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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

#131

Post by pseudalopex »

nonamenoslogan wrote: post #112
_d8k6 wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not concerned with how I perceive mentally ill people. Mental illness touches different facets of my family in different ways. I am quite familiar with it, it’s challenges and it’s stigmas. I don’t look down on mentally ill people, because I love and am friends with many people who suffer from mental illness. My objections are due to the societal biases that others hold against mentally ill people. My problem wi…

Its not factually incorrect whatsoever, you just don't like it. Autism is a mental disorder, no question about it--you even made the point by calling it a "cognitive disabilty." Cognitive meaning "relating to, being, or involving intellectual activity" and disability being obvious. Calling something a synonym of itself and arguing that its a completely different thing is pretty obtuse.

They said "mental disorder" would be correct. They objected to "mental illness", which is commonly understood to mean "psychological disorder".

Also, "disorder" is a more neutral word than "illness". Strictly speaking, it just means something is abnormal, not necessarily dysfunctional.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#132

Post by nugga »

smelly1098 wrote: post #126
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?

Bullies will be bullies and it is not uncommon for people wanting to belong to a group or take sides at the expense of someone else. This sort of behaviour seems to be common especially during childhood in schools where someone will be 'it', if you know what I mean.

Now don't take this the wrong way and think the world is against you and don't get bitter. These moments can be great moments to learn and grow up, and not every act that seems hostile is, or is at least deliberately so in full awareness of the perpetrator.

Like it or not, the onus is also on you to fix your shit, whatever that may be, and try to understand these situations and what behaviour on your part may contribute to landing in them.

I'm talking in general terms not knowing anyone's situation but mine.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#133

Post by collyw »

chapium wrote: post #26
dmm wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Women make up 51% of the US population so clearly men are a minority. Ha! But really they probably mean a minority in a specific career or environment. For example, ~6% of truck drivers are female but only ~18% of primary and secondary teachers are male.

Majority/minority are not strictly numbers in this context. Its more about opportunities whose limiting factor is age/race/gender etc.

I have yet to see decent evidence of limiting factor being race / gender where I work (in Europe). Age is a bit different as experience is closely tied to it.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#134

Post by sjg007 »

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.

No you don't. That is illegal in the US. https://www1.eeoc.gov//laws/types/disability.cfm?renderforpr...

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#135

Post by sjg007 »

pseudalopex wrote: post #130
smelly1098 wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

No you are wrong about that. https://www1.eeoc.gov//laws/types/disability.cfm?renderforpr...

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#136

Post by jasonlotito »

mercer wrote: post #117
jasonlotito wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the OP, but I can answer this. It depends. Autism is a spectrum, not a single condition. I have two children with autism, and they are different. The younger one is much more self-sufficient than the older one. Has it gotten easier? With the younger one? Yes. With the older one? No. The reasons are many. Both are still in diapers at 8 and 9 (soon to be 10), though the 8-year-old is getting potty trained. We are h…

As a high-functioning, doggedly independent diagnosed autist: thanks a ton for your efforts. My parents did the best they could, and I'm uncomfortably aware of how much effort it must have taken at times to deal with my particulars. They never quite knew what they were dealing with, but they gave me unconditional love and support, and ultimately that's what mattered most, even if they failed at understanding my parti…

Thank you. We already moved from Canada to the US precisely because of the support issue. While it could always be better, I should make it clear that Pennsylvania has been wonderful in its support so far.

However, you make a good point, and yes, we have no fear of moving as needed. Whatever it takes.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#137

Post by pseudalopex »

sjg007 wrote: post #135
pseudalopex wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

No you are wrong about that. https://www1.eeoc.gov//laws/types/disability.cfm?renderforpr...

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/section503.htm

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#138

Post by pseudalopex »

chimeracoder wrote: post #73
sjg007 wrote: post #61

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

> Just as an FYI, autism is considered a disability so your employer has to make reasonable accommodations. Yes, but you have to disclose it in order for the ADA to apply in this case, and as the article explains, there are risks to disclosing as well.

You don't have to identify the underlying condition, but it may be awkward not to.

Re: Disclosure of autism at work holds risks and benefits

#139

Post by chrisweekly »

anticensor wrote: post #39
chrisweekly wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not OP, but hyperfocus springs immediately to mind.

Hyperfocus is not a specific indication of autism. It is also observed in AD(H)D patients, as complementary mode of attention deficits. If it worked such that you cannot focus on anything, ADHD would be very easy to diagnose.

Thanks, but I was disappointed by this response. Are you able to specify _any_ "specific indication of autism" which is _not_ also observed in people with other conditions? That seems an impossibly strict condition to meet, let alone in the context of spitballing, non-clinically, about ways in which some aspects of traits often associated with autism might in fact be beneficial.

Along with hyperfocus, a tendency toward honesty is another such trait. "But people without autism are sometimes honest, too" would be a comparable response.

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