People with Asperger syndrome may have trouble communicating their needs or ideas. They may speak bluntly, without understanding the social consequences of their words.