Autism advocacy - what needs to be known?

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kanashimoo
Raven
Raven

Joined: 23 May 2013
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Posts: 117
Location: Vancouver, Canada

26 Jun 2015, 4:41 pm

Hi,

I'm trying to provide some advice for my company's program on hiring people on the autism spectrum. We would have publications on the plight of people on the spectrum and our journalism team would often use quotes from Autism Speaks (I don't blame them, 5/5 aspies I asked don't know about their controversial statements). I have some influence and I can advise against that, but who could I point them towards instead?

In addition, I periodically have opportunities to have interviews, videos and some publications. What are important things that needs to be highlighted about autism?

Thanks.


_________________
Specialisterne is an international nonprofit which has the singular goal of enabling 1 million jobs for people on spectrum. DO check them out! I conducted an interview on national radio regarding my experiences with Specialisterne and SAP.

On a more local level, Focus Professional Services is a consulting organization based in Vancouver, Canada that attempts to hire people on the spectrum to act as IT consultants. They're a very new organization.

For those of us in Vancouver, there is an Aspies Meetup group; pm me if you're interested. I look forward to seeing anyone in Vancouver either in person or in a larger gathering!


kraftiekortie
Veteran
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Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

26 Jun 2015, 6:26 pm

In general, I believe autistic/Aspergian people do better in initial interviews when they are allowed to exhibit their specific skills (e.g., in programming, mathematics, engineering, etc), rather than having to answer questions within interviews which test their ability to get along with others.

Also: the HR interviewer's reliance on "social cues" over the substance of the job could be irritating to one on the autistic spectrum. This reliance could, quite possibly, lead to a company hiring someone with excellent cue discernment, rather than a person who is quite excellent at the job in question.



waltwilliam12
Tufted Titmouse
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Joined: 13 Jul 2014
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 30

04 Jul 2015, 3:45 am

That we're as diverse a group as NTs, so nobody is capable of speaking for all of us.