Finding work - Positive Aspie traits




Many people with Asperger's Syndrome have difficulties in the job market and workplace. According to a poll carried out by the NAS, many are bullied in work due to their social difficulties, or because of misinformation and myths. See our pages offering advice on developing strategies to adapt to social problems for help with this.

When asked why an employer should hire a high-functioning Aspergic person in the first place Thorkil Sonne, Technical Director,TDC, a Danish communications company, says: "People with Asperger's can concentrate better. They are more precise." These abilities, he adds, are an advantage in such fields as data control where "other testers lose interest after the third attempt, and then errors start to creep in. My people are still wide awake after the 10th attempt."

Aspies have special abilities that many employers crave. The trick is to assure that the employer sees the benefits, including:
  • Fluid Intelligence
  • Systemising - the drive to analyse, explore, extract underlying rules and construct a system
  • Focused - can concentrate for long periods
  • Determination
  • Attention to detail
  • Thinking outside the box
  • Finding solutions others don't think of
  • Loyal, honest and punctual
  • Reliable and hard working

Should I tell my (potential) employer?
 
There is no right answer to this question, as every scenario is different, but what you should know is that according to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the UK, you cannot be prejudiced against because of any disability, including being diagnosed as on the Autistic Spectrum. However, many still feel that if they share with others that they are an Aspie, there might be negativity from collegues who do not understand. This is why the DDA protects you as you are under no obligation to inform your employer (or collegues) of your condition... and you will still be covered. This means that your employer must make all adaptions to your environment to accomodate you if and when you require it. So if you you are seated in a particular position that is distressing due to noise, light, people, etc. you are entitled to be moved. You can disclose at this point you are an Aspie and this is your right. This is why many Aspies do not initially expose themselves as such, but might if the occasion demands it such as in the above example, or if being disciplined (because of an undisclosed Aspie trait).

Doing it yourself

However, like many Aspies, you may find that even doing everything you can is still not enough. So what is there left to do? You can do what many Aspies before you have done and start up your own business. If you have already done so and would like us to promote your work here, then drop us a line with the details. Likewise, if you want to support a fellow Aspie in their endeavours, then check out the business database below.
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Business AreaLocationBusiness NameContact NameContact EmailBusiness WebsiteContact Phone
Photography  John Thomas Foye Art John Thomas Foye angelleeblaisdell@yahoo.com http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/john+thomas+foye/all 9786094001 
Website design London Idea Technology Jan Szafranski enquiries@idea-technology.co.uk www.idea-technology.co.uk  
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