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paolo
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02 Mar 2008, 7:53 am

Apparently I am in a manic phase. But this is good news.

"A lightbulb must have appeared above the head of one bright spark at EDF Energy, after the utility provider decided to train staff in how to deal with customers with autism.
According to personneltoday.com, customer service staff at the energy firm have been trained up to spot signs that their clients have autism or Asperger Syndrome.
The Essex Autistic Society trained staff to look out for signals of autism over the telephone.
It is the first time the charity has ever been asked to train a firm's staff and it advised employees how to communicate with customers with autistic spectrum disorders.
Director of adult services at the society, Ian Brown, told the website: "Staff have learned what to look out for, and to be aware of the subtleties of the language they use.
"They know to ask the customer 'open and shut' questions, rather than leaving room for any ambiguity - because a person with Asperger Syndrome will answer very literally, which could be misleading."
Not only will it help EDF to be able to communicate better with people with autism and Asperger Syndrome, but it will also allow employees to offer better customer service."



Zarathustra
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02 Mar 2008, 8:29 am

That's cool. Now what about doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists...


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paolo
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02 Mar 2008, 8:47 am

Yes doctors, above all ! !!. They don't know a thing.



larsenjw92286
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02 Mar 2008, 10:35 am

Does it have anything to do with you personally?


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CockneyRebel
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02 Mar 2008, 11:12 am

I think that's a positive step forward, for society.


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sartresue
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02 Mar 2008, 2:59 pm

Some news is good news

I recall years ago some human relations specialist told me it was detrimental to ask open and shut questions because it did not leave room for choice. I always found this odd, as I was more comfortable with O/S queries. When I voiced ny objection, I was told that this was a disrespect to people and that it was lazy to adopt this line of questioning. It was simply "not good business." I was disillusioned after this, and afraid to ask open ended questions because of their ambiguity.

I did not keep that job very long.

Now I know better, and this is good news to read that this approach works with those of us on the Spectrum.


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