New staff member confided in me his having Asperger's

Post Reply New Topic

Something I forgot to mention, and was reminded of by CSEPArent's post...

Asperger's and Autism is a whole spectrum of difference, so what those differences are, and how they show themselves, can vary remarkably between individuals.

At the more severe end of the scale would be the people who are "deviod of social skills and common sense", at the other there's people who live and work in normal society quite effectively, often going undiagnosed for years.

Quoted for truth.

Also, watch out for office politics and gossip. He can't defend himself against bullies as well as the average person. It could be devastating for him if people start to talk about him. We're misfits and people delight in destroying us.

Hi folks... thanks for all the feedback. It has certainly helped since Robert came on board.

I am disappointed to report that Chris has left the company and is working for an oil company - he walks along pipelines and looks for leaks using electronic 'sniffers' and othe detectors.

He came in my office in early April in tears saying he can't take working in a small paper anymore. His writing was fantastic, but he said the writing wasn't the problem. It's been a matter of feeling like he was in the spotlight where ever he went. He found it more than a challenge to be "constantly changing gears" in this job...one moment it's photography, then an interview with kids, then talking to the Mayor, then layout and design, then proofing stories... he said there's too much 'non routine' stuff that he's always faced with. Robert noted he felt like people were always watching him and he was afraid of making mistakes. I managed to convince him to stay on until he found another job and he was willing to do that. He was enjoying journalism from a freelance point of view since it was just writing... add in all the other stuff and it became overwhelming for him. The fact we pay with peanuts and buttons doesn't help the matter much either.

He's now able to do 'work' during the day and continue to write for enjoyment at night or during time off... which I think he'll enjoy as well.

I now have a great assortment of books (including "all cats have aspergers") which I think will simply help me understand AS better in the long run... certainly a good investment, really.

Thanks to everyone who responded... it helped tremendously.

Dan