Identifying what is and what isn't autism

NAS18906 said:

Standing your ground may work in some situations for some people. My experience is that this may not help in less rational organisations where reason and evidence count for less than hierarchical power.

The occupational health people should not be able to ignore the clear link between the communication difficulties and the autistic tendencies. What is the other issue that they are complaining about?

There are wide variations in the manifestations of autistic spectrum difficulties. This applies just as much in the workplace as anywhere else.

Compared to how people might experience difficulty, the definition given to employers is largely triad based - this this and this is characteristic of autistic spectrum. The nature of communication difficulty isn't well defined.

Therefore arguments about whether or not a person's difficulties are down to their autism is difficult, and certainly not a role in which employers, their HR departments or managers are sufficiently qualified. But to be honest assessor services just seem to parrot the triad.

People on the spectrum who get jobs often then find themselves constructively dismissed. An array of faults are found which had not been anticipated in the understanding of autism. The individual is forced to admit that their autism makes them unfit for the job and resign. Or work colleagues up the pressure until the individual on the spectrum quits. This keeps happening.

We don't know enough about autism and employment and what is needed to protect jobs for people on the spectrum.

But I don't think anyone can assert that there is a clear link between communication difficulties and autistic tendencies. Guidance to employers (eg NAS employer factsheet: what is autism etc - says things like: 

"People with autism typically find it difficult to develop social relationships, communicate with others...."

part 3 referring to the triad: "the person may interpret language in a literal way", "they may have formal or stilted language, or a monotonous tone of voice" "may not pick up on non-verbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice, or they may misinterpret them" ditto emotions, social rules, also mentions eye contact.

And on social interaction: "may find it difficult to form or sustain friendships", "Struggle with certain social situations and with making conversation", "may not notice if the person they are talking to is not interested" "may find it difficult to put themselves in other people's shoes"

I submit to NAS there's an awful lot more to it than this. But I can well understand an employer wondering whether these other difficulties are down to autism, given this is all they get from NAS!

NAS18906 said:

Standing your ground may work in some situations for some people. My experience is that this may not help in less rational organisations where reason and evidence count for less than hierarchical power.

The occupational health people should not be able to ignore the clear link between the communication difficulties and the autistic tendencies. What is the other issue that they are complaining about?

There are wide variations in the manifestations of autistic spectrum difficulties. This applies just as much in the workplace as anywhere else.

Compared to how people might experience difficulty, the definition given to employers is largely triad based - this this and this is characteristic of autistic spectrum. The nature of communication difficulty isn't well defined.

Therefore arguments about whether or not a person's difficulties are down to their autism is difficult, and certainly not a role in which employers, their HR departments or managers are sufficiently qualified. But to be honest assessor services just seem to parrot the triad.

People on the spectrum who get jobs often then find themselves constructively dismissed. An array of faults are found which had not been anticipated in the understanding of autism. The individual is forced to admit that their autism makes them unfit for the job and resign. Or work colleagues up the pressure until the individual on the spectrum quits. This keeps happening.

We don't know enough about autism and employment and what is needed to protect jobs for people on the spectrum.

But I don't think anyone can assert that there is a clear link between communication difficulties and autistic tendencies. Guidance to employers (eg NAS employer factsheet: what is autism etc - says things like: 

"People with autism typically find it difficult to develop social relationships, communicate with others...."

part 3 referring to the triad: "the person may interpret language in a literal way", "they may have formal or stilted language, or a monotonous tone of voice" "may not pick up on non-verbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice, or they may misinterpret them" ditto emotions, social rules, also mentions eye contact.

And on social interaction: "may find it difficult to form or sustain friendships", "Struggle with certain social situations and with making conversation", "may not notice if the person they are talking to is not interested" "may find it difficult to put themselves in other people's shoes"

I submit to NAS there's an awful lot more to it than this. But I can well understand an employer wondering whether these other difficulties are down to autism, given this is all they get from NAS!