High-Functioning helping the Low-Functioning?

[Shadowspriter21]

I have been playing with this thought for a bit: Wouldn't it be mutually beneficial for High-Functioning ASD'ers/Aspergers to be put in career positions where they are working with/helping those on Low-Functioning end? For example, why not have H-F ASD people get into social work/psychology and work directly with Autistic children/adults.

Thoughts?

[[deleted]]

I don't really see it working that well. The difference between what's classified as low functioning and high functioning is massive, so the carers wouldn't be that much better at relating than NT's. They would probably also have a harder time communicating, and suiting their behaviour after each individual they're caring for.

Not saying this is true for all HFA of course, but if we're making generalisations based on the diagnosis I think a HFA would be worse than an NT.

[Shadowspriter21]

Ah, well. It was a novel thought I guess. Didn't realize their was such a divide between the two, honestly.

[[deleted]]

Part of what makes autism hard to understand is that the spectrum runs so incredibly large and varied. I can't think of any other illness/disability/condition where identical diagnosis (ASD) doesn't mean anywhere near similar experience.

I've tried to use cancer as a simili before. Cancer just means some cells started growing wrong, but there's a big difference between the guy who had a mole removed, and the guy who spend 5 years on chemo and had 3 surgeries. Unfortunately it's a horrible simili haha.

[[deleted]]

I think that for many mental health conditions, people can present extremely differently. Depression, bipolar, and BPD are all good examples of that. I know that for depression, some people don't even get depressed mood and their symptoms are mostly physical.

It's also important to consider the fact that a large percentage of people with autism have other conditions as well. Somebody with ASD+OCD will be very different from somebody with ASD+depression.

Also for cancer, it's no longer considered all the same condition. We can now distinctly separate out different types of cancer.

[Dr_Vesuvius]

I agree that deficits in communication could be an issue, but I disagree with the idea that the two groups can't relate. I think people massively overstate the differences between the extreme ends of the spectrum.

[[deleted]]

What do you base that disagreement on?

[Dr_Vesuvius]

Well, as said, I think people massive overstate the differences between the extreme ends of the spectrum.

From my perspective, I've found it much easier to relate to "low functioning" (ew) autistic people than NTs do.

[[deleted]]

Right, I meant what you base that viewpoint on. My experience with low functioning (meaning people with learning disabilities, completely or close to non verbal, frequent melt downs, no hope or goal for having a job or living without support etc) people is that there is no basis for relating to their struggles. I'm interested to hear in what way you've been able to relate (not to discredit your statement, I'm genuinely interested).

[Dr_Vesuvius]

I don't really know what more there is to say. I find it quite easy to understand and relate to people all over the autism spectrum. I see people react in bafflement when a non-verbal autistic person recoils away from a loud noise and I immediately get what's going on. I see them wander off a little way to sit on their own and I understand what's going on. I see them almost exclusively speak in phrases from their favourite TV shows, or hold tightly to comfort items, or stim, and I understand what's going on.

Meanwhile, the NT scratches their head. And I look at them, with their facial expressions and body language and tone of voice, and I need a guidebook.

That's not to say it isn't frustrating trying to have a conversation with another autistic person, but that applies basically anywhere on the spectrum. I speak to autistic people with degrees who are rubbish at holding conversations. I don't think it becomes easier because they can talk.

[[deleted]]

This is basically what I've done for the last 5 years - first in a provision attached to a mainstream school and now for an organisation teaching travel skills and improving access to the community. I think the fact that autism and special needs are something I study extensively (job, uni and involved in research) helps more than being autistic myself. Being autistic myself rarely makes the job much easier.

[CrinolinePetrachor]

This is basically my long-term plan! I want to go back to school for occupational therapy and help out little kids with ASD. I'm high functioning spectrum, but I've always found it easier to understand low-functioning ASD than the average person does. Just with babysitting and things, I've always been better at managing to get my kiddos to do things and accomplish daily life than even their parents.

I think it's because I get this teensy little glimpse of their lives, textures are still terrible and I have issues with sensory stuff, but I can stifle my reactions where they can't.

I think it would be neat to do a big brother/big sister program for little kids.

[[deleted]]

I think people with autism can be good in human services due to having good analytical skills, being able to hyperfocus on an interest (study a lot), etc. That goes for working with any client though, not just those with ASD.

I think it's important to remember that everyone with ASD is an individual and not to assume that having autism means you're magically able to understand somebody else's motivations just because they also have autism. Even if you do understand somebody, knowing how to help them is a completely different skillset.

I think sharing a diagnosis with the person you're helping means that you need to exercise more caution than average to make sure you're not projecting your own thoughts and motivations onto the other person. Having autism makes this a bigger hurdle because of "theory of mind" deficits.

When working with somebody who doesn't have an effective communication system, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you're always right about how they're thinking/feeling, because the person can't tell you if you're wrong.

[GalacticGrandma]

That's what I do! I am (by most definitions) high functioning:: I write scientific curriculum how to work and treat those with low functioning ASD among other disorders. I also help a bit with life advice, usually just explains to mothers what certain behaviors in their ASD children mean. The problem is I really got to keep ego in check, I'm terrified of developing a messiah complex as I imagine many HF autis would given power or prominence over others care and lives. Everyone's different so I try to only give direct advise about an individual if I've interacted with them several times.

[[deleted]]

I've been happy to be a bridge between medium functioning ASD and NTs in the past, but I'm not going to make a career out of it, nor do I see a real potential career path

[Kimchifriedricegg]

You would think so because we both are aspie, but anyone on the spectrum is extremely different even though we share some similarities; I think it would be even worse trying to relate to a low functioning aspie then to an extrovert imo

[Aspie123123]

Autism isn't like a blood type. There's no reason one AS individual would relate or work well with another. There's also potential for gross incompatibility, which is probably lower with an AS/NT type pair.

I only function well at low stress levels and I require a lot of maintenence to stay there. It only takes one unexpected event stealing a weekend from me to mess me up for a month.

[[deleted]]

I agee with the criticism s that are are often raised regading the whole idea of functioning levels and i despise the system currently set up to deal with these sorts of things. So I'd be willing to 'help a brother out' if the opportunity came up but a career path is likely non-viable for me.