Asperger Syndrome And Employment: Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome (Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome)

Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 per cent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, providing advice and insights for others with AS, as well as their employers and colleagues. Drawing on personal experience and lessons learned, Asperger Syndrome and Employment looks at: the transition from education to employment; the importance of matching skills to career choices; practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace; advice for employers, including the need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to avoid discrimination; and, ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with AS. The Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome Series presents experiences of real life issues from the perspectives of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS). It provides advice and support for adults with AS and vital insights for others wishing to gain a greater understanding of the syndrome. Other titles in the series: Asperger Syndrome and Social Relationships: Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome Edited by Genevieve Edmonds and Luke Beardon ISBN: 9781843106470 Aspies on Mental Health: Speaking for Ourselves Edited by Luke Beardon and Dean Worton ISBN: 9781849051521 FRONT COVER......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Asperger Syndrome and Employment; Adults Speak Out about Asperger Syndrome......Page 5 Preface to the Series......Page 11 Introduction......Page 13 1. Employment for People with Asperger Syndrome: What’s Needed?......Page 21 2: The Job Needs to Work for the Worker......Page 33 3: Experiences of Employment and Stress Before My Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome......Page 44 4: ‘How Do You Communicate that You Have a Communication Problem... When You Have a Communication Problem?’ Asperger Syndrome and Employment......Page 56 5: Case Study by an Employee with Asperger Syndrome and His Line Manager......Page 69 6: The World of Work (Is Not on Another Planet) and my Journey to Getting There......Page 82 7: Finding, Applying For and Starting a Job......Page 100 8: What I have Learned from 25 Years of Employment......Page 111 9: Asperger Syndrome and Employment: My Experiences and Observations......Page 116 10: What Aspies Need to Know When Working in the Neurotypical Environment......Page 120 11: A Melmacian in the Workplace: Asperger Syndrome for Employers......Page 130 12: Surviving the Workplace: Asperger Syndrome at Work......Page 137 13: The Importance of Motivation and Clear Communication at Work......Page 154 14: Continuing to Search for the Right Job for Me......Page 164 15: I’m Just So Willing to Work......Page 167 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS......Page 170 INDEX ......Page 173 BACK COVER ......Page 180 Individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) can be particularly at risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. In this book, adults with Asperger Syndrome talk about their own experiences of mental health issues, offering sound advice for other Aspies and providing valuable insights for mental health professionals. Touching on everything from difficulties at work and college to coping with low self-confidence, self-harm, alcohol, misdiagnosis, sectioning, counselling, medication and battles with mental health services, the book provides a window into how people with AS experience mental health issues, and what can be done to help. The individual accounts contain innovative coping methods and strategies for maintaining emotional and psychological wellbeing as well as practical advice on things like how to stay positive and deal with day-to-day stress and meltdowns. This is core reading for adults with Asperger Syndrome, and their families and friends, and will be essential to psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health service providers and other professionals who support adults with Asperger Syndrome. This series presents experiences of real life issues from the perspectives of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS). It provides advice and support for adults with AS and vital insights for others wishing to gain a greater understanding of the syndrome. This book is essential reading to understand the social abilities of adults with Asperger's syndrome. The contributors each have different personalities and experiences, but together they provide a range of strategies to encourage people with Asperger's syndrome to achieve the social relationships they desire.'- Professor Tony AttwoodSocial interaction among neurotypical people is complex and in many ways illogical. To the person with Asperger Syndrome (AS) it is also woefully unintuitive. In this book, adults with AS discuss social relationships, offer advice and support for others with AS and provide necessary insights into AS perspectives for those working and interacting with them.The contributors evaluate a range of social contexts and relationship aspects, including:• online relationships - a worldwide social network based on non-verbal communication,• the unwritten rules of neurotypical socialising,• the need for mutual understanding between those with AS and neurotypicals,• the effects of struggling socially on one's self-esteem and frame of mind, and• the opportunities provided by social skills workshops or interest groups.This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, as well as service providers and other professionals providing support for people with AS in adult life. This book is essential reading to understand the social abilities of adults with Asperger's syndrome. The contributors each have different personalities and experiences, but together they provide a range of strategies to encourage people with Asperger's syndrome to achieve the social relationships they desire'. - Professor Tony Attwood Social interaction among neurotypical people is complex and in many ways illogical. To the person with Asperger Syndrome (AS) it is also woefully unintuitive. In this book, adults with AS discuss social relationships, offer advice and support for others with AS and provide necessary insights into AS perspectives for those working and interacting with them. The contributors evaluate a range of social contexts and relationship aspects, * online relationships - a worldwide social network based on non-verbal communication, * the unwritten rules of neurotypical socialising, * the need for mutual understanding between those with AS and neurotypicals, * the effects of struggling socially on one's self-esteem and frame of mind, and * the opportunities provided by social skills workshops or interest groups. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, as well as service providers and other professionals providing support for people with AS in adult life. This is the book we need for guidance on employment for people with Asperger's syndrome. The contributors describe their employment experiences and offer sound advice. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the success stories and took note of the words of warning of what not to do.' - Professor Tony Attwood Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 per cent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, providing advice and insights for others with AS, as well as their employers and colleagues. Drawing on personal experience and lessons learned, Asperger Syndrome and Employment looks at: * the transition from education to employment, * the importance of matching skills to career choices, * practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace, * advice for employers, including the need to make `reasonable adjustments' to avoid discrimination, * ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with AS. People with Asperger Syndrome (AS) can be particularly at risk of developing mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Here, adults with Asperger Syndrome speak out about their own experiences of mental health issues, offering sound advice for other Aspies and providing valuable insights for family, friends and also for mental health professionals. Touching on everything from difficulties at work and college to coping with low self-confidence, self-harm, alcohol, misdiagnosis, sectioning, counselling, medication and battles with mental health services, the book provides a window into how people with AS experience mental health issues, and what can be done to help. The individual accounts describe innovative coping strategies and methods for maintaining emotional and psychological wellbeing as well as practical advice on things like how to stay positive and deal with day-to-day stress and meltdowns. This is essential reading for adults with Asperger Syndrome, and their families and friends, and will be a useful resource for psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health service providers and other professionals who support adults with Asperger Syndrome.

Social interaction among neurotypical people is complex and in many ways illogical. To the person with Asperger Syndrome (AS) it is also woefully unintuitive. In this book, adults with AS discuss social relationships, offer advice and support for others with AS and provide necessary insights into AS perspectives for those working and interacting with them.

The contributors evaluate a range of social contexts and relationship aspects, including: online relationships - a worldwide social network based on non-verbal communication, the unwritten rules of neurotypical socialising, the need for mutual understanding between those with AS and neurotypicals, the effects of struggling socially on one's self-esteem and frame of mind, and the opportunities provided by social skills workshops or interest groups. This book is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, as well as service providers and other professionals providing support for people with AS in adult life.

Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 per cent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, providing advice and insights for others with AS, as well as their employers and colleagues.

Drawing on personal experience and lessons learned, Asperger Syndrome and Employment looks at: the transition from education to employment, the importance of matching skills to career choices, practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace, advice for employers, including the need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to avoid discrimination, and ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with AS.

'This is the book we need for guidance on employment for people with Asperger's syndrome. The contributors describe their employment experiences and offer sound advice. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the success stories and took note of the words of warning of what not to do.'. - Professor Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome. Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 per cent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, p Contributors look at the transition from education to employment, the importance of matching skills to career choices; practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace; advice for employers, including the need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to avoid discrimination; and ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS This is essential reading for adults with Asperger syndrome, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with Asperger syndrome This is essential reading for adults with Asperger syndrome, their family and friends, as well as service providers and other professionals providing support for people with Asperger syndrome in adult life