I had the privilege to give a talk today at a major research institution about high-functioning Autism/Asperger’s in the workplace. One question that I’m frequently asked is “How do I deal with someone on the spectrum?” Many people are at a loss, confused, or sometimes even frightened by dealing with autistic people. So my short answer is: “Treat them like a human being.”
I’m not trying to be a flippant with that response, I mean it. I once asked a 14- year-old autistic boy what he would most want me to know in working with people on the spectrum. Without missing a beat he said, “We’re just like anyone else, we’re just quirky!” That may seem to avoid the question for some, but here’s my two cents:
A little open honest communication can go a long way. In some sense you may have to “translate” for the benefit of the autistic person what you are trying to communicate and trying to understand. And vice-versa, the autistic person may have to make their needs known in order to begin communication. However, you may want to help them convey their needs. Many on the spectrum are easily overwhelmed at times. In addition, they may be used to being dismissed, even bullied. It can be as if two people who don’t speak one another’s language are trying to communicate. By starting from a place of compassion and trying to understand one another, real connections can be made.
