It seems to me you can’t turn on the TV these days without reference to autism. “The Undateables” was a look into the world of dating for Autistics (and others), currently we have the “Employable Me” a look into the world of employment for Autistics and tonight is the third part of “The A Word” a drama based on the true story of the impact of an autistic child on his family. It contains a great soundtrack as his autism manifests itself in constantly playing his dads music through his headphones and singing along to certain lines. I’ve had “World Shut Your Mouth” stuck in my head all week. In the reality shows they come across as the most trusting, open and honest people. One young mans story on “Employable Me” brought me to tears as he struggled with communication but was a genius with computer programming
The speech he gave to his colleagues when he was finally given a chance was truly inspirational and heart warming. “The Undateables” had moments of joy but I fear it was mainly exploitative. “Employable Me” seems to be encouraging us to open our minds and give autistics a chance to prove themselves. Brett had applied for over 200 jobs without so much as an interview before his big chance where he proved himself more than worthy of a job
My boss at work has an autistic son and has very strong views on the subject. A school rejected him on the basis of his condition. My boss left the headmistress with a quote along the lines of “If it wasn’t for autistics we’d still all be living in caves”. I also know through my partner of a young sufferer who attacks his parents and takes his clothes of in public it is a complex condition.
It appears that in laymans terms one part of their brains shuts down but also in some instances other parts open allowing talents beyond us “ordinary” souls. I wonder if some of our greatest minds were autistics. My first recollection was the young boy who was driven around London back in the early 80’s maybe and was able to draw incredible recreations of what he’d seen.
I was wondering if any of you had experience of this condition and was interested in general views especially from the teachers and maybe employers who may have come across autism in their world. My own view is that given the right opportunity to use their sometimes incredible skills could not only remove the stigma but also provide answers and insight beyond the rest of us.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0755nzh/employable-me-episode-1
Uncle Wheaty says
A great quote I heard from a mother of a child with autism was not to label them as “autistic” or “autistics” but to “have autism”. This removes the expectation of what the person is as a label and focuses purely in their behaviour and the reason that it happens.
This then allows a balanced discussion on the condition in all of its various forms and the positive and negative aspects of it as seen in the positive parts of the “Employable Me”.
Carl says
It is believed Isaac Newton was on the spectrum.
He was by all accounts a dreadful lecturer. At Cambridge, as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics he was deserted by his students. He carried on and gave his lectures to empty lecture theatres.
retropath2 says
Autism is, by it’s current definition, a spectrum of differing variations over a very wide theme, encompassing almost as many folk as one might wish to be included. Within a strictly medical model this will exclude the more fanciful characterisations wherein a degree of mild Aspergers traits are eagerly embraced by a voracious media as signs of being “special” with, no doubt, depths of hidden genius. Usually undiscovered .Hell, I affect aspects of that myself in a big myself up self-derogatisation. But full on autism, all or most senses locked into an internal focus beyond outside scrutiny and understanding ain’t no media party: ask the parents. For every so called idiot savant there are a million baffled families, professionals and carers, unable to even communicate. This watered down glorification diminishes their realities.
Rob C says
Very well said. In the late 90s I worked in support at a day centre for an Autism charity and the wider analysis you have made is absolutely correct.
nigelthebald says
The good doctor has nailed it. It’s what I would have said had I been sufficiently eloquent.
JustB says
Exactly, Retro.
The meeja idea of autism as “genius” is pretty insulting to those thousands of families for whom their loved one’s condition is largely a matter of difficulty and struggle. I teach several autistic kids ranging from quite high-functioning to incapable of living an unassisted life. The quite high-functioning ones will probably be alright, but the world is a confusing and often hostile place for them: they simply don’t really understand other people’s emotions, or their own, or social cues and life is quite hard as a result. The severely autistic children I know are going to require lifelong care, and their parents are haunted by the worry of what will happen to them when they (the parents) eventually are unable to care for them.
There are of course moments of joy and wonder in the life of an autistic person – one boy I can think of is honestly the sweetest and most loveable chap I know. I love him to bits. But to romanticise his condition is insulting tabloid nonsense. It’s not fucking Rain Man. Statistically speaking, it’s basically never Rain Man. An autistic child is probably no more likely to develop into a “genius” than anyone else.
It’s of course important that people are aware of the condition and its implications, but nobody is helped by the “savant” clichés.
garyjohn says
Fantastic post. Absolutely nailed it.
fortuneight says
It seems IT giant SAP do. I was recently invited to attend the a presentation on the following –
By 2020, global IT company SAP aims to have 1% of its workforce represented by people with autism, to leverage the unique skills and abilities they bring to the workplace. First launched in 2013, SAP’s Autism at Work currently operates in Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, India and Ireland, where the company hires people on the autistic spectrum into a wide variety of job types. This session will outline SAP’s five-step hiring process used in most of the countries and reveal the company’s strategic business perspective on seeking out, hiring and integrating differently abled workers.
retropath2 says
No they don’t, they want high functioning Aspergers, who, whilst “on the spectrum”, function often at high level, very high level. At least in some areas of enterprise, usually requiring little social skill or interaction. You will have come across many, usually neither diagnosed nor encumbered by the need thereof. There are loads in medicine, teaching, banking. Like psychopaths, and I am not making a comparison, they can be be very single minded, and of course there are many psychopaths at the top levels of many a work arena and business as well. You will seldom find someone who is both, as the psychopath is devious enough to disguise him/herself, often, should there be a need to.
Salty says
I’ve worked as a Teacher in Special Schools for the past 15 years and also have a 16 year old son who was diagnosed as ASD at the age of 3 with the typical triad of impairments – communicaton, social interaction and lack of imagination.
I have found “The A Word” a difficult watch, particularly the “speech therapist” from last night’s episode who behaved like no speech therapist I have encountered previously. Have to keep reminding myself it’s a drama.
The pupils I work with are classed (along with their ASD diagnosis) as having Severe Learning Difficulties but even within that category there is a wide range of abilities and difficulties.
My son is relatively high functioning in that he now attends college and works one day a week in a financial services office. Had his primary schooling in a special school and his secondary in a mainstream – on reflection the move to mainstream was not a good choice. However, his behaviour and our methods of accommodating it have had massive effects on our family life over the years. We have three other children and they have definitely suffered as a result of their brother’s needs. Family time tends to be split with one of us with him and the other with the two younger kids – and that has become our normal. Biggest fear in life – a powercut!
pavelboy says
Oh man Salty, the thought of a powercut is a nightmare. My youngest daughter is full on Autistic and if anything happens to her DVD player or CD in the middle of watching or listening to something all hell breaks loose. Amazingly, her taste in music is brilliant, only Beatles, Squeeze,Pink Floyd and Led Zep can be played. I work with a lot of people who have worked with Special needs kids and the love for The Beatles And Squeeze is almost unanimous.
Junior Wells says
Beatles -no surprises there but what is it about Squeeze do you think?
Dave Ross says
Thanks everyone, I hope my ham-fisted OP didn’t cause any offence. I knew there would be some experience and knowledge here. I accept the medias need to glamourise what can be a very traumatic condition for the individuals and families concerned needs some balance. I would also hope that as individuals on the spectrum are diagnosed that there is some way that employers and society in general see beyond the “A Word” and in the instances where they can contribute they are given a chance. To @salty and @pavelboy may your power always be on!
Salty says
Thanks for the sentiments.
Whilst my family are only a powercut away from meltdown, my heart goes out to some of the families of the children I’ve worked with. Far more complex and much greater challenges, it is so sad that I work with the kids at school age which can be difficult enough, but the provision is so poor post 18.
The crux of “The A Word”, as I understand it, is to show the effect on the wider family. From that angle it is a worthwhile exercise because that is one of the hidden costs of living with children with ASD