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Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

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Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#121

Post by mercer »

anon192831 wrote: post #80
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…

I have a brother in-law (20yo) that's also on the spectrum (aspergers). In an attempt to help with general anxiety that's associated with Aspergers, we introduced him to marijuana (as it has a relaxing effect), but that just mainly causes more anxiety. However, it turns out that microdosing on psychedelics has been quite the panacea. I'd highly recommend reading the book "A Really Good Day" that goes over the safety…

Could you elaborate on the specifics? I have a microdosable bit of LSD at the ready but haven't had the courage to try yet.

EDIT: I feel anxiety is the worst of it. I can accept being 'weird', and my OCD-ish tendencies give me comfort. I mostly struggle with the anxiety, and weed has not been a good solution.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#122

Post by kraig911 »

mercer wrote: post #120
kraig911 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Texas. Wait list is 19 years. We get some services but we're past the age limit on most of those. Not to mention most of them are so defunded it's like 30 mins of speech therapy available a month...

Is moving to Europe at all an option? I get the impression that support for autism is a bit better here.

I did interview around a bit. Issue is immigration shuts down a lot of the process once they see anything autism on the application.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#123

Post by sjg007 »

kraig911 wrote: post #100
sjg007 wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What state are you in? You can get Medicaid and county services in some states and possibly find a center based program for her.

Texas. Wait list is 19 years. We get some services but we're past the age limit on most of those. Not to mention most of them are so defunded it's like 30 mins of speech therapy available a month...

Your best bet is to move. Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Minnesota have good services. Texas defunded special ed in schools and the Feds cracked down on them so now they have to provide services but it will take years to get enough providers. I would move. But what you want is a center based program (so you can work). You can find these in Arizona and Florida as well I believe but there are issues there due to republican control of the state legislatures. FYI Minnesota HAD crazy wait lists and a Federal judge admonished them for not spending the money and things turned around in about 2-3 years. So we do have limited providers with about a 6 month wait list and only 1 provider in the metro area for kids older than age 7. So I would say Massachusetts or New Jersey or New York.

In my experience school districts are terrible at providing services. You want county level, private insurance or Medicaid. Also you want to be in a college town or near a college town because 90% of the line ABA therapists are college kids (supervised by a BCBA etc.. and up to a psyD etc... that helps staffing immensely. California has a 6 month wait at the regional center level for assessment, Minnesota has a SMRT wait of 60 days if I recall correctly but the bigger issue is ~6months to get into a center based program.

If moving is not an option another idea is to start a program. You are not alone and other parents will band together. For Texas it would fill a huge need.

EDIT:

Article discusses New Jersey and their well established system.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/new-autism-number...

Below link summarizes the laws/programs in states. Generally, the earlier insurance coverage was mandated the more providers a state now has.

http://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-aut...

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#124

Post by sjg007 »

kraig911 wrote: post #122
mercer wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is moving to Europe at all an option? I get the impression that support for autism is a bit better here.

I did interview around a bit. Issue is immigration shuts down a lot of the process once they see anything autism on the application.

Huh.. do you have to disclose minor child disabilities? I’ve heard obtaining citizenship becomes more difficult but temporary residency while a child should be ok.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#125

Post by smelly1098 »

thesperg wrote: post #78

As someone with many Aspergers tendencies, I can tell you that most work, school and social environments are not great for us. While I think it is annoying to have Aspergers and be expected to act “normally,” I can see it would have many downsides for people to claim Aspergers status and bring this into regular office environments rather than develop coping strategies. It takes very, very little time for normal peopl…

Just curious how you manage politics in the workplace and how you progressed so far in the workplace.

I'm really struggling with politics at work right now so I know how you feel. I feel a lot of those same emotions.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#126

Post by smelly1098 »

nugga wrote: post #88

Be aware that not every person has your best interest at heart and occasionally you may come across people who will abuse your weakness if you put yourself into a vulnerable position or paint yourself as an easy target. This may be a fringe issue but if you declare yourself to be socially inept/awkward, the sharks may come.

Just curious.

Is it pretty common for this to happen?

I just got completely marginalized at my last workplace after they realized how socially inept I was and basically forced out the door. It also happened my job before that. Both were startups though.

Wondering if that's pretty common or if I just had bad workplaces?

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#128

Post by smelly1098 »

scardine wrote: post #18
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.

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

I've been forced out of my last two workplace due to being socially inept. I'm pushing 40 and have never had a relationship with a girl or made a friend or been invited to a party.

It's not physically incapacitating until you kill yourself which is the signal society sends you constantly.

It's pretty incapacitating.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#129

Post by smelly1098 »

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've been forced out of my last two workplace due to being socially inept. I'm pushing 40 and have never had a relationship with a girl or made a friend or been invited to a party.

What society wants and signals to you constantly is for you to kill yourself because you're not worth anything.

It sucks to say the least.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#130

Post by pseudalopex »

smelly1098 wrote: post #127
sjg007 wrote: post #61

Just as an FYI, autism is considered a disability so your employer has to make reasonable accommodations.

Most make you sign a disclosure when you apply to the job if you have a disability or not.

US regulations require many employers to ask for disclosure but generally forbid them to require it.
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