Autism works in a strict framework

World Autism Day 2015: Against Discrimination against Autists

04/03/2015

Autism is a developmental disorder in which sufferers have difficulty deciphering gestures and facial expressions. As a result, they often do not understand what others mean. Nevertheless, autistic people, often with support, can live a normal life and gain a foothold in the workplace provided that they receive clear instructions and are not overwhelmed. In society, however, it is not unusual for the image of a dependent person with mental disabilities who can hardly cope with everyday life without outside help. With the World Autism Day on April 2, doctors, organizations and stakeholders want to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by many autistic individuals that push them to the margins of society. The news agency „dpa“ talked to a person concerned and experts on the subject.

Occupy yourself with autism
Leif Petersen is a trainee in a Hamburg health food store. The future salesman has found his dream job, as he tells the news agency. The 29-year-old is autistic. Developmental Disruption means he can not do several things at the same time and needs clear instructions from his supervisor to ensure a smooth workflow. Amongst others, Petersens responsibilities include advising clients, selling bread and cleaning up. Two days a week he goes to vocational school. If you see the friendly man behind the counter, you probably would not think he suffers from autism.

„I need a boss who gives me clear instructions that also understands my situation, "says the future salesman for health foods and dietary products, who is very pleased with the 29-year-old's work. „Mr. Petersen has come over a long internship. He showed himself so well, "reports Tanja Parker to the news agency. „This is a young man who is incredibly friendly and who you can totally rely on. "However, he has difficulty doing several things at the same time, and writing and dealing with numbers are also problematic.

The technical skills are often not limited in autistic people
Petersen has previously completed training as a social-therapeutic assistant and a gardener in fruit growing, also a longer internship in a body shop. „This work was not my cup of tea, "the prospective salesman explains, having had problems with his colleagues, but he feels very comfortable in the health food store. „This is a wonderful job. "His boss is ready to give him more time and support in his duties.Parker knows the problems of people with developmental disabilities, since she has an affected child herself, she is angry that inclusion in the school did not work.

Friedrich Nolte from the German Autism Association emphasizes in an interview with the news agency that autistic people usually have no restrictions in terms of specialist areas. Rather, problems would occur with informal things. Some would be regularly late or have difficulties in dealing with their colleagues. „Such things can make things difficult, "says Nolte.

Autists are often discriminated against
Autistic people are often discriminated against. Faced with today's World Autism Day, experts and organizations such as the German Autism Association are raising awareness around the world. Thus, children with an autistic disorder often deny access to the desired form of education, adults usually have little chance of a job. Through this „Disadvantage spiral "of inadequate education on unemployment and low income would push those affected to the margins of society, club chairman Maria Kaminski told the news agency.

Astrid Grothe of autWorker, a Hamburg cooperative that supports people with autism in vocational integration, knows the difficulties. Already in the interview 80 to 90 percent of the autistic people would fail, she told the agency. Meanwhile, some IT companies have even created targeted posts for people with Asperger's Syndrome, a lighter form of autism. Companies want to leverage the unique capabilities of those concerned with their analytic-logical thinking, accuracy, concentration, and pattern recognition, for example, to detect even the tiniest software flaws. The social interaction difficulties created by the developmental disorder could be offset by job coaches who are in direct contact with clients. By 2020, the SAP Group wants to fill one percent of its jobs with employees with the Asperger syndrome, especially in the areas of programming, software testing and quality assurance.

This example shows that autistic people can take over important tasks in companies. Even if they have other areas, such as the lack of assets between the lines to be able to read, have shortcomings, as Daniel Schöttle, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, explained to the news agency. „If somebody comes into my office and says, 'Here it is fresh!', Then I would understand that as an invitation to close the window. An autist would only answer, 'Yes, it's fresh here.' "

UN rapporteurs draw attention to discrimination of autistic people
According to the United Nations, about one percent of the world's population, about 70 million people, are affected by autism worldwide. Many would suffer discrimination and violations of their human rights, the UN rapporteurs on the disabled and the right to health said in a joint statement. In many countries autistic people are more or less on their own, there is no special care that makes it possible to implement their right to health, education, employment and participation in social life. Autists are often exposed to degrading practices that are taken under the guise of treatment or protection, the UN rapporteurs criticize. (Ag)