Workplaces are superscared of aspergers
I have mild asperger, you can´t tell when I walk in the room or when I talk to you right front, it´s more inside of me the problems are serious. It´s usually only impacts me and that´s enough. A time ago I was at a workplace, I didn´t tell them about my "problem" and I noticed they liked me. They also said that it would be great if I came back soon for working more. So the opportunity came and I emailed them, I felt like I had to be honest with my aspergers so I was but wrote it in a easy matter, like it was no big issue but it´s good for them to just know. I shouldn´t have done that, I got the "oooh sorry, we can´t help you, places are full" and then nothing. Same with my teachers and also when I go to the doctors, they treat me when I have this s**t on paper like Im some sort of a alien. It was suppose to HELP me, but it´s the opposite. I notice it very quickly, the emails are suddenly supershort because they dont want anything to do with you anymore, like you are "too sick" or something. All the smileys or "kind regards" are suddenly over. Same with old friends, you want to be open because you are friends and when you tell them you are a mild aspie but still are the same ol´ person they just don´t have the time anymore. No wonder why all aspies are alone, people are superscared like they were so f*****g normal themselves.
So, what are you going to do when you HAVE to tell a workplace about your aspergers because they WILL otherwise think you are "difficult" later on and question you about it, and I don´t want to feel that everybody wonder why I can´t work fulltime and things like that without the legimate reason. Im really tired for people thinking Im just lazy when Im not. I just want to be honest but I feel like "normal" people are so judgemental and SCARED. When they hear "asperger" or "mild autism" they just want to say "please, leave".
If it wasn´t discrimination they WOULD tell us to just f**k off, I know it. Anyone else notice this horrible difference?!
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Beauty is fleeting, but a rent-controlled apartment overlooking the city is forever
My experiences haven't been quite as negative as yours, but I think the simple fact is that the general public is pretty ignorant about the nature of ASD. They either assume it's akin to an intellectual disability, or (like one coworker did) think that it's somehow episodic - like an epileptic seizure - that can come on suddenly and make you do who-knows-what. In either case, their lack of insight makes them nervous and they're likely to see you as a potential liability to their business (in the case of an employer).
Have you tried offering a brief summary of Asperger's in terms they can understand? Maybe you could point out that it comes with positive and negative aspects, and that while you find social engagements and sudden changes difficult, you are highly skilled at thing, and have a remarkable ability to focus on completing thing with diligence and determination. Sell your neurological uniqueness as an asset. There's no guarantee people will accept your explanation, but it can't hurt if you decide to disclose.
As for friends and personal acquaintances, when I disclosed my diagnosis a couple of years ago most were supportive and kind, even if they didn't really understand what I was talking about. A lot of them, I think, finally understood why I'm such an odd duck at times. ![]()
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Formally diagnosed with ASD at the age of 43 (2014), I am the author of "Never One of Them: Growing Up With Autism," available through Amazon and most popular ebook sites.
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