One group left behind.

Well I did the test online and I do not have autism. I do though share a lot with people who are autistic. Social games that many people operate with are an opaque box for many people with autism. I think as I can appreciate, understand and could play those games I am not autistic, but I do not like it! These socially noisy environments like the audibly noisy environments are debilitating to those with autism and the too often chaotic environments of education and work are prejudicial. Although Autism does not have a clear precise definition it is a workable model (autistic spectrum) that can improve environments for many not just autistic people. There have been several appearances on the TV and film recently of high performing autistic people who when allowed to work, out perform the vast majority. They have excelled in clearing the clutter of social and psychological inputs that many people use, whether exaggerating or guessing and most people feel is close enough. These  are not real situations though. There are often communication barriers and some poor motor control that set up differences that can be used for bullying, prejudice and exclusion. Some people have been supported and progressed, whether early before 2 years of age increasing abilities and independence (saving money for the state) or in education. Employment is another matter!

In gender and race issues things have changed significantly over the last 50 years. Disabilities both physical and mental are lagging in progress. Women have progressed to close parity within employment and many areas have seen progress against historical bias in regard to race. Neither issue is now inconsequential and with no need for consideration, but autistic people have an unemployment rate of around 90%! It’s not a glass ceiling more big secure walls not even allowing entry. Now we all have strengths and weaknesses and people on the autistic spectrum have these too. Their IQs are distributed the same. Success has been had in tasks and roles that require repetition, detail and honesty. Erratic, vague and dishonest environments are painful. One real world example is Temple Grandin (Business, science, book and film) who has designed animal enclosures that have saved millions of dollars and reduced suffering due to her exceptional abilities to see problems. Others have worked in IT where they perform well above average.

So how do we help and get the most out of people on the autistic spectrum for their and our own good. So rather than costing a lot to badly support in education, health and welfare. First is a preschool recognition and support that gets to the brain before it develops to guide towards more productive and effective ways. In education the environment needs to have quiet times and some one to one support from qualified supporters. Work places need to search for more capable people who are poor at the interview process, where they do not exaggerate and report themselves as poor performing as they use absolute comparisons. So often the interview process selects the best game player on paper and in person in a process that goes from a pile of 100 application forms to down select to 1 or 2. They miss completely those that are honest (sometimes brutally) who approach life with a completely different perspective. Then in employment they need to support the worker with clear communication and a quiet social and audible environment. There probably needs to be a warning that brutal honesty might be offensive, egos may be bruised. Employers need to improve communication, accuracy and clarity and except the rewards of employees who are reliable, accurate and honest.

I must conclude this blog with a suggestion that most of the ways to support people on the autistic spectrum would enable many more people to thrive and to be more effective and profitable. Of course this would be prejudicial to those who excel in political, vague, communication deficient and artifice intense environments. But it’s OK I am not one of those so I don’t mind (oops might be hypocritical?). Belbin talks of Shapers who seem to get things done. Recently literature has appeared discussing how psychopaths operate to many people's detriment. These are the people who will then receive prejudice as it moves away from their favour. So look these up and make your decisions of who you prefer. Then of course work out how to help these people and other disabilities that are barriers to seeing people’s abilities.