Autism

[Jcloughie]

After 12 years of retirement I still follow some of my ex work colleagues on FB and LinkedIn. I was surprised when one posted this today.

Before I left, he was one of my staff. They needed to find a replacement for me and they could find no one nationally (probably not enough money). I could not recommend anyone who applied internally. This is the only one I could recommend and they had to pursued him to apply. Later, he was promoted even further. Then he moved on to manage an educational museum. I had a lot of respect for him.

This is his Facebook entry.



I had absolutely no idea. But good on him for ‘coming out’. So to speak. I am very proud of him.

John

 

[otherclive]

After 12 years of retirement I still follow some of my ex work colleagues on FB and LinkedIn. I was surprised when one posted this today.

Before I left, he was one of my staff. They needed to find a replacement for me and they could find no one nationally (probably not enough money). I could not recommend anyone who applied internally. This is the only one I could recommend and they had to pursued him to apply. Later, he was promoted even further. Then he moved on to manage an educational museum. I had a lot of respect for him.

This is his Facebook entry.

View attachment 9358

I had absolutely no idea. But good on him for ‘coming out’. So to speak. I am very proud of him.

John

We watched the Chris Packham programme which really opened our eyes to the challenge of autism, and marvelled at how the friends and family of the four young people responded as the challenges were revealed.

My granddaughter was diagnosed when she was 13-14 years. Covid was good for her as she could do much school work on line, and retrospectively. She did well in her GCSEs but 6 th form wasn’t for her, so she has completed a two year Business Management course, achieving the highest marks ever for that course. She decided not to go to university after considering Law at Bristol like her brother. So she started with a local German software company and seemed to be settling down. But on a return trip from London she told her manager she was autistic; two days later she was dismissed. We advised her not to even consider a tribunal for discrimination. Now she’s just finished 6 months with a very top end property development company specialising in new build, or conversions and told the HR that she was autistic. “ Not a problem” she replied, “You will be in good company here”. She’s assistant to one of the project managers and has responsibilities for reporting progress on projects in Bath, Bristol, Stroud, Cirencester, Wales (2). Plus training site staff in fitting and care of PPE. Today she’s just returned home from a long day visit to West Wales. A month ago she was offered a job by another developer but she likes her present one too much. It suits her capabilities and temperament down to the ground. She shortly plans to buy a new car as her mileage is now 16000-18000 mpa and she’s not eligible to use the Audi EVs until she’s 21.

Our daughter who is a Mental Health nurse gives her steadfast support as do the wider family. In fact our son was diagnosed aged 51 years, and my daughter says I am verging there as well. Too old for me to change though.

 

[JTQ]

I am pretty sure that in earlier times, before people had to be put into these specific boxes, it was simply seen as "talented".
I am also pretty sure most of the real achievers I have interfaced with in the creative phases of engineering, would not have escaped being diagnosed.

 

[Jcloughie]

I am pretty sure that in earlier times, before people had to be put into these specific boxes, it was simply seen as "talented".
I am also pretty sure most of the real achievers I have interfaced with in the creative phases of engineering, would not have escaped being diagnosed.

Interesting that he used the word identified instead of diagnosed. I like that as diagnose might suggest an issue. But identified could mean a quality.

John

 

[Sam Vimes]

I am pretty sure that in earlier times, before people had to be put into these specific boxes, it was simply seen as "talented".
I am also pretty sure most of the real achievers I have interfaced with in the creative phases of engineering, would not have escaped being diagnosed.

I think there's a misconception that being on the Spectrum can result in some sort of super power or talent. This is not the usual case.

Equally we've come across people who try to explain there behaviour as if they were Autistic when it's not.

This is why the use of the word Spectrum is associated with Autism because the condition manifests itself in many different ways and to be correctly diagnosed a number of different conditions need to be present.

For point of reference.... Our Grandson, 10 was diagnosed at an early age. Our daughter works with children who have special needs, particularly those with autism.

Currently it's believed that about 1 in a 100 people are on the spectrum with boys being more prevalent than girls.

 

[otherclive]

Interesting that he used the word identified instead of diagnosed. I like that as diagnose might suggest an issue. But identified could mean a quality.

John

My granddaughters psychiatrist said she was “quirky’ after one of her first sessions aged 13-14+years.

 

[Mel]

Currently it's believed that about 1 in a 100 people are on the spectrum with boys being more prevalent than girls.

As is well know, boys are genetically the “weaker sex”. However the diagnosis of girls with ASD is much more difficult as girls mask their Autism with learned ( rather than intuitive) sociability. As time goes on we are finding that the number diagnosed girls is increasing.
For some young people, the diagnosis of Autism helps them understand themselves better. Or as one 14 year old girl in the service I worked in said with relief, on being told her diagnosis:
“Well, that explains a lot”
Mel

 

[otherclive]

As is well know, boys are genetically the “weaker sex”. However the diagnosis of girls with ASD is much more difficult as girls mask their Autism with learned ( rather than intuitive) sociability. As time goes on we are finding that the number diagnosed girls is increasing.
For some young people, the diagnosis of Autism helps them understand themselves better. Or as one 14 year old girl in the service I worked in said with relief, on being told her diagnosis:
“Well, that explains a lot”
Mel

Mel
I think your final sentence says it all. Ever since birth our granddaughter was different, but great fun to be with in the caravan, cycling or just being with her. As the teenage hormones kicked in things became more difficult, but believe it or not Covid and remote school works reduced the pressures associated with learning sociability particularly as direct contacts with peers dropped right off, and she’s disciplined in her use of social networks. Since then we are all well down the track for the next phase. 👍

 

[Jcloughie]

I think there's a misconception that being on the Spectrum can result in some sort of super power or talent. This is not the usual case.

Equally we've come across people who try to explain there behaviour as if they were Autistic when it's not.

This is why the use of the word Spectrum is associated with Autism because the condition manifests itself in many different ways and to be correctly diagnosed a number of different conditions need to be present.

For point of reference.... Our Grandson, 10 was diagnosed at an early age. Our daughter works with children who have special needs, particularly those with autism.

Currently it's believed that about 1 in a 100 people are on the spectrum with boys being more prevalent than girls.

Having worked with many autistic teenagers (though not my specialism). I can confirm it will most often affect people adversely. But, by being recognised more widely those affected are more readily accepted and their differences even nurtured instead of the person being dismissed as in the past.

I did once come across a severely autistic teenager who I wanted to talk to with a view to removing him from an unsafe situation.

The lad hit the roof!

I was then accused of mishandling the situation. First because I did not involve their 1 to 1 support worker. (But I was not informed he had one). And secondly because I did not give him prior warning that I needed to talk to him.

The person who accused me, who I had a lot of respect for, said I should have used my training. “Who organises this training I asked”. “Me” she said. “Well you have missed me out” I said.

She quickly organised 2 days of training for a small group. I asked the trainer at what stage should I have provided notice to the person. And wouldn’t giving him advance notice cause him to worry.

He had no answer.

John