• Replies 1 reply
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 802 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

Aspergers and Work

Lady S

My Aspie partner is in full time work but feels like he's being treated like a second-class citizen and as though he's stupid (he's had this treatment all his life). It's so hard for him and I really feel for him! Does anyone think it would help to try and get a diagnosis for him and indeed if he can (he's 57 years old). I thought maybe if he was diagnosed as having Aspergers it would help his managers to know him better and help him do his job better. Thanks in advance.

  • Hi Lady S

    I have been diagnosed for three months and am 62.

    A diagnosis has certainly helped me in so many ways.  Not least because it makes an employer sit up and take notice and will help to get the adjustments needed at work.

    I had to go 'private' though to get the diagnosis.  My GP was not in the least bit interested, he seemed to be of the opinion that I had been autistic for sixty years so I must have been able to cope - this despite suffering from severe anxiety, depression, lack of sleep and other problems which led to a great deal of time off work. 

    Changes of job role really brought things to a head for me and I suffered a terrific meltdown.  So a diagnosis has really helped me.

    Bear in mind that if your partner is not diagnosed with an autism condition, the psychologist or psychiatrisst doing the assessent should still be able to get to the cause of the problems your partner has so all will not be lost whatever the outcome is. 

    For me it was such a relief to get the diagnosis since my life has now made a lot more sense.  The only downside of the diagnosis is the thought of what might have been, but then to have the gift of hindsight would mean there are a lot of things we would have done differently.

    Depending on the sort of work your partner does, you should be able to get Access to Work to come in and do an assessment to see how your employer can adjust the way you work and get you funding if necessary to provide necessary equipment and a support worker with whom to discuss the problems you are having and to help get them resolved.  This would not necessarily depend on a diagnosis but having one would let the assessor know where to start.  Funds may be available to provide adjustments in the workplace but it may just be that they would recommend a different place to work as well as giving the opportunity to take a break to a quiet place if there is a need to to gather one's thoughts.

    Good luck!

    .