A mental disorder that may impair your functioning

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I've seen this phrase in the fine print on several applications, including the forms for professional licenses. This includes a professional license that I'm considering studying and applying for. This also seems to apply to such things as driver's licenses and so on. I remember one person here whose state would not allow them to earn a driver's license simply because they put down that they had Asperger's syndrome where it asked them if they had or had ever had a "mental disorder that may interfere with your functioning."

Now keep in mind that the even smaller fine print beneath it states, quite specifically, that there will be a thorough background check conducted and your application may be revoked/you may get in trouble if you lie. Now, this brings up the issue of whether Asperger's/Autism is genuinely legally considered a mental disorder or medical/psychiatric problem. This brings up the even bigger conundrum of what happens if you put that down vs. what happens if you don't.

For example, the professional license I'm planning to study for is one to allow a person to work in the private investigative business. After that there is the option of applying for another professional license to carry a firearm on the job. However, if the fine print can be taken into account the state may see Asperger's Syndrome as a liability, regardless of how it actually individually manifests.

I am lucky that my files are sealed to a certain degree (in NL there is some privacy left). The government job agency or some medical person cannot see directly what my condition is, without me telling them. Besides that I am more intelligent than the greater part of the population; a mental disorder is really relative at that point.

So when asked on a form I cross 'no mental disorder', unless I know it is necessary or they can access my files. I could always blame strange behaviour on high intelligence. It is not completely honest, but it works.

AS is neurological - of the brain - that makes it technically physical, not mental.

It may have mental repercussions over the long term, but its not in itself a mental disorder, so I would never list it on that sort of application.


Hell, Depression is a mental disorder, but I wouldn't list it on an application. It might or might not affect my ability to function from one day to the next, but the guy next to me may be perfectly well adjusted and have his wife leave him and take the kids tomorrow - that'll affect his functioning, but it wasn't on the application.

Some things are just none of Big Brother's damn business.

Then list it and see what happens.

I've heard even worse stories about people with Asperger's who tried to sign up for military service... apparently it's mentioned by name as a disqualifier from military service by the Department of Defense, and if some stories can be believed a person who tries to get into the military with Asperger's syndrome or has ever taken psychiatric medications and neglects to mention it can be kicked out for fraudulent enlistment at worst. Not sure if it's true but it's what I've heard.

I would dearly love to just see Asperger's removed from the DSM IV entirely and be taken out of any legal documents. People with Asperger's are serious people with skills and ambitions, and barring them from an opportunity to use that (whether a professional license, public or military service, even getting a state license to do something as simple as driving a car) is disgraceful.

i would think that someone with AS coming across that question is more equipped to answer the question of 'will it affect performance at the job' than anyone else. So i would say answer it or don't on a case by case basis - will it interfere with your performance? Probably not if you are applying for the job right? Answer it based on that.

As for not being allowed to get a driver's liscence.. that's insulting and illogical. I would think the likelihood of someone with AS who can pass all the tests being a problem on the road as negligable compared to all the feeble minded folks out there 'sunday driving' and 'driving while impaired' .. use your judgement. If you think you're better equiped to make the judgement of your functioning than some John Doe beaurocrat with little to no medical knowledge...

Edit: As for removing it from the medical disorders lists - No. Some AS people would never get the help they needed if it was taken off that list and considered a 'nothing' condition...

"...that may impair your functioning."

If you have a mental disorder, but believe you can do the job anyway, don't write it down and you'll be in the right.

Consider all of us who finally found out what our problem was late in life.

As a child I was dubbed "gifted" back in the '60's and put in the advanced class.

I spent most of my life wondering if I was so gifted why I had all these "problems"???

(Well, honestly I thought someone had made a mistake....)

But I never EVER in a multitude of jobs put down anywhere that I was "mentally disabled".

Why would I? Some of those jobs didn't work out. Maybe it was the Aspergier's.

There is only one way for you to find out.......get the job first.

Good Luck!

The Legal Part: The company includes this line so you cannot later claim special dispensation to do your job.

If you find you can't do the job, and you didn't tell them up front, then you can't later say "I need special help blah blah blah due to my Asperger's" and drag a lawyer in.

You signed a form saying you did NOT need special help (in essence).

No one is likely to go into your medical records (companies do not have time for this) unless you make a horrible mistake, or start behaving immorally, help yourself to the till or attack your co-workers.

It's a line they include to keep you from suing them when they fire you for incompetence.