Free Asperger's on the Job: Must-Have Advice for People With Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and Advocates by Rudy Simone

lavender scent, and nature sounds or soft music. Do not keep a television or computer in your bedroom; the temptation to use them, as well as the frequencies given off by electronic equipment, can keep you awake. Get plenty of physical exercise and lots of fresh air.
There are various types of therapy that we can undertake to deal with any or all aspects of AS—from social to sensory. Success with such therapies will depend upon a few factors, but may be worth pursuing if the practitioner is well-versed in ASDs, or if the method is specific to spectrum disorders. Research your options, be proactive, find something you can have confidence in.
     

To employers and advocates:
    Britain’s Employment Act 2002 gave certain parents the legal right to ask their employers to seriously consider flexible working arrangements pertaining to both hours and location (when and where they worked). It is probably a matter of time before this law extends to certain individuals such as those with AS. In the US there are currently no laws requiring companies to consider flexible work, but many companies are offering it to valued employees because of its mutual benefits (Kelly & Kalev 2006).
     
Consider allowing your AS employee to work from home. While not possible for all, with technology as advanced as it is, many jobs can comfortably and effectively be conducted outside the office. This saves the company money on office space and energy bills, and possibly even on salary (the employee will need to spend far less on fuel, parking, tolls, office clothing, lunches, etc.). This one change could solve virtually every issue in this book; it is changing the job to accommodate the human rather than vice-versa.
If it is possible for an employee to work flexible hours, allow them. As long as the work is getting done on time, does it really matter if business is conducted nine-to-five?
Give clear instructions and deadlines, then just let them get on with it in their own way and at their own pace. Do not micromanage time spent.
Don’t talk down to an AS employee. Most of us are very smart; our slowness at picking up certain things usually comes from over-stimulation or sensory processing difficulties resulting in confusion, and a tendency to overanalyze.
When giving instructions, do not be pedantic or have a “my way or the highway” attitude. Lead and challenge rather than dictate.
     

    Are FWAs possible for the current position?
    Why does scrutiny make you uncomfortable?

CHAPTER 10
Polyester Prisons, Neck-Tie Nooses, and High Heeled Hell
    B eing aware of what we look like to others does not strictly relate to our facial expressions or demeanor—for some, especially when we are young, hygiene, neatness, and just dressing attractively can be a problem. This can have an impact on being bullied and most of us do decide at some point to make an effort to work on our personal style. We learn to find things that are comfortable and look good. By the time a person with AS reaches adulthood, and sometimes much earlier, they seem to have a good sense of what they do and do not like, can and cannot wear. This comes from trial and error—a lifetime of trying clothes that were uncomfortable, or styles that were fussy and distracting. People with Asperger’s will put comfort and practicality before style and conformity, every time. This does not mean that your male AS employee will turn upin sweats or your female in a hippie caftan. On the contrary; they will dress appropriately, but there might be expectations in the workplace that aggravate both their logic and their skin. AS men may strongly dislike the feeling of a tie, collared shirt or stiff shoes, and prefer loose clothing with a broken-in feel. Women with Asperger’s might have a strong aversion to pantyhose and high heels. The former are both uncomfortable and impractical because they don’t last and are a huge waste of money over a woman’s professional lifetime. These bits of attire are often