Can Asperger's be used?

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My uncle said something to me a while back that stuck with me. He's the director of a company and said that he got there by "knowing what he wanted out of life and knowing how to get it". He said that he had to use "what he had" to do so.

Now, I pointed out to him, that I'm not sure what I want out of life, so knowing how to get it at the moment is irrelevant. But as for what I can use in life?? He said that I might not have realised what my strengths are yet.

What I want to know is, can aspects of Asperger's be used to further an individal? NOT with regards to exploiting one's disability as in feigning helplessness and living off the welfare state; I mean in terms of the way it affects us and whether these can be used for positive things? Black and white thinking, lack of ability to form lasting relationships, having a different perspective of the world etc etc?

You're KIDDING, RIGHT!?!?!?

How about using the "different perspective of the world ", "Black and white thinking", spatial abilities, logic, associative memory, and long term memory. EVEN the "lack of ability to form lasting relationships" can help you get ahead in business.

FORGET about any disabilities you see! BESIDES, a social expert won't push any abilites there to get ahead unless they are a JERK, etc....

Sorry, was that an incredibly naive question to ask??

Of course.

There's positives to the negatives:

Fixation on a narrow topic of interest leads to specialisation (specialisation is important in many advanced fields)
Lack of care for social niceties [which can create social isolation] aids the above
Most have really good memories in relation to factual knowledge, this aids the first one too

Actually, doesn't that in itself raise an important question?? In any choice of career that's competitive, high risk and high gain, obviously the world of business being the epitome; How do we aspies put all those positive traits to good use when we're notoriously easy to take advantage of??

Maybe we are evolution's attempt to create a space faring subspecies for the purpose of seeding other worlds. A person with no real need for social contact, incredible long term memory, the ability to narrowly focus on tasks would be an ideal candidate for long space voyages.

That's in interesting theory!! Although, space exploration wasn't my first idea as a career choice

What was your first idea as a career choice. I echo what everyone else has. It's about taking your "weaknesses" and realizing they are also strengths. Do you know how many people tell me I'd be really good in extremely varying lines of work? It's not based on my want to do those things, but how I learn and apply what I've learned.

"repetitive, restricted behaviour" is my favourite, I can practice music several hours straigth and I wish I could do it even longer since I get so much more out of my interests then.

Though myself and my friends don't call it "restriction" but dedication, and sometimes love and passion for what I'm doing.

Biased negative psychatrists.... pffft. "restricted behaviour" is one of my greatest gifts.

can the thumb be used?

lol that's quite patronising don't ya think?

Lots of autism spectrum people are employed quite sucessfully in IT departments.

Er, so does evolution have shares in N.A.S.A., or is it just a valued employee?

This is all very well for those of us who actually have an interest in technical subjects_ _ _

{I guess some of us are into the arts instead; pity there's less money in it!}

Hi Bunny-in-the-moon,

This is probably off-topic but... I live about 15minutes from you not far from Leyland!

I don't suppose you knowof any aspergers/autism specialists in the area do you? Or even an AS self-help group?

I've been to see a therapist called Jane Watson in Lostock Hall a couple of times and she's brilliant but I'm undiagnosed and was wondering if there was anyone in the area who could shed a bit more light on the situation - do I really have AS, etc.

Are you officially diagnosed?

Thanks in advance and hope you're well,