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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

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I wasn't aware of the research and the paper that came out of it. I'll try and be a bit more sensitive with my terminology.

    Personally speaking, autism is one aspect of me. I don't think it should define how people think of me. When you meet a blind or deaf person you don't think that their blindness or deafness pervades their entire being. It's one aspect that needs to be given extra allowances and assistance but they are mainly a human being with loads of other abilities that are entirely intact. I feel some affinity for them and feel emotionally blind but otherwise pretty functional. The inability to grasp what other people are thinking or feeling is like having a blindness. This thread has made me think about it and I feel more solidarity and understanding for other disabled people. Life is tough with a disability and I suspect that blind and deaf people may have less patience or sympathy for people who want special labels or categories.

    In the world of work I think it is important to be given the opportunity, and special assistance if necessary, to get on and do the things that an organisation values. I want to be thought of as the inventive one that fixed a problem rather than that autistic person in IT that nobody can make sense of. The equality act and ATW aim to make this possible and I am grateful for these things being there and having the force of the state behind them.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I wasn't aware of the research and the paper that came out of it. I'll try and be a bit more sensitive with my terminology.

    Personally speaking, autism is one aspect of me. I don't think it should define how people think of me. When you meet a blind or deaf person you don't think that their blindness or deafness pervades their entire being. It's one aspect that needs to be given extra allowances and assistance but they are mainly a human being with loads of other abilities that are entirely intact. I feel some affinity for them and feel emotionally blind but otherwise pretty functional. The inability to grasp what other people are thinking or feeling is like having a blindness. This thread has made me think about it and I feel more solidarity and understanding for other disabled people. Life is tough with a disability and I suspect that blind and deaf people may have less patience or sympathy for people who want special labels or categories.

    In the world of work I think it is important to be given the opportunity, and special assistance if necessary, to get on and do the things that an organisation values. I want to be thought of as the inventive one that fixed a problem rather than that autistic person in IT that nobody can make sense of. The equality act and ATW aim to make this possible and I am grateful for these things being there and having the force of the state behind them.

Children
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