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NAS does it again

electra

I am applying for help through Access to Work. They have agreed that I can have a workplace assessment from the NAS.

So far so good, but the NAS leaflet I am supposed to give my employer talks about autism spectrum disorder. In huge letters. I'm autistic, I don't have a disorder. Even the government doesn't use the term in its Autism Strategy and our council doesn't use it either.

If I give this information to my employer it will further downgrade my abilties in their eyes. I will feel demeaned and compromised. I know the assessment will be done by someone who regards me as having a disorder.

 NAS, please stop doing this to us

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I'm angry about having autism and I suspect that electra is angry as well. It interferes with getting on in a world that is dominated by non autistic people.

    UK government legislation covers treating us fairly for our differences through the Equality Act and requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for various designated sets of people in that. Autism qualifies for that designation and we can demand "reasonable adjustments" or claim discimination if refused.

    Of course, in order to claim your reasonable adjustments, you need to be able to get into and stay in work.

    If you have more than normal problems with doing some things then the government has a category for disabled people. These people need a hand up and extra assistance to bring them into work or to keep them in work if they are struggling. ATW falls under this category. Interestingly ATW must not be used to fund reasonable adjustments.

    I fell into the ATW category this year and might be on the brink of it again. I don't like it and I would rather not be going through it but that is where I am.

    I don't think an employer will really understand why you have such an issue with a particular word on a form. A lot of NTs skim read things without worrying about it the way we do.

    So, if you want to be treated equally then you have to rely on the Equality Act, if you want specific, positive, paid for by taxpayers, action then you have to accept a different category.

    I haven't thought it through in this much detail before but I think that is how it seems to me.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I'm angry about having autism and I suspect that electra is angry as well. It interferes with getting on in a world that is dominated by non autistic people.

    UK government legislation covers treating us fairly for our differences through the Equality Act and requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for various designated sets of people in that. Autism qualifies for that designation and we can demand "reasonable adjustments" or claim discimination if refused.

    Of course, in order to claim your reasonable adjustments, you need to be able to get into and stay in work.

    If you have more than normal problems with doing some things then the government has a category for disabled people. These people need a hand up and extra assistance to bring them into work or to keep them in work if they are struggling. ATW falls under this category. Interestingly ATW must not be used to fund reasonable adjustments.

    I fell into the ATW category this year and might be on the brink of it again. I don't like it and I would rather not be going through it but that is where I am.

    I don't think an employer will really understand why you have such an issue with a particular word on a form. A lot of NTs skim read things without worrying about it the way we do.

    So, if you want to be treated equally then you have to rely on the Equality Act, if you want specific, positive, paid for by taxpayers, action then you have to accept a different category.

    I haven't thought it through in this much detail before but I think that is how it seems to me.

Children
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