Autistic strengths | Autism PDD

Bump...just to keep this topic on page 1 for all to see...

I know that many of our kids like computers, and I think this line of work is an excellent one for ASD individuals that have many of the strengths that Norway Mom listed above. I also see people at work with some of the weaknesses listed above, but it's ok. It's only if someone aspires to a management position that some of those weaknesses would become a real problem.

It's always good to think positive, and today I ran across an article on the benefits of having Aspergers. Here's the link:

http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/benefits.html

Here's a similar list I ran across a few months ago:

<quote>

Autistic Strengths reviewed for the workplace:

strengths

strong conceptualization skill
(able to mentally model complex systems, may develop instinctive understanding of the system from this internalized model)
logical thinking
(strong skills in technical research or computer programming)
exceptional memory
attention to detail
(can identify inconsistencies in processes or communications)
honest, straightforward
(can treat people fairly)
intense focus
willing and able to learn great depth of information in specific field

Autistic Weaknesses reviewed for the workplace

sensory sensitivities
need for sensory escapes or stimulations
slow to recognize people or objects
(persons with prosopagnosia would be bad at security duties)
slow to verbalize
slow to shift attention
(may need to avoid multiple responsibilities)
resists change to working procedures
unable/unwilling to navigate office politics
(may not recognize the need for hierarchical routing of communication, instead preferring direct communication with the person having information or decision authority)
unable/unwilling to recognize or generate deceptions ("lies"), or bad at doing so
unable/unwilling to comply with some social norms
(grooming style, clothing, desk neatness, phone protocol)
poor skill with extemporaneous speaking
poor understanding of metaphors
(or recognizing questions as rhetorical)

Source: http://home.earthlink.net/~mellowtigger/conf/SquarePegs-2003 1002.html

As always Norway, great links.

THANKS NorwayMom,

I'm gonna print this and keep it for reference !!! Just to share one of my boy's amazing ability....MEMORY...photograhic memory??...

He will scan through the new calendar for the year in January... and sometime later down the line if you throw him a question... "What day is 14 March 2007?".......He will be able to rattle off the right day... And he gets it right most of the time... The cute part is when the younger NT bro joins in and says, "I will check!!" And he'll take my mobilephone and scroll down the menu to the calendar to confirm the answer...
I want to print this out and take it to my boss! I'm struggling a lot at work right now. It's torture to get through the day. She seems to be pretty good at accepting me for who I am, realizing that I mean no harm (really!) and that if I come across as rude, it's never on purpose. Still, I want her to know that x, y, and z are because of autism, and not what I mean to be!

I'm still to shy to actually give her something like that, though. Sigh.
have any of you seen the movie adam it the most realtic movie about us on the higher end of autism /as excepot he could live on his own an stuffThanks for the article. I always well not always but I try to look on the brighter side. I mean with increased memory and stuff.
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