Persons with autism can thrive in high tech

[MillCreek]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/22/177452578/young-adults-with-autism-can-thrive-in-high-tech-jobs?ft=1&f=1001

A very interesting story about how young people with autism can find suitable jobs in high tech.  We have several friends with autistic children (Seattle being one of the peak places for autism), and one of the biggest concerns is how the kids will be able to work and support themselves after they age out of school or are not a candidate for the sheltered workshops.

[Tallpine]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/22/177452578/young-adults-with-autism-can-thrive-in-high-tech-jobs?ft=1&f=1001

A very interesting story about how young people with autism can find suitable jobs in high tech.  We have several friends with autistic children (Seattle being one of the peak places for autism), and one of the biggest concerns is how the kids will be able to work and support themselves after they age out of school or are not a candidate for the sheltered workshops.

Yeah, if you can find a tech job where you can be left alone to actually do your work.  

BTW, there is a meeting at 9am to discuss the agenda of the meeting to discuss why the project is behind schedule  

===============

It also helps to be autistic in India 

Right now much development is being done over there with American "oversight" for critical projects.  So if you want to work in software in the US for instance, you pretty much have to be some sort of manager.  I do wonder where they expect to find experienced senior developers in the US to run things after all us old white guys have retired or died 

[AJ Dual]

Maybe get the autistic savant code guru's to check the Indian's work. 

But otherwise, yeah, IT work that stays in the U.S. often does so because a premium is being placed on soft-skills, customer contact, teamwork and adding value through non-technical skills, exactly what the autistic/Asperger's person is likely to be lacking. 

[MicroBalrog]

Let's just say I know a person with an autism-spectrum disorder who does very, very well in IT.

[Tallpine]

Maybe get the autistic savant code guru's to check the Indian's work. 

That's exactly what I do.

Except in many cases, I could have done it right myself in less time than it takes to review and write up my comments on their crap.

Hopefully soon I will be back onto Level A / ITAR controlled work.

[mtnbkr]

But otherwise, yeah, IT work that stays in the U.S. often does so because a premium is being placed on soft-skills, customer contact, teamwork and adding value through non-technical skills, exactly what the autistic/Asperger's person is likely to be lacking. 

Yup.  A big portion of the work I and my direct reports do is customer facing and requires a lot of "people skills".  In fact, I was sent to the UK to resolve issues both technical and "human" in nature because I'm good at both.  That pains me to say because I'm rather shy and reserved and was attracted to IT *because* of the solitary "work on your own" nature of the industry back in the 90s.  Somewhere along the way, I saw the light and started working on my people skills in order to not marginalize myself.  Someone who doesn't like working with people doesn't do well around here.  As a manager, I'll pick someone with modest tech skills, but stellar people skills and an ability and willingness to learn over a savant who would rather be locked up in a server room all day.  The soft-skills make or break a contract.

Chris

[AJ Dual]

Let's just say I know a person with an autism-spectrum disorder who does very, very well in IT.

I do too.

We're just criticizing the Pollyanna-ish tone of the article that is acting as if  "ZOMG! Autistic people should work in TECH! Who knew!   " etc. is the revelation of the century. And while there's a great deal of truth in that, that there's market forces in IT working very hard against it too.

[AZRedhawk44]

We have a guy with Asperger Syndrome on our workforce.

Started off as a tier 1 help desk tech.  Moved on to QA technician, senior QA tech and currently our QA manager.  I think he's hit his limit with the QA manager position in regards to interpersonal and management skills, but he's still meeting objectives in an accountable and responsible manner in this role.

The big concerns I have with anyone autistic or an Aspergers patient is the lack of inventiveness and heavy reliance upon prior experience.  Seems to be a mental valve-lock in the brain when it's time to come up with something new.

[AJ Dual]

The big concerns I have with anyone autistic or an Aspergers patient is the lack of inventiveness and heavy reliance upon prior experience.  Seems to be a mental valve-lock in the brain when it's time to come up with something new.

Which interestingly is EXACTLY what you get from the Indians, and for 1/2 to 1/3rd the price.

(Not counting having to clean up their messes and do it all over again anyway...)

[Tallpine]

Which interestingly is EXACTLY what you get from the Indians, and for 1/2 to 1/3rd the price.

(Not counting having to clean up their messes and do it all over again anyway...)

Just what I was going to say 

The crew I'm working with seems to have a fetish with string manipulations.  Why write ten lines of code when you can write a thousand lines instead and come up with the wrong answer 

[mtnbkr]

Which interestingly is EXACTLY what you get from the Indians, and for 1/2 to 1/3rd the price.

(Not counting having to clean up their messes and do it all over again anyway...)

Amen!  On both accounts...

Chris

[K Frame]

"I saw the light and started working on my people skills..."

Which I have, by and large, chosen NOT to do. I had my bite at the managing people apple, and I hated it.

I'm perfectly content to be second-in-command indespensible worker bee. I get along great with my boss, and I've gotten a couple kick ass reviews from her.

But, I look at what she does, the people she has to deal with regularly, and the thought of doing it makes me want to vomit.

[mtnbkr]

You don't need to go into management see the value of people skills.  They were benefiting me years ago as a quasi-sales engineer and as a regular operations engineer.  Customers don't want to deal with the stereotypical surly engineer.  By being able to demonstrate those skills, I got the predecessor to the job I currently hold.

Chris

[K Frame]

"You don't need to go into management see the value of people skills."


**** you.

[lee n. field]

"You don't need to go into management see the value of people skills."

**** you.

I wonder where I'd test out on an autism diagnostic.

[mtnbkr]

I wonder where I'd test out on an autism diagnostic.

I think a lot of folks like to claim autism/asperger to legitimize their antisocial behavior.

"no, you're just an ahole".

:D

Chris

[birdman]

The big concerns I have with anyone autistic or an Aspergers patient is the lack of inventiveness and heavy reliance upon prior experience.  Seems to be a mental valve-lock in the brain when it's time to come up with something new.

Speaking as someone with aspergers (and friends/colleagues with others) and considering my JOB is to come up with new and inventive things, with little reliance on personal experience, I have no idea what weird place you pulled with that stuff from.

Lets see here, people who are known now to have likely been very high on the spectral sale...da Vinci, tesla, Edison, Einstein....yeah, no creativity there.

Autistics, sure.  But high functioning people aspergers people?  No way.

[Strings]

wait a sec...

Mike has "people skills" to work on?

Or are we now counting "acidic wit" as a people skill?

[BlueStarLizzard]

Speaking as someone with aspergers (and friends/colleagues with others) and considering my JOB is to come up with new and inventive things, with little reliance on personal experience, I have no idea what weird place you pulled with that stuff from.

Lets see here, people who are known now to have likely been very high on the spectral sale...da Vinci, tesla, Edison, Einstein....yeah, no creativity there.

Autistics, sure.  But high functioning people aspergers people?  No way.

That's my stepdad, too.

Give him a couple random bits and pieces and tell him to make something, and then stand back.
A lot of engineering seems to require a heavy dose of creative problem solving.

His people skills are a bit out there (my grandma, who likes everyone, took a while to warm up to Eric) but don't tell me he isn't creative and good at coming up with new things.

[Lee]

I have a neighbor who im guessing has Aspergers. He's pretty darn successful. I don't know about his creative side, but he's a really bright guy.
Everyone thought he was a mean weirdo, because he never spoke, or made eye contact, with any of us when he power-walked arround the neighborhood. Turns out he is a very nice guy IF you initiate contact.  He will never acknowledge you if you don't. His face lights up with a warm smile if you say hello.   He even joined our Fantasy football league. He doesn't talk much at the draft party (or anytime), but he seems to enjoy himself and has a beer or two.  One thing that cracks me up about him - he's an insurance actuary, and never wears a helmet when he rides his BMW motorcycle. That seems like a contradiction to his appearance and demeanor.