There is nothing for adults with Aspergers/high-functioning autism in this province, except constant referrals to non-existent services allegedly provided by agencies catering to families and children, and/or referrals to costly private services that the majority of AS adults cannot access. As a group, we are disproportionately un- or under-employed, with no money for such services and no health insurance.
Whining by another special interest group in NS? Sure, but we constitute a group with high potential to contribute to the economy as taxpayers and employees who put our jobs ahead of most other aspects of life. That’s part of our diagnosis: people with above-average intelligence, socially impoverished lives and a dedication to our work. Only about 12-15% of us are considered employed at a self-supporting level, unfortunately. We are too educated and erudite and “niche” for the disability-oriented employment services. It is no matter of feeling “too good for” customer service and much blue collar work–we simply crash and burn in these AS-inappropriate fields to which we are consigned due to our lack of ability to network and frequent social isolation.
A net asset to the economy if properly supported, we are instead a net drain. I’m personally sick of the referrals to inappropriate or financially inaccessible services, and well-meaning advice to ask my non-existent “family and friends” to go to bat for me in the effort to access treatment and/or employment.
I’m no lazy, uneducated sponge, but nor am I able to use the usual conduits to sustainable employment (because of the disability). I keep looking and trying, on an empty stomach. —Burned Bridges
This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2014.
Can’t argue with that.
WHAT IS INTELLIGENCE?
“That’s part of our diagnosis: people with above-average intelligence, socially impoverished lives and a dedication to our work.” Burned Bridges
The obvious question is just how those who have Aspergers Syndrome have been defined as possessing “above-average intelligence” in the first place. Is there some sort of cause-effect relationship such that Aspergers Syndrome stands to above-average intelligence as in a cause-effect relatinship? Or is the incidence of above-average intelligence merely a contingent statistical feature of those suffering from Aspergers Syndrome? The question reduces to that of just how intelligence to to be conceived. So, what is intelligence?
On the one hand, the difficulty with scores on Intelligence Tests presuppose the criteria in terms of just what intelligence consists which, perhaps not surprisingly, strikingly corresponds with the views of those psychologists who have constructed such tests. In other words, they award to themselves prior possession of above-average intelligence. In any case, the result reduces to the (unsupported) claim that intelligence consists of that which intelligence tests measure which, being circular, is incoherent.
On the other hand, Howard Gardiner’s “Frames of Mind” (1983) maintains that intelligence is largely a result of interpersonal interaction with others. In other words, it is a social rather than a purely mentalistic construct. But – and this is the important point – the distinguishing feature of Aspergers Syndrome is the “socially impoverished lives” endured by those afflicted. In other words, if Gardiner is to be believed, they lack the very thing in terms of which intelligence is made possible.
How would you respond to these charges? Write back soon.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
University students – upon graduating (even with a PhD) – think they have intelligence.
The OB could consider taking a programming course and then look for some sort of behind the scenes job. I suspect a small startup would love employees with plenty of time to devote to banging out new software. There are also jobs like database administration where one only deals with other IT staff – so there is little need for high level social skills.
RSVP
Mr Meaty (10/07, 4:03PM)
An excellent introduction but more is needed than your simple assertion that university students – even those with a Ph.D. – do not have intelligence. In other words, what is required is some demonstration, however weak, for your as yet unsupporfted claim.
Write back soon. Good luck.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Oh, my dear man… simply speak to a university student and you’ll have all the evidence that you need.
My good fellow, as it happens I have spoken to many university students but never acquired the “evidence” to which you refer. Would it be possible for you to supply some of that “evidence” yourself? Take your time. Write back soon.
You seriously expect help for a made up disease?
Ass-burgers in paradise, ass-burgers and it ain’t nice!!!
I repeat: university-borne intelligence strikes again!
High IQ ≠High EQ.
I would never go to a place that sells assburgers. Maybe furburgers.
I gotta assburger for ya, pedré.
Senor Campana You are an ass to mouth man.
I’m a journalism student doing a story on the issue of people with Aspergers unable to find employment in Halifax. If anyone would like to contribute (particularly the person who wrote the original post) could you please email me at emsollows@gmail.com? I look forward to hearing from people!
RSVP
: Mr. Meaty (10/08, 10:49AM)
And I repeat: What can such “university-borne intelligence” possibly mean? If intelligence is “university borne” does it mean that once one leaves university one’s intelligence plummets since one’s intelligence is no longer borne by the university? What can that possibly mean? Does it mean that if one never attended university, one’s intelligence is of a different sort? Put differently, is intelligence a function of the institution(s) one attends? What can that possibly mean? And what about my original point to the effect that the person afflcted with Asberger’s Syndrome, lacking as he does that social interaction which Gardiner maintained was the very precondition of intelligence? Is he forever condemned to an intellectually inferior condition at best? Write back soon.
Perhaps, as an alternative, you might like to contact the journalism student who is doing a story on people with Aspergers unable to find employment in Halifax. You seem to fit the bill.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!