• Replies 12 replies
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 4004 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

NAS perpetuating autism stereotypes?

Hope

The NAS has a document about the special attributes people with autism are supposed to have which are commendable in the world of work, such as reliability, attention to detail, technical ability; etc. However, while as with every stereotype there is some truth to this, it does not reflect the lived experience of many on the spectrum.

Take attention to detail and ability to focus. Yes, it is true that people with autism often persist at tasks they are interested in, sometimes at the expense of everyday demands such as eating and organising one's life. Often the focus is very narrow and highly specific, as they will zoom in on part of a task and will not see the big picture. This can be a real problem in a work place environment unless the task is very repetitive and specific, such as computer coding. However, not all people with autism are interested in or excel at computing, and so this can be an unhelpful stereotype. This is particularly the case if, like me, they have spatial awareness difficulties or dyspraxic traits.

Also, many people with ASC have ADHD traits, and this can counteract attention to detail in some situations, resulting in careless mistakes because of poor attention and distractibility.

Again, ADHD  and dyspraxic traits can undermine reliability, particularly if the person also endures chronic anxiety, which is common in ASC.

People with autism can make good employees in a supported environment with the right reasonable adjustments; but everyone with autism is unique and glib generalisations can actually be quite damaging because they do not always reflect reality for many people on the spectrum, myself included.

 

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    longman said:

    One book and one personal experience, very recently diagnosed, should, I feel, prompt a lot more caution rather than apparent knowledgeable authority (but then I must be guilty of that a lot too).

    Similarly why are you playing down communication difficulties as if to say we are no different from the general population.

    Black and white thinking is one thing. Denial that autism makes us in any way different or disadvantaged from the rest of the population doesn't help anybody.

    I often recommend one book as that is the best book I have found so far for someone who is recently diagnosed. I have read lots of other books on the workings of the mind and psychiatry, cbt etc but many of these are academic and not suitable for someone who is trying to work out what to do next following a diagnosis.

    I don't want to play down the communication issues. If anything I was trying (and obviously failing) to suggest that there were more problems involved than the non-verbal things that you described.

    Equally I don't want to deny that we are different and disadvantaged. What I do want to deny is that we are disadvantaged to the point of hopelessness. Yes, we have problems and those problems are hard to overcome but there is a whole chunk of us that is separate to our autism. Everyone has their share of intelligence, physical strength, optimism and other attributes. The trick is working out how to put those other attributes to use in situations where the disadvantages can be overcome.

Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    longman said:

    One book and one personal experience, very recently diagnosed, should, I feel, prompt a lot more caution rather than apparent knowledgeable authority (but then I must be guilty of that a lot too).

    Similarly why are you playing down communication difficulties as if to say we are no different from the general population.

    Black and white thinking is one thing. Denial that autism makes us in any way different or disadvantaged from the rest of the population doesn't help anybody.

    I often recommend one book as that is the best book I have found so far for someone who is recently diagnosed. I have read lots of other books on the workings of the mind and psychiatry, cbt etc but many of these are academic and not suitable for someone who is trying to work out what to do next following a diagnosis.

    I don't want to play down the communication issues. If anything I was trying (and obviously failing) to suggest that there were more problems involved than the non-verbal things that you described.

    Equally I don't want to deny that we are different and disadvantaged. What I do want to deny is that we are disadvantaged to the point of hopelessness. Yes, we have problems and those problems are hard to overcome but there is a whole chunk of us that is separate to our autism. Everyone has their share of intelligence, physical strength, optimism and other attributes. The trick is working out how to put those other attributes to use in situations where the disadvantages can be overcome.

Children
No Data