Neurodiversity training in the workplace?

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StuckWithin
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10 Dec 2011, 3:05 pm

Just as race and gender sensitivity training have become part of the workplace (i.e. it's no longer acceptable to make racial or misogynistic jokes like it once was), what about neurodiversity training? In other words, educating people about the existence of social deficits and ensuring that they not be cause for discriminating against otherwise capable employees.

I hate to think that if an autistic person is academically qualified, intelligent and capable of doing a particular job, their lack of social charisma should be allowed to stand in the way of their success in an organization.

This is not the same thing as lowering standards so that a person with a particular deficit can fit into a position that requires skills they don't have (e.g. allowing for one-legged firemen or blind schoolbus drivers). Instead, it's simply about ensuring a discrimination-free workplace environment for people with AS who ARE qualified for the jobs they hold.

What kinds of initiatives are out there? Does anybody know?



androbot2084
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10 Dec 2011, 11:34 pm

Neurodiversity is just a nice word for autistic supremacy.



StuckWithin
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11 Dec 2011, 11:38 am

Oh, I didn't know that. But that's not really the gist of my point.

What I am referring to is making it so that a person's socializing deficits do not trump his or her competence as a consideration for retention or promotion at a workplace where, as far as their work goes, they are already competent.