Asperger Syndrome and Careers ??

Asperger syndrome has only been known about in the UK since 1991 and it was recognised as official by the NHS and education system in 1995, which makes it a very recently identified condition. Therefore it is highly likely that there were people serving in the armed forces with undiagnosed AS during WWII, the Cold War, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War with some having entered battlefield conditions. In the light of this information is it really justified to impose a blanket ban on people with AS from serving in the armed forces or is it all down to the condition now having a label whereas prior to 1991 it would have been treated as eccentricity or a personality issue? Therefore people with (undiagnosed) AS would have been treated on an individual basis. Has any research been carried out into AS in the armed forces both in the UK and other countries?

Imposing blanket bans and more difficult or costly services (like car insurance) for people with AS is why so many parents of children with suspected AS refuse to get an official diagnosis because it has the potential to be a black mark against their child's name in the future. These parents also think that other parents who are pressing for an official diagnosis in order to receive better SEN services at school are shortsighted and fail to look at what happens after school.

Asperger syndrome has only been known about in the UK since 1991 and it was recognised as official by the NHS and education system in 1995, which makes it a very recently identified condition. Therefore it is highly likely that there were people serving in the armed forces with undiagnosed AS during WWII, the Cold War, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War with some having entered battlefield conditions. In the light of this information is it really justified to impose a blanket ban on people with AS from serving in the armed forces or is it all down to the condition now having a label whereas prior to 1991 it would have been treated as eccentricity or a personality issue? Therefore people with (undiagnosed) AS would have been treated on an individual basis. Has any research been carried out into AS in the armed forces both in the UK and other countries?

Imposing blanket bans and more difficult or costly services (like car insurance) for people with AS is why so many parents of children with suspected AS refuse to get an official diagnosis because it has the potential to be a black mark against their child's name in the future. These parents also think that other parents who are pressing for an official diagnosis in order to receive better SEN services at school are shortsighted and fail to look at what happens after school.