Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits • Hacker News Board

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#41

Post by unstuckdev » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 1:55 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #9

petercooper wrote: post #2

It was disheartening to be outwardly liked and praised but to never receive a real promotion. I've noticed this as a common unfortunate side effect of disclosing anything that has a stigma attached and explains why the upper echelons of most pursuits (politics, business, sport) still tend to be quite homogenous. While a small but ever increasing spotlight is being shone on issues faced by various minorities in the wo…

>minorities in the workplace (particularly by race and gender) We have a minority gender? (Or is that a can of worms I shoudln't have opened?)

Influence doesn't scale neatly with numbers. Also, people with nonbinary genders are helped by more equal binary representation since they're affected by the same problems that affect everyone regardless of identity in homogeneous environments. Even people in the statistical and social plurality are worse off with less variety.

I've never seen a place made worse by keeping space for more perspectives.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#42

Post by scardine » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 1:59 PM UTC

TrinaryWorksToo wrote: post #21

scardine wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many things classified today as autism spectrum disorders are hardly incapacitating so I would not call it a mental illness.

It can be more than you think. Be careful saying that.

Sure, I agree autism can be very debilitating and pose a heavy burden on the individual and the family. In my family we tend to fell on the lighter side of the spectrum.

My 5yo boy is officially diagnosed and he is really smart. My father was definitely autistic although never diagnosed.

I was lucky enough to have a false twin brother (11 months younger) that was the most popular guy at school while I was the weirdest (until I started emulating his behavior in social situations).

Today I believe my brain is just wired differently. Some of the most powerful structures in the brain (the GPUs) are devoted analyzing faces and reactions; in my case they are used for other purposes so I had to learn how to process faces using the CPU which is a bit tiresome but works well enough.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#43

Post by Nasrudith » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 1:59 PM UTC

This highlights some of the underlying irrationalities and insanities of "normal" society. The rational thing is low effort - not giving a damn unless it is somehow actually relevant. Yet management insists upon setting up additional talent filters for petty reasons and go with what flatters themselves above all else. We see things like the most social positions - managers having closed offices while giving open office plans and cubicles to the people with conventrative work.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#44

Post by awakeasleep » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:00 PM UTC

ciaranm wrote: post #40

kraig911 wrote: post #31

I'm having difficultly explaining my child has autism and need the time off all the time. Seriously people's expectations versus handling reality are very misaligned. Everyone constantly tells me I look sleepy and I've over heard from some that maybe I drink too much. They don't understand the time it takes to drive a kid to see 3 different specialists every other week, to drive to and from ABA therapy (which doesn't…

Hey, just want to say that I've watched my own parents handle this with my youngest brother (now 13). It's incredibly difficult and draining both physically and emotionally. I can't imagine how tough it is first hand as a parent.

Does it at least improve as they get older?

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#45

Post by onemoresoop » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:03 PM UTC

alterIch wrote: post #7

matkinz wrote: post #3

Disclosing a mental illness at work sounds like the worst idea you could ever have. I think it's better not to say anything and, if you wrong someone because of your illness, maybe tell that person in private and apologise. Unfortunately doing that makes it sound like an excuse. I'm not saying I have a better solution. Some people simply aren't apt for the real world. That's sad but it's the truth.

"I'm not saying I have a better solution. Some people simply aren't apt for the real world. That's sad but it's the truth" I agree with the parent that you really want to think through the benefits of reporting a mental illness at work. How you will be treated depends on your employer, your boss, and the HR people involved in the discussion. However as someone who struggles with a very real mental issue myself and ha…

This is the best attitude one can have. The tendency to gravitate towards a self imposed goal/direction and persevere is unlikely NOT TO yield results!!!

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#46

Post by RankingMember » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:05 PM UTC

matkinz wrote: post #17

RankingMember wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Some people simply aren't apt for the real world I'm confused by the juxtaposition of this statement and your preceding thoughts- it seems like quite a jump to say what seems to boil down to "Existing with mental illness at work and feeling like you have to hide it sucks" and then expand that to "People with mental illness aren't fit for the real world". Who decides who gets to be classified as "apt for the real wo…

I didn't say "people with mental illness aren't fit for the real world", but " some people with mental illness aren't fit for the real world". In this case, regarding autism, it's called "spectrum" for a reason

I read the quoted statement in the context of the rest of your comment, which pertains to a workplace environment where the subject already lives and works in the real world, so they'd be on the higher-functioning end of that spectrum. There are certainly people who don't fall into that end, though.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#47

Post by sidlls » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:05 PM UTC

kraig911 wrote: post #31

I'm having difficultly explaining my child has autism and need the time off all the time. Seriously people's expectations versus handling reality are very misaligned. Everyone constantly tells me I look sleepy and I've over heard from some that maybe I drink too much. They don't understand the time it takes to drive a kid to see 3 different specialists every other week, to drive to and from ABA therapy (which doesn't…

My child is on the spectrum. His symptoms are relatively mild by comparison it seems with yours. It's still tough for me and my wife. I hope you are able to hang on to that grain of sand. I know how hard it is.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#48

Post by mrlala » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:06 PM UTC

_d8k6 wrote: post #33

matkinz wrote: post #3

Disclosing a mental illness at work sounds like the worst idea you could ever have. I think it's better not to say anything and, if you wrong someone because of your illness, maybe tell that person in private and apologise. Unfortunately doing that makes it sound like an excuse. I'm not saying I have a better solution. Some people simply aren't apt for the real world. That's sad but it's the truth.

Autism is not a mental illness. I am not mentally ill. I was born with a disability which causes social impairments and a host of other symptoms. Being Autistic is beyond my control, and is untreatable other than just trying my damndest to “pass” as neurotypical whereever and however I can. I find it incredibly insulting and damaging to label me as mentally ill.

>and is untreatable

If it was "treatable" would you still consider it not a mental illness?

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#49

Post by baud147258 » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:09 PM UTC

organsnyder wrote: post #13

collyw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>minorities in the workplace (particularly by race and gender) We have a minority gender? (Or is that a can of worms I shoudln't have opened?)

In most workplaces, yes. For many fields (IT, executive-level, politics...), women are in the minority. For others (teaching, nursing...), men are in the minority. One big disparity is that most of the female-dominated fields tend to be lower-paying.

I'm pretty sure that construction and truck-driving which are male-dominated are lower-paying than medical, which is female-dominated.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#50

Post by scardine » Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 2:10 PM UTC

loriverkutya wrote: post #24

scardine wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many things classified today as autism spectrum disorders are hardly incapacitating so I would not call it a mental illness.

Can you name one thing which is classified as autism spectrum and not incapaciting pls?

I have trouble perceiving other people's emotions, reading body language and facial expressions; it takes more effort to remember faces/names; have other social oddities; but it is hardly incapacitating and you learn how to deal with it. Insomnia (I'm able to sleep only 4h/day and wake up rested) and having hyper focus for my special interests are some perks.