I understand why this could sound like an overreaction but I am aghast at a phrase. Why? Because it is part of an explanation even if it is not all of the explanation. I am surprised the words would not be obvious to me to draw on them myself. They should be obvious? When I saw the words I was aghast and it was as if I want to fall forward and collapse until my head landed on the table. The words are “Spiky Skill Sets Profile” It’s an explanation why people with autism sometimes find it hard to find or hold down certain types of work life. They can be highly skilled in some ways but not in others.
Is this why I studied humanities writing essays even though it took me longer than others but fell apart working at Citizens advice because of attention and organisation skills. Trained to be a counsellor but cognitive skills blocked me from doing it at a professional level partly attention difficulties and also finding words for peoples situations but was very good at the academic side. Went back to University on a special scheme, with disability grant starting on biomedical science, transferring to computer stuff where I became addicted to work as a geek, loved the technical side and coding as well as the visual side. So addicted to it all that I lost any kind of sex drive. Also happened to some of the other guys. Became very mentally ill so took two years out. Swung towards design and art. Thought I would have a well paid job in tech but ended up tutoring old people to use Computers and tablets. Ok anyway and much easier to cope with. As well during the geek stage working in rooms with other computer workers I had to ask others to turn the radio or music off or I could not work at all.
Twice In life once as a child and once as an adult excelled highly in maths but once I had a job in a hotel taking money and giving back change while serving drinks and within hours management had uncertainties about keeping me on because it was so hard to count change while working. As a teenager had a job in a warehouse but it was very hard to fill in forms and the management were concerned whether I could do the job.
There is other stuff. Did creative writing with a group. I once took the group but could not follow what people were saying after I gave out ideas for writing exercises. As well did some creative writing but attending poetry readings and could not follow poems being read.
I have practiced the guitar for decades. I like to practice patterns and practice patterns. Once I wrote a dissertation on the collaboration of Kandinski and Schoenberg. I got a distinction for this but I am a crap musician.
As a teenager found various labouring jobs hard. Was hard to follow instructions. However I was better as a drivers mate as I could sit in a truck and look at the moon.
There is more stuff. It felt like a eureka moment discovering the phrase “Spiky Skills Profile”. It seems to explain stuff. It can be “Spiky Skills Maize”
