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When AS is not "significant impairment"

longman

I would like to introduce a thread that deals with AS/ASD with lesser impairment - when those diagnosed do not strictly meet the requirement of "significant impairment". These are the people with ASD/AS who are able to manage their lives or who have not been successful in claiming support or whose access to support is being challenged under the new constraints.

From other dialogue here, there is clearly some concern amongst those with significant impairment that too many people are being diagnosed who are perceived as not fitting the "significant impairment" criteria.  That includes people who have improved/ "been cured" since original diagnosis.

Some of this may otherwise belong under "Living on the Spectrum", but I feel there are a lot of concerns under diagnosis and assessment that need addressing where people are managing to cope with impairment and have some degree of fulfilment. This includes socialising, relationships, travel, work etc. However the reason I bring this up is that there are maybe significant issues for those who do not meet the "significantly impoaired" criteria that differ from the latter. I don'r feel these get a fair hearing.

If the moderators want to move this to "Living on the Spectrum" fair enough, but can you please do it so that there is an opportunity to discuss issues affecting those with "lesser impairment"

Parents

  • One of the issues I feel needs space to discuss is managing in the workplace. For many people with significant impairment, obtaining long term fulfilling employment is immensely difficult.

    Those with "lesser impairment" who have had greater success in gaining employment or have been able to secure continuous or fairly continuous employment, encounter workplace issues.

    Because the emphasis tends to be on getting those significantly impaired into work, the issues facing those less impaired do not get much attention.

    I only know two books on employment. One is Malcolm Johnson (2005) "Managing with Asperger Syndrome" Jessica Kingsley. More recently in the Adults Speak out about Asperger Syndrome Series is Edmonds, G & Beardon, L editors (2008) "Asperger Syndrome & Employment.

    I find Johnson's account of life in a sales and marketing team difficult to follow, though worth persistence. Edmonds & Beardon use the experiences of individuals with AS to explore suitable jobs, suitable work environments, applying, coping and dealing with NTs.

    Aside from these I don't think enough is being done to address how abler ASD/AS individuals can prosper in the workplace.

    This has become critical as the Government is putting pressure on the benefits system and making it harder to claim that someone on the spectrum cannot take on employment. Those with "lesser impairment" are often prevented from working due to the problems of fitting in.

    Could this be discussed more on here, with the emphasis on people coping and managing, and getting the right advice and support.

    I am not trying to detract from the needs of those with significant impairment. But I suspect many parents reading these discussions have hopes that their AS children could one day be securely employed, and perhaps their expectations are not being met by a forum that only seems to deal with the barriers facing those "significantly impaired" even in adulthood.

Reply

  • One of the issues I feel needs space to discuss is managing in the workplace. For many people with significant impairment, obtaining long term fulfilling employment is immensely difficult.

    Those with "lesser impairment" who have had greater success in gaining employment or have been able to secure continuous or fairly continuous employment, encounter workplace issues.

    Because the emphasis tends to be on getting those significantly impaired into work, the issues facing those less impaired do not get much attention.

    I only know two books on employment. One is Malcolm Johnson (2005) "Managing with Asperger Syndrome" Jessica Kingsley. More recently in the Adults Speak out about Asperger Syndrome Series is Edmonds, G & Beardon, L editors (2008) "Asperger Syndrome & Employment.

    I find Johnson's account of life in a sales and marketing team difficult to follow, though worth persistence. Edmonds & Beardon use the experiences of individuals with AS to explore suitable jobs, suitable work environments, applying, coping and dealing with NTs.

    Aside from these I don't think enough is being done to address how abler ASD/AS individuals can prosper in the workplace.

    This has become critical as the Government is putting pressure on the benefits system and making it harder to claim that someone on the spectrum cannot take on employment. Those with "lesser impairment" are often prevented from working due to the problems of fitting in.

    Could this be discussed more on here, with the emphasis on people coping and managing, and getting the right advice and support.

    I am not trying to detract from the needs of those with significant impairment. But I suspect many parents reading these discussions have hopes that their AS children could one day be securely employed, and perhaps their expectations are not being met by a forum that only seems to deal with the barriers facing those "significantly impaired" even in adulthood.

Children
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