Aspies For Freedom

The only way I'd be impressed by any such group is if it is actually operated by people with AS.  In other words, by aspies for aspies.  I take it these two, DASH and SCAAS, aren't?

Me, loyal? Loyal my ***.

Still, it doesn't sound like a bad idea. Support for those who need it is a good thing, right?

For those who need it, yes.  Be it because of situation or because of actual disability.

However, it should be a last resort after you've tried to help yourself.  I suppose I could go get the official dx and then go and try to collect some kind of disability.  Should I.  No!  I have my pride, and if I did something like that I would be doing a disservice to others like me and also to people who actually need assistance.  So far, I've been doing just fine on my paycheck.

Not looking after yourself and your own kind, but rather letting somebody else do it for you, only invites the reputation of "disorder", "disability", etc.

Your point is...?

That's why I said for people who need it.

(Pardon me.)

My point is, I wouldn't turn to anything like that unless I had no other option.  I know there are some who really are out of options, but that's not everybody.

Well, that's what the guy who wrote the article said - we don't know if that's what DASH actually said.

i  can read some body lang. not all i can tell by tone that my moms up set but i usely dont know why.

Let me suggest this as an alternative:  Why not add a Monster-like job board to websites like AFF?  That would make it by aspies for aspies.

Though "soft skills" like interpreting body language have been hyped-up the past couple of years, some places are probably now learning the cost:  All these people-skilled people get bored and socialize with each other... on the clock!  (It happens where I work.  When one of my outgoing clerks quits, you can bet I'll be looking for a replacement who is more introverted.)

Why do I feel a bad vibe off of this. Why do I get a feeling that Aspies that are on this program are going to be exploited?

Uhm... I don't know about all other Aspies, but I can communicate without using a computer (which is a darn good thing because we didn't have one until I was 11.75yo). My communication skills may not be great, but this makes it sound like we can't communicate at all without a computer...

To person... I know you said your mom was misquoted, so I guess she perhaps didn't say that either, but someone wrote it down anyway, so I wanted to comment on it, if you don't mind (see, I'm on a computer now so I can communicate my dissent <grin> ).

I don't know about you guys, but I don't want my employers to know that I'm Autistic, I figure that if they already accept me as an NT, why should I tell them something that's most likely going to make give them all kinds of ridiculas ideas?

Lily and Callista:

If loyalty to an organization whose only purpose is to make money bothers you, you might look into public-sector stuff (e.g. government, university, etc.).  Government work isn't perfect either, but it probably won't bother your conscious as much, and you'll feel like you're working for the public good and not just to make someone else rich.  (Corruption notwithstanding.)

I currently work for the government, though I've recently applied to some jobs on a university campus.

I've read the article and I thought it seemed perfectly nice. I don't see anything to be offended about.  I thought the best part was the end where it said:  "We want to make sure that the service we provide is based upon what people have asked for, rather than what we have assumed."  Isn't that what you want?

As to loyal, I guess in one sense I'm super loyal. I'm not the team-player company-type at all. I don't care about the corporate machine perse and have no ambition to climb any ladder. BUT, I am highly dependable, highly concientious, honest and have no interest in back-stabbing politics. My sense of duty and responsibility is so strong that I didn't feel I could leave when a family member was near death in the hospital... because I couldn't bring myself to leave without finishing my work. (Wrong I know.)  Add to that my fear of change that makes me stay in jobs long after I should have changed to a better job for better pay... and you've got one SUPER loyal looking employee.  Even if I feel everyone else there is in some Dilbert cartoon.

It is not the AS that makes most of us suffer.  
1.  It is the nonverbal and social inflexibility of most employers that makes us suffer high rates of unemployment or underemployment
2.  It is our initial non-recognition of nonverbal signals that causes us not to know when we have been noticed by a potential significant other.  Additionally, the significant others may or may not be able to fit Asperger into their mental concept of acceptable behavior and being, or simply may not understand us, or (WORRY!) believe we can't be significant others or we don't care, and often avoid us simply for that reason.
3.  Finally, the entire range of abuse (verbal-emotional, rejection, physical fighting, pranks, even sexual assault) from our peers.  

3 continued.  Lately I was watching WW2 documentaries.  Obviously all the guys on TV survived the war, most with various levels of suffering.  War kills some and changes the survivors.  

Obviously anyone reading this is alive.  You might have been bullied.
We have lost others to suicide already.
Veterans and bully victims both often suffer (PTSD), less self-esteem, fear or hesitation in relationships, and may be suicide victims later.
Fortunately, there are those who either have suffered not much or at all, and of the rest, they were successfully treated with the help they needed.

The only problem is that even though it worked for you doesn't mean it will work everywhere.  I'm guessing you work at a fairly large company or corporation, those kinds of places tend to be a lot more tolerant than the smaller places.  I personally can't stand working for a corporation, the kind of place that keeps refering to your position as your career, or asks questions like "what can we do to make you a better employee" which translates to "how can we get you to work harder without paying you more".

I usually end up working at much smaller companies, the work and the atmosphere are usually a lot more relaxed and laid back.  The problem with smaller workplaces is that word spreads a lot more quickly.  I've worked at places where I would tell someone that I'm an Aspie, and the next day one of the lower bosses would walk over and say "so I hear you're ***" or something like that.