Finding a Job When Dealing with Asperger's Syndrome

It is a documented fact that body language and linguistic nuances are one of the challenges individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome must overcome on a day to day basis. Yet it is never as apparent and potentially awkward as during a job interview. Finding a job when dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome is one of the single most difficult undertakings the individual will ever attempt, and even though some are quite successful, others struggle with their problems and fail to land jobs for which they are amply qualified.

The kinds of jobs which are usually considered suitable for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome are devoid of the kind of social interactions that demand a lot of attention to detail and body language. This eliminates work in the realm of public relations, public safety, and also retail. On the other hand, it equips job seekers for work in the area of research, science, computer work, and artistic endeavors.

Able to focus on their single most favorite topic of learning, an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome may have the education needed and also the expertise required to perform the work, but the job interview must still be braved. Finding a job with Asperger’s Syndrome requires the applicant to remember that it is the first impression that will undoubtedly count, and it is up to them to decide if they want to let their prospective employer know about their condition up front.

This tends to be a bad idea for some, usually when interviewing with a company that is afraid of lawsuits and fears that a person with a confirmed disability may sue them if they do not cater to every need the applicant envisions. It does not matter that many with Asperger’s Syndrome do not consider themselves as being disabled and instead believe that the modifications they require for a successful job performance can be easily achieved by them. On the other hand, if the interviewer is familiar with the symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome, she or he will not hold the lack of body language against the applicant and instead focus on the individual’s skills.

The majority of applicants with Asperger’s Syndrome opt against sharing their condition with prospective employers. Instead, they seek to compensate for the problems associated with body language and facial expressions by portraying a highly professional exterior and are well prepared with answers for possible interview questions. Some even work together with a life skill coach or take classes at the local adult education center that serve to prepare them for the interview process and how to conduct themselves. This is a good idea in that it helps the applicant with Asperger’s Syndrome to know what to expect during any number of interview scenarios and also how to overcome some of the challenges they are likely to face.

This also eliminates the risk of the number one problem associated with stress in Asperger’s Syndrome individuals: apathy. The dreaded condition that might freeze the individual and prevents them from taking the steps needed to even attend the job interview, it can be prevented when the applicant knows what to expect and how to handle the various aspects of finding a job.

Helping Your Child Overcome Asperger's Syndrome Related Apathy

Parents who have a child diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome become quite familiar with the apathy that threatens to overtake their child’s day to day activities. While it only appears once in a while, when it does become obvious, it is more or less a showstopper. The child with Asperger’s Syndrome who suddenly suffers from apathy is unable to comply with even the simplest requests. Initially parents may believe their child to be disobedient or defiant, but before long it becomes obvious that instead of disobedience, it is the condition that is to blame for the sudden lack of compliance.

There are steps parents can take for helping your child overcome Asperger’s Syndrome related apathy.

* Become a calm cheerleader. It may seem odd to applaud your child’s effort at making it from the bathroom to the kitchen table, but when you consider that for the child with Asperger’s Syndrome apathy this may be a huge and seemingly insurmountable hurdle, the necessity of a cheerleader soon becomes obvious. Remember that your child cannot be rushed at this point, but even the smallest advance can be lauded. Doing this has the added benefit of not causing a further shutdown in the individual, such as it is likely to occur if you, as the parent, suddenly vent your own frustrations on the subject. * Understand that stress is the reason for apathy for those with Asperger’s Syndrome. Gaining a better understanding about what it is that may have caused the stress will go a long ways to helping you and the child understand the sudden occurrence of the apathy. In some cases the child may actually know why she or he does not wish to engage in a certain activity, but instead of sharing the feelings, the youngster may simply resolve to solve them alone by refusing to do certain things. To this end, dealing with the apathy on a verbal level may actually lead you to a number of underlying issues that also require your attention. * Make the most of tactile stimulation. This is to be used carefully and advisedly but when you and your child work out a system that works, you will find that it is enormously effective. Combine a predetermined touch with a simple set of instructions. You may squeeze your child’s hand while suggesting that she close the closet door, if you notice her spacing out in front of the closet for a length of time.

In some cases you may have to go with your gut instinct. By and large the deceptive calm of the child with Asperger’s Syndrome who is seemingly frozen in apathy in the hallways is actually the home to a nervous and anxious mind. Help your child to relax and recuperate from the fear and anxiety he is experiencing. Suggest breathing exercises or simply massage his back while speaking to him in a calm voice. Although this is not a cure all, it goes a long way to simply ignoring the behavior, or worse, becoming frustrated and unloading this parental frustration on the child.

Asperger's Syndrome and the Fight over Words

It is not surprising that the fight over the verbiage describing Asperger’s Syndrome is heating up. Advocates and sufferers alike sometimes take umbrage at the notion that they are classified as suffering from a disability and in an effort to parse words would like to see themselves classified as being differently able.

In the same vein, those who consider themselves as being Asperger’s Syndrome patients do not like the idea of being occasionally classified as exhibiting a form of high functioning autism. In this case, the lines are actually very fluid and not at all easily drawn, and even some physicians are hard pressed to pinpoint the exact condition where autism stops and Asperger’s Syndrome begins.

Advocates contend that the classification of Asperger’s Syndrome as a disability robs those diagnosed with the condition any chance of aspiring to go beyond that which is allotted to them by virtue of the disabilities legislation currently in force. Almost designed to keep those able to do more down, advocates suggest that the use of terminology designed to pigeonhole their loved ones has little effect on the real world accomplishments and also real world challenges faced by them.

Even as the notion of a value free characterization of Asperger’s Syndrome is indeed attractive, the fact that there is little chance of this ever happening is not a deterrent to those in search for a change in language. Unfortunately, at times the zeal leads to a failure to help the person diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome to receive the adaptive aids needed, all in an effort to stress the normalcy of the condition as opposed to the differences that necessitate the aids.

Still others chafe at the idea of having Asperger’s Syndrome classified as a psychiatric disorder, remembering the times past when those diagnosed with the condition would be found locked away in the institutions of psychiatry rather than receiving the simple help they needed. This of course has contributed greatly to the heightened sensitivities about the language used to classify those who show signs of Asperger’s Syndrome, but at the same time the squabble over language that is mostly politically correct has very little effect on the real life struggle AS individuals encounter.

Persons diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome care little for the nomenclature, and their loved ones or caregivers also prefer the real facts over sugar coated, politically correct verbiage. It is therefore not surprising to see a backlash against the non-descript descriptions that seek to convey neutrality at all costs, and instead parents and caregivers shock those around them with a bluntness that is refreshing.

Considering a full understanding of the condition known as Asperger’s Syndrome in the least amount of words to be the single most beneficial means for learning how to adequately advocate for their family members, these parents and caregivers are reversing a trend that has left out of the equation the needs of the diagnosed patient, while worrying excessively about the needs and sensibilities of those around her or him.

The Unfortunate Epidemic: Sexual Abuse in the Autistic World

One of the most perverse problems in an autistic individual's life is the threat of sexual abuse. This can come in the form of rape or simply be in an abusive relationship. Because autistic people spend much of their lives feeling different and left out, they often enjoy sexual experiences for one reason: it puts then on a playing field equal to others. It is very easy for this to become a controlling part of a relationship. The most important thing to remember is that autistic people experience sexuality in much of the same way that others do, no matter how highly functioning they may be. Parents should teach their child about sexuality from an early age in order to prevent sexual abuse from happening.

The most valuable command that anyone can learn in relationship to sexuality is "No." Teaching this to even children can be very useful. In this respect, treat your autistic child as no different than you would another child-teach him or her the parts of the body from a young age and be very clear, as the child matures, about what happens during puberty and what kinds of behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate. Be sure that your child understands the differences between good touches and bad touches. This can be extremely difficult for autistic children who are sensitive to touch in general. It may be helpful to label "zones" on the body where no one should touch without permission.

Also make sure that as your autistic child grows into an adult, he or she understands what rape is and what to do if this happens. As many autistic children are hands-on learners, it may be best to role-play some potentially dangerous situations. If your child communicates non-verbally, teach him or her clear signs to show a person to stop what they are doing. Autistic people can often not understand that others have their own thoughts and emotions-they believe that everyone thinks and feels what they do. Because of this, many are shocked to find that "bad" people in the world will take advantage of sexual situations. You may need to explain to an autistic individual what kinds of dress and conduct are appropriate in public so that he or she is not unknowingly attracting sexual attention.

You child should learn to respect his or her body and understand that others need to respect it as well. This is only possible if parents and educators teach autistic children about their bodies from a young age. By learning how to stop sexual abuse, you can keep you children, autistic or not, safe from predators.

Examining the Overlap of High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

Ever since Asperger’s Syndrome has become an accepted diagnosis in the western world, the overall overlap of high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome has been a thorn in the sides of clinical psychologists and physicians. It is hard to ascertain where one condition begins and the other stops. In the most general terms, a high functioning autistic patient will not show the signs of disability that those who suffer from other aspects of the autism spectrum will display.

The IQ is measured at or above 85, and verbal development is adequate. The same, of course, can be said from a patient suffering with Asperger’s Syndrome. There is not mental retardation but the use of language is different from the way an individual without the condition would utilize it. There is a noticeable lack of emotional inflection in the speech patterns of Asperger’s patients, and furthermore they show a marked lack of understanding when it comes to sarcasm, irony, and other language based humor. Body language is not properly developed either.

The problem of course arises from the fact that both conditions are found under the umbrella of neurodevelopment disruptions and as such inhibit speech development, learning abilities, and also proper socialization techniques. Moreover, the individual sufferer will enlist a number of self protecting mechanisms to make up for the perceived lack in development and also the reaction that it garners from peers and others. Some physicians have gone so far as to suggest that both high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome have too vast an overlap to be entirely separate conditions and instead champion the notion that both are one and the same variant of autism.

Others, most commonly those who have yet to warm up to the notion of Asperger’s Syndrome as its own disorder to begin with, comment that the latter is indeed little more than high functioning autism and not its own condition in the least. To the patients and their families this is little more than academic bickering and truly does not bring about any changes in treatment or even diagnosis. It is therefore the kind of discussion that is generally limited to behind closed door discussions at symposiums and other medical conferences where the intricacies of the conditions are discussed and separated, but where little progress in treatment is usually logged.

Without a doubt, the fine lines between the two conditions are indeed blurred, and the overlap of Asperger’s Syndrome and high functioning autism is extreme. It makes sense that so many believe both to be just another side of the same coin, and even though there is little doubt that the research Hans Asperger conducted in 1944 yielded respectable values for those who did not fit the usual autism spectrum, there is also a strong likelihood that he may have unwittingly included some high functioning autistic children in his studies. Using the terminology of Dr. Asperger’s findings, however, is crucial when seeking to discuss a group of individuals who display a similar set of visible symptoms that all appear to shape the way an individual develops intellectually and socially.

Signs of Autism

With all the recent publicity of Autism in the news you might be wondering what are the signs of Autism. Here are a list of signs that can be associated to Autism. If you see these signs in your child speak to their doctor about having them evaluated. The sooner that Autism is discovered the better the chances are at treating it.

1. Does not reach developmental milestones on time. Each child develops differently. Some children will crawl at four months while others will not until they are several months older. This can be perfectly normal. The problem starts when every milestone is much later than usual. If your child is not meeting the developmental stages talk with their doctor.

2. Child does not talk. Children learn to talk at different ages. Some will start talking very young while others will just start blurting out whole sentences one day. This can be very normal. However if your child does not have any babbling type talk by the age of one this could be a cause for concern. Most children will says some words by the time they are sixteen months. If your child is not ask their doctor if they think an evaluation is necessary.

3. No eye contact. Most babies and children will look at you when you are talking to them. Autistic children will often not give you eye contact. It will appear they are looking off into a daze instead of paying attention to you. They will not point to objects. They will not look at something you are trying to show them. Instead they look past it.

4. Child does not show emotion. Autistic children often do not show any emotion. They do not smile back when a person smiles at them. They do not show any cares when someone around them is expressing pain, or crying. The Autistic child does not usually like to be held or cuddled. They will not reach up for their parents to hold them.

5. Likes to play by their self. The Autistic child usually will play alone. They feel more comfortable being by them self. They have a hard time making friends. They do not know how to relate to other kids. They do not understand when another child is joking with them. They take everything said to them literally.

6. The child loses skills the knew. The child may have learned to talk and then it seems as if they forgot how. They can learn a new skill and then a week later have no idea how to do it. Autistic children often lose skills they have learned.

These are just a few of the signs of Autism. If you notice any of them in your children talk to their doctor. All children with Autism will not have every sign. Getting them diagnosed as soon as possible will allow treatment to begin sooner. Getting your child evaluated as soon as you suspect a problem is very important. Even if there is nothing wrong it is better to be safe. The earlier treatment can be started the better for the child.

My Child is Autistic-and I don't Know what to Do...

Discovering your child has autism may be a distressing ordeal, and unfortunately, time is of the essence. As a parent, you do not have the time to consider why or how this happened, only what to do next. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone in your struggle. By researching the disorder and finding others going through similar situations, you can help you child while still dealing with your own emotional response.

Join a support group for parents with autism. You can find these by contacting the national Autism Society of America. From there you can find local branches, many of which offer support groups for parents and families with an autistic child. Being in contact with other parents in a similar situation can not only help you feel less alone, but it can provide you with a myriad of resources. A parent support group will also help point you in the direction of the best doctors, intervention programs, and workshops for both your child and your family. Find a support group for any other children you have as well. Many parents forget that they are not the only ones who must learn to live and communicate with an autistic child. By locating a support group for your other children, you can help them from acting out or acting against the autistic child by teaching them about the illness. As a parent, you must create a supportive environment for the entire family in order to properly manage your child's illness.

Consider marriage counseling if you are married. An autistic child can put serious strain on a marriage, leading to escalating arguments, neglect of each other, and even perhaps blaming each other for the situation. Marriage counseling from the very beginning can help a couple through this discovery and rough transition, and help build a better supportive environment for your children. Your marriage should not end as a result of having an autistic child, but the sad fact is that many of them do. Prevent this by using one another for support and by understanding that you may need help to deal with one another now and in the future.

Most importantly, start on the path to becoming an expert. Many times pediatricians or psychiatrists are not experts on autism, which can lead to improper diagnoses or incorrect treatment options. As your child's best advocate, you must know everything you can about autism. Parents of Autistic Children can be a great resource; this organization offers training and workshops. The ASA has a newsletter and also offers a variety of information, from diagnosing to treating. As always, remember that a support group of parents with autistic children can always provide you with books and research that focus on the reality of the situation. Educate yourself and those around you to provide the most beneficial things for your child-love and guidance.