I'm just writting a feature article about Aspergers Syndrome and the work place, and I want to know if any of you have ever experienced any difficulties with people seeing you as someone besides an individual with autism, in the workplace or anywhere. I'd also like to know what you consider the defenition of the stereotypical Aspie. I'm probubly going to put these in my feature article, so if you don't want to be in one don't respond.
Most people don't know what Asperger's is, so they don't know a stereotype of it. Usually they just think I am Rain man and ask me to do math calculations in my head. When I can't do it, they call me a fraud.
Don't put in our avatar names in your article because we don't need stupid trolls bothering us on this forum, please.
I am self-diagnosed, so I do not experience that kind of thing; however, I do get a lot of "you must be a hypochondriac, of course you don't have AS" comments.
People don't seem to understand the difference between seeing that you fit ALL the criteria well enough to say to yourself "I think I have this, and I will go see a professional when I get the chance"; and seeing that you fit a few criteria, then decideding you absolutely must have it, even though you don't fit enough criteria to be diagnosed.
I hate this.
I doubt that anyone at work sees me as an individual with autism. They see me as someone with amazing powers of concentration, detail-obsessed, eccentric, outspoken, and endearing.
I doubt that anyone at work sees me as an individual with autism. They see me as someone with amazing powers of concentration, detail-obsessed, eccentric, outspoken, and endearing.
In my experience, those things I've bolded are negatives and openly discouraged and/or mocked.
I've had people tell me I can't possibly be autistic because I'm a woman and because I am not mentally retarded. There have been other people who've said I've overcome the autism because I'm an adult and only children have the condition.
A lot of my close friends on learning (me telling them I have autism) try to convince me I haven't or disagree. After some discussion it usually comes down to a few points. They don't want to have to treat me differently (and need to be convince that they don't need to), they don't know much about it (and need concrete and abstract representations), they don't want me to feel sorry for myself or to be trying to illicit sympathy (and need reassuring this too is not the case), they want to know that I am not going to act wierd or let it change me (and I let them know this won't happen) and lastly they want me to be OK in myself (I tell them that it is all cool me with me knowing).
Once they are OK with all of the above they usually confess they knew I was a little unusual and didn't know why. They are usually suprised and state that they weren't aware much about autism andd so forth and that I must mask it well. Which is true. Also being that they don't know much about autism it is also hard to see what you don't know to look for even if the person is trying to hide their autistic traits from you.
My mates are rough and uncouth country guys and we try our best to tease each other very offensively. I can still remember when we were all together not long after I let my mates know (individually and in a short time of each). It was at my place and all of us were around talking and drinking and having a great time. Not one of them had bought up my autism and that was OK. Then one of these mate rocked up late. First thing he hollered coming to the door to greet me was "Rossco you autistic little c**t!" every one was silent until I laughed, grabbed his hand and belted him on the back. Then everyone laughed their heads off and we were back to a good night. I really appreciated him putting it out there in the way he did. In our usual way he put it out as just another issue to tease about not to be a taboo subject.
Ocassionally my mates will ask a random question about Autism. They might also question if they notice something they percieve as whether it is because of my Autism. Or again if (with what ythey understand now) if something they are doing or planning to do may impact on my Autism. This is all done nicely and out of genuine interest or concern and I am polite and absolutely honest.
People have sometimes said things like, "Bring out your artistic side, I mean your autistic side ha ha ha." And it's hard to figure out if they mean it or if they're just being stupid. Had that a couple of times. And one time there was a guy who actually called me "dumb autistic bitch". But he was stupid and will probably spend the rest of his life cleaning other people's toilets or something.
Most often the response I get when I happen to mention Asperger's (if it happens to enter the conversation) is, "uh? What's that?" and the other dumb response. "So, what does that mean for you?" Eh?!
It's funny because I used to be able to do the instant sums thing, and then I turned four (or possibly five). hehe.
People at my school often assume that I'm just odd, brilliant etc. But people at school are afraid to approach me because they think I'm snobby, cold, apathetic etc. Sometimes I have even been told " You can't have AS you are a girl! " So I often have to deal with cruelness of blunt girls and people see me only with the male symptoms. So I'm considered an outcast, so I usually stay in the closet about my AS to avoid ridicule. The worst is when the teachers assume all AS/ Autism cases are the same, patronize me, ignore my needs as well. I had one teacher tell my IEP provider she was suprised I am an honors student. She thought I'd drop out of school! Many of the teachers don't challenge me enough which makes me sad. Even my cross country teammates sometimes wonder if it's ok to approach me. One teammate even told me "I hate you" because I was being selectively mute. Dating is a nightmare too, many guys assume I'm an ice queen or worse someone easy to manipulate. Friends sometimes patronize me and ignore me because I'm not behaving normally. I can't even cry in front of them without them using judgments and I often get blamed for conflicts I don't cause!
I'm also seen by most people for my brain only, so I often get stuck doing other people's projects. Arrgh!
Yes, I think I am respected for these strengths where I work, too, although it is necessary not to be too eager and waste time doing a job too well.
I also think I am underchallenged as well.
I doubt that anyone at work sees me as an individual with autism. They see me as someone with amazing powers of concentration, detail-obsessed, eccentric, outspoken, and endearing.
I tend to get people saying "Stop being so noisy", and similar things (because I don't tend to talk much during the day).
I haven't told anyone at work cuz I don't want people to judge me. I do get customers guessing sometimes; and the other day, I had a really nice conversation with an AS kid and his mother. We were both obviously on the same wavelength and it was cool.
That is cool.
Recently a guy at work revealed to me that he thinks he has AS too, (but apparently not as much as I do) and that was cool.
Yes, I've had that "stop being noisy" comment too but I don't mind because it's said jokingly.
When I'm concentrating on something, and forget to put on my 'social face' -
"Cheer up, love! It may never happen!''
I always reply "It already has."
That gets them!
