Educating the Outside World, Pt. I

As our autistic son Joel enters the world at the age of 19, having recently graduated from high school, it occurs to me that we have spent a great deal of time and energy in educating him how to act, respond, behave, learn, and "fit in" to the world as a contributing adult and member of society. To an extent, at least within the confines of his disability, he is able to do just that.

Yet all is not peachy in the Joel world, for many people do not know what to do or how to help him adjust. To that end, I write this essay for business owners, employers, managers, various employees, and all those in the work place who are willing to take a chance on a disabled adult and help guide him toward success in a career or simply to know how to respond to Joel and people like Joel when you encounter them in everyday life.

One major thing to remember is to have patience and allow time for normal events. This includes ordering food, writing checks, walking, crossing the street, sorting, carrying packages, getting on buses, and responding to questions. A good rule of thumb is to double the normal time for all activities and avoid rushing the process which would lead to undue stress and a possible lack of productivity. A second problem for autistic adults is in the area of communication. While they often know the answer and may even be perceiving the situation accurately, they likely will be unable to express their own needs. This can be very frustrating for both the disabled adult as well as the employer or helper, and often becomes a guessing game as you try to discern the need or the problem. When this happens try using pictures or even a form of charades to determine the desired behavior.

Autistic adults thrive better in quiet, ordered environments. While they are very social, forget the old myth of autistics preferring solitude, they also tend to become agitated and confused in overly loud complex environments. With this environment is the need for routine, clear expectations, and one thing at a time without unnecessary interruptions. Autism lends itself to excelling in one or two disciplines thereby resulting in a type of "expert" behavior. Finding this specialization may be challenging, but once it becomes apparent, the adult can actually be considered superior in that particular area.

In Joel's case, he excels at putting things in order and finds libraries perfectly suited to his personality and his ordered universe. The quiet, but hidden creative world of books that are begging to be found and can only be found if cataloged and placed in the correct spots have a diligent and dedicated friend in Joel Tucker who remains committed to ordered perfection for their domicile. The books smile when Joel enters the library for they know he will ensure their safe passage to their rightful place. Although his pace is somewhat adagio and his music tends to be soft, his melody is pleasant and the rhythm ordered with excellent goals. His productivity may not be as extensive as other people, but it is accurate, tasteful, fastidious, and objective. In the right kind of setting, Joel can and will be successful.