managing an autistic person

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I am interested in finding out if my position is unique. Since my manager only works half of the week, when he is not there, I am left in charge of an autistic lad, having AS myself. I have found this particularly hard. At the moment I have been particularly aware of his annoying habits. He is so clumpsy and he makes me jump when he drops stuff. I am getting so fed up with his childish behaviour where he is possessive over his job role. He goes on about how he will get into trouble if he does something wrong (as if he was 12!). He is 18. He walks over to my desk and farts and walks off. He always invades my personal space. He uses the telephone on speaker phone when I am trying to work. What winds me up is that if he has a little niggle, he runs off to see management and then me and our manager gets it in the neck. They take his side in everything and I am getting fed up with it. I have to struggle with my AS problems too but he gets all the allowances as he acts like a freak. Even I can tell he is not normal and I have AS! I have tried hard to fit into society and be normal and be liked and as such it means often my problems are not noticed as he overshadows me. He undermines me all the time and acts like a little baby and going off crying everytime someone tells him something he does like. Yesterday he put a complaint in about me as I supposedly did some work that was "his job". I really do not know what to do but at this rate I will quit and leave him to struggle running the computer system by himself. I am finding it hard controlling my temper. Please help!!

I think there is a part of me who would like to be more ignorant about my problems. He definitely seems quite unaware of what he does and doesn't do. I'm not sure I would use the word jealous as it sounds so strong but perhaps you are right. I do wish I could fall into either of two camps - be so unaware that having AS or any other problem is irrelevant or not having AS in the first place. I definitely do not want to be him though. We work in a school and the students bully him and I see it all the time. I wonder if it is just jealousy over the fact his problems are noticed and mine aren't because I do not act "freaky" enough. I realise that might be insulting to some people but I think some of his behaviour is down to personality rather than AS. I am not sure he would be deliberately being thoughtless because he does not strike me as that intelligent based on what i about his academic abilities. I think he is just being him, which as a by-product is annoying to me!
i have been struggling to get to grips with being at peace with who I am. I got to 24 without knowing what was wrong with me and I hoped being labelled with something would help but it seems to have made it worse!! Having a twin brother who has turned out fine has been a bit part of it and wondering where the heck things went wrong (as far as I am concerned!).
When I next see my therapist, I think this needs to be mentioned!
Thanks for your reply sinsboldly

well put, sinsboldly. i would work on relaxation. this might help you to tune out the behaviors that bother you. there will be people who annoy you in any workplace. if you continue to have trouble tolerating the situation, you might want to look for a job where you can work alone. i think a preference for working alone is fairly common those with AS, and reasonable. in the end, you have to look out for your own sanity, whatever that entails.
kim

The funny thing is, I have never had big issues working with people before! The office is quite small and as such I find him working on the computers behind me all the time so the invading of my personal space is probably making me less tolerant of all the other stuff he does.
I will definitely look out for another job though.
I will enjoy the weekend free from him and give myself a bit of time to "reset" back to my usually laid back ways ready for when I next see him!

I found this for accommodating people with AS

http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/asperger.pdf

I couldn't find anything for autism though. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help laughing when I read your post. I just can't imagine a colleague farting at you and then running away.

I think you should be a strong professional. (Actually, you already sound like one.) Document these events and your grievances and request a sit-down meeting with your manager and the annoying co-worker. Having AS is no excuse for his behavior. Work something out with management. Maybe his brush with authority can put the fear of God in him. If you are in charge half the week, then be in charge! Be strong. Don't let this cry-baby push you around. So what if he then hates you for putting him in his place? Being accomodating or liked should not be at the cost of your dignity.

I was once faced with a similar situation. I did not communicate my difficulties effectively due to my own issues with authority, so going to management made matters worse. Yes, they took his side because they found his antics amusing. Management prefers to have a clown around. I see no reason to be jealous of foolishness. I quit rather than put up with it. It might make matter worse, but at least you can stick up for yourself, go down fighting, and walk away with some dignity.

People at my work are accomodating -- give me space, leave me alone, etc. But I do try to meet them halfway.

what exactly "went wrong" in your life? You have not said anything that would make me think things have gone wrong in your life.