Autism, long perceived as a negative, is now being viewed as a representation of the strengths and interests uniquely suited to workplace success for autistic people.
There is no doubt that autistic children are dysfunctional in many environments. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty with language and emotional development. They have trouble communicating with others in a “socially acceptable” way.
They have trouble in school, taking tests, paying attention in class, and relating to other students.
These children are overwhelmed by sensory information and are hypersensitive to touch, smell, sounds and light. They are different from other children in a way that is called “neurodivergent” and may sometimes be gifted.
This condition is now being looked at as a key to unlocking the special skills and talents of the ASD child in a way that will lead to the cultivation of these talents in adulthood.
Dysfunctionality is contextual
More and more research is discovering that children (and adults) who have autism are dysfunctional only in certain ways and certain environments. In other circumstances, they are what we would call “normal” or even “superior.” It depends totally on the context of the moment.
There are many examples of this. An ASD child might be easily distracted by sounds in school or other social situations. But that same child might be a very talented musician in a different setting. Heightened auditory and perceptual sensitivity can be a disadvantage in one situation but a decided advantage in a totally different context.
When Rex Lewis-Clack was a child, he couldn’t stand the sound of Christmas presents being unwrapped. His father happened to buy him a top piano. He showed that he had a perfect pitch and loved playing the instrument. He taught himself how to play and now he tours the world playing the piano for large audiences and making money for charity.
There is a program in New York for ASD youths. It is called the New York Transit Subway Sleuths after-school program. It is designed to help children learn about trains and transportation and better communicate in social situations. In 2016, the program won a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. The program is lending truth to the theory that dysfunctions diminish when ASD children are engaged in their special-interest areas.
ASD children tend to systematize things and look for patterns in their environment. So they become fascinated with transportation systems. They might memorize makes and models of all the trains. Or they might analyze the maps of all the subway lines. Or they might catalogue all the parts and mechanics. These children learn to socialize by working together in a common environment. They are supported by several professionals including a special education teacher, a speech pathologist, and a museum educator.
The program leaders believe that it is a success because they look at the obsessive characteristics of autistic children as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. They say the old model was to see obsession as a negative and try to limit it. The new model is to see the strengths and interests as benefits to the individual and to society.
In psychological terms, if the autistic child is fully engaged in something he or she loves, the task is seen as highly relevant, and distractions are avoided. If the child is not interested or engaged, the autistic child perceives the task as not very challenging or needing much attention, and so distractions are much stronger. The success of the transit program in engaging autistic youth in their areas of interest is further proof that dysfunctionality is contextual.
Autistic traits are seen as benefits worldwide
Throughout the world, there is a growing number of instances where autistic traits are being viewed positively and people with autism are being selected for highly skilled assignments and tasks.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) prepares high school ASD students for eventual entry into the IDF. It works with ASD teens in the Visual Intelligence Division. They are classified as soldiers in the IDF, and their jobs are to look for minute changes in satellite patterns that are not discernible to others. It’s a job the ASD soldiers prefer doing because for them it is easy and seems like almost a hobby.
The Guatemalan Association for Autism has a motto that “autism is not a disease; it’s a difference.”
Sesame Street introduced its first new puppet in 10 years, Julia, a four-year-old girl with autism. The attitude toward autism is changing.
Next year in In the United States, ABC will air a new show titled The Good Doctor, about a surgeon with autism who struggles with emotional and social issues but is exceptionally skilled at medicine. The doctor uses his extraordinary medical skills to treat patients and save lives while proving his skeptics wrong.
The unique characteristics of Aspien Woman
There is a term for adult women with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is Aspienwomen. Tania A. Marshal wrote a book titled I am Aspien Woman, the Unique Characteristics, Traits, and Gifts of Adult Females on the Autism Spectrum.” The multi-award winning book discusses the lives of many people with autism who became successful in all walks of life including actors, writers, producers, performers, teachers, nurses, psychologists, entrepreneurs, engineers, athletes and more.
The book discusses many topics and is a positive message for women with autism. The book is an advocate for this group and their unique needs, challenges, and skills and is just one example of the changing attitudes toward autism. There is more and more awareness being raised of autism spectrum conditions, misunderstandings, and the new model of positivism that is emerging.
Autism is not weird
One website, “autisimnotweird.com,” has been developed by Chris Bonnell, someone who experienced childhood autism and bullying. He is now an invited speaker on the subject. He is a former teacher and holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing.
He asks the question “What is the difference between an interest and an obsession?” So many times a non-autistic person is said to have a strong interest in something. If an autistic person had the same interest, it would be called an obsession.
We need passion in our lives and so we need strong interests here and there. We need obsessions. Instead of trying to change your child’s obsessions, you may want to view them differently – more as gifts than limitations.
As many successful adults have shown, obsessive habits associated with autism can lead to very fulfilling lives in our society.
