12-19-2006, 11:48 PM
Last month I received a letter from Prospect - that's Prospect singular the trade union (http://www.prospect.org.uk), not to be confused with Prospects plural the National Autistic Society's supported employment scheme... 
Sandie Maile, Equality & Research Officer Wrote:
ASPERGER'S SYNDROME
The DTI's disability advisory group has recently formed a sub-group which provides a forum for those with Asperger's syndrome, and also for those in contact with people with AS, or other autistic spectrum disorders. The aims of the group are to provide mutual support and understanding, and also to spread awareness of Asperger's syndrome.
The group would like to make contact with other such groups, or individuals with AS or other autism spectrum disorders, in the Civil Service. For more information please contact Andy on 020 7215 1485 or email andrew dot fry at dti dot gsi dot gov dot uk.
The DTI's disability advisory group has recently formed a sub-group which provides a forum for those with Asperger's syndrome, and also for those in contact with people with AS, or other autistic spectrum disorders. The aims of the group are to provide mutual support and understanding, and also to spread awareness of Asperger's syndrome.
The group would like to make contact with other such groups, or individuals with AS or other autism spectrum disorders, in the Civil Service. For more information please contact Andy on 020 7215 1485 or email andrew dot fry at dti dot gsi dot gov dot uk.
Also enclosed was Andy Fry's explanation of AS:
Andy Fry Wrote:
Asperger's Syndrome Sub-Group
As soon as we meet another person we make judgements about them. From their expression or the tone of their voice we can tell immediately if they are happy, angry or sad, and respond accordingly. However, not everyone has this natural ability. People with Asperger's syndrome find it difficult to read these signals which most of us take for granted. They find it hard to understand non-verbal signals, including facial expression, which makes it more difficult for them to form and maintain social relationships with people unaware of their needs. As a result they can find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others.
Asperger's syndrome can also create differences in communication, which if not understood others might misconstrue. People with Asperger's can often be very direct, to the point that some may consider them to be blunt, and they may have difficulty with the social aspect of language. AS can affect the way an individual receives subtle social clues and as a result the person with AS can misread other people's intentions. Social interaction can be a major difficulty. It is often such an effort that those with AS feel tired and exhausted, which can result in low self-esteem.
For most people the brain has the ability to screen out irrelevant sensory information thus avoiding sensory overload. However many people with Asperger's syndrome do not have this capacity. This may result in extra sensitivity and distractibility to noise, light, taste, smell or touch.
Asperger's syndrome is a processing difference that affects the way an individual receives sensory information and communicates with others. Since Asperger's is a spectrum disorder there are different ranges of difficulty and the condition affects some more seriously than others.
AS is still a relatively newly-recognised form of autism, having only been named in honour of Hans Asperger (1906-80), an Austrian psychiatrist and paediatrician, by researcher Lorna Wing, who first used the eponym in a 1981 paper. In 1994, AS was recognised in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as Asperger's disorder. This mean that many adults in the workplace today will not have been diagnosed as a child and may remain unaware of the condition.
It should be noted that people with Asperger's syndrome are often highly articulate and intelligent; their logical and analytical approach to subjects is often a bonus to any employer.
Andy Fry chairs the recently-formed DTI disability advisory group's Asperger's Syndrome Sub-Group, which provides a forum for those with, or in contact with those with, AS or other autistic spectrum disorders for mutual support and understanding. One of the aims of the group is to spread awareness of Asperger's syndrome and other autistic spectrum disorders throughout the department.
As soon as we meet another person we make judgements about them. From their expression or the tone of their voice we can tell immediately if they are happy, angry or sad, and respond accordingly. However, not everyone has this natural ability. People with Asperger's syndrome find it difficult to read these signals which most of us take for granted. They find it hard to understand non-verbal signals, including facial expression, which makes it more difficult for them to form and maintain social relationships with people unaware of their needs. As a result they can find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others.
Asperger's syndrome can also create differences in communication, which if not understood others might misconstrue. People with Asperger's can often be very direct, to the point that some may consider them to be blunt, and they may have difficulty with the social aspect of language. AS can affect the way an individual receives subtle social clues and as a result the person with AS can misread other people's intentions. Social interaction can be a major difficulty. It is often such an effort that those with AS feel tired and exhausted, which can result in low self-esteem.
For most people the brain has the ability to screen out irrelevant sensory information thus avoiding sensory overload. However many people with Asperger's syndrome do not have this capacity. This may result in extra sensitivity and distractibility to noise, light, taste, smell or touch.
Asperger's syndrome is a processing difference that affects the way an individual receives sensory information and communicates with others. Since Asperger's is a spectrum disorder there are different ranges of difficulty and the condition affects some more seriously than others.
AS is still a relatively newly-recognised form of autism, having only been named in honour of Hans Asperger (1906-80), an Austrian psychiatrist and paediatrician, by researcher Lorna Wing, who first used the eponym in a 1981 paper. In 1994, AS was recognised in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as Asperger's disorder. This mean that many adults in the workplace today will not have been diagnosed as a child and may remain unaware of the condition.
It should be noted that people with Asperger's syndrome are often highly articulate and intelligent; their logical and analytical approach to subjects is often a bonus to any employer.
Andy Fry chairs the recently-formed DTI disability advisory group's Asperger's Syndrome Sub-Group, which provides a forum for those with, or in contact with those with, AS or other autistic spectrum disorders for mutual support and understanding. One of the aims of the group is to spread awareness of Asperger's syndrome and other autistic spectrum disorders throughout the department.
