Taming Differences: How to Better Understand People on the Autism Spectrum?

Dariusz Jaroń: How does an autistic person perceive the world? 

Monika Szubrycht: This question cannot be given a simple answer because just as neurotypical people without autism are different, so are people with autism. 

There is no specific type of person but rather specific types of reactions to the surrounding world…

If an autistic pupil is hypersensitive to light, he will try to avoid it and protect himself from excess light. If he experiences auditory hypersensitivity, he will suffer in a noisy environment, while people who are overly sensitive to odors will feel nauseous in places where strong smells are detectable. On the other hand, I know people who adore the light, love to attend heavy metal concerts and are not necessarily bothered by distinctive odors as they work in a Vietnamese eatery despite being diagnosed with autism.  

What should we know about the differences resulting from the condition?

Autism causes differences at the bioneurological level. The brain of an autistic person functions differently, and this cannot be changed. Unfortunately, some of us are unaware of this fact. It is not a catastrophe if ordinary people do not know this, but the situation is worse if we are talking about teachers, therapists or other types of professionals. This is because an autistic person is then at risk of becoming seriously hurt in the literal sense of the word. 

What exactly do you mean?

I frequently come across instances of abuse on the part of the so-called ‘professionals’ who leave autistic people with PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder. The very same condition affects soldiers returning from war, resulting in depression and anxiety disorders. 

It is important to be aware that autism has an enormous spectrum. Some autistic people exceed the average intellectual aptitude, while certain individuals have multiple disabilities and require lifetime support. You can be on the autism spectrum and work as a scientist, doctor, lawyer, therapist, or teacher, or you can be unable to communicate verbally and have, for example, Down syndrome. Here, we are talking about a very diverse group of people.

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Let us discuss this diversity. In what way can differences in the perception of the world impact social and professional relationships with autistic people?

I understand that you are now referring to independent people in employment?

Yes.

There will certainly be differences in communication. An autistic person will not necessarily want to talk about run-of-the-mill matters in the common room. This person is at work for one purpose only – to do some work. Because of this, that person can be perceived as an antisocial, grumpy recluse. Another person on the spectrum will not think twice about admitting during a staff meeting that the proposals put forward by the boss are hopeless and damaging. We would feel very uncomfortable in their shoes. Then again, I think of my autistic friends who escape all these preconceptions because they are sociable and talk a lot. Some autistic women have mastered to perfection the art of concealment, sometimes paying a huge price. 

How exactly?

On getting home, all they can do is climb under the duvet and stay there until the next morning. Some of them, however, cannot sit still – they work long hours, do a lot of community work, and continuously strive to change the world for the better. They are incredibly hard to keep up with, especially when their autism package also includes an ADHD diagnosis. 

What challenges do dependent autistic adults face?

These challenges are enormous. The lack of systemic support is the most acute. It is difficult for those who decide about the lives of others to understand that someone who has arms and legs and can walk finds life so challenging. We are talking about adult people who require 24-hour support.

Imagine a mother, aged 80, running after her 40-year-old son and unable to keep up. They sit locked away in a block of flats, in a 48-square-meter apartment, with her worrying about her dying and leaving the son on his own.

I am aware of such situations, and I cannot come to terms with the fact that in a country situated in the heart of Europe, with symbols of Christianity proudly displayed on its banners, politicians avoid addressing the needs of the weakest, as they don’t expect them to vote.

On the other hand, when we discuss the needs of the second group at the other end of the spectrum, we know that this group requires a lot of understanding if not support. 

And this is where self-advocates come in.

Who are self-advocates?

These are people on the autism spectrum who are asserting their own rights and the needs of those most vulnerable who are unable to do so. I look with admiration at this self-advocacy movement and appreciate the courage to speak out about one’s autism. I admire it because our society is still closed to people who are different from ‘the norm.’ ‘Different’ is not a synonym for ‘inferior.’ And such is the message disseminated by self-advocates. Lack of understanding is, in my opinion, the biggest problem for autistic people.   

How can we understand autism better?

We should educate ourselves and society as a whole. We should read, watch films, and listen to what self-advocates and parents of dependents have to say. I also hope that our discussion will help us understand, at least to a small degree, what autism is and make employers want to have a person in their company who would tell them the truth without evading the issue.   

Do you know of a positive example of using the talents and differences of autistic people in business?

The Danish entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne and his Specialisterne immediately come to mind. Sonne has an autistic son. He was aware of his child’s limitations but also noted his son’s strengths. So his company employed atypical people who, thanks to their interests and focus, turned out to be excellent testers – their data conversion error rate was 0.5%, while the same rate was 5% in other data conversion companies. 

Sonne takes care of his employees by giving them a choice of workplace. You can work remotely or in the office. Importantly, most of these people prefer to work in offices because they offer many amenities that make work easier. These include easy-to-understand instructions, a set structure, and hours adapted to the employee. 

What about Poland?

We have the asperIT foundation, with the following motto: ‘Where others see limitations, we see potential.’ The foundation has helped many people find employment by providing those in its care with the right support, if only in the form of training in soft skills. 

You have been explaining autism to people for years. How can we get to know it better?

We are afraid of what we do not know. Knowledge and awareness have the capacity to change the world for the better and make us more empathetic. Differences benefit us all. People on the autism spectrum notice details that we typical people often overlook. If, being a person on the autism spectrum, you are constructing a bridge, performing a surgical procedure, or working as a proofreader in an editorial office, you are less likely to make a mistake. So let us appreciate autistic analytical minds, and let us help those who need our support. Let us not create artificial divisions because we all have to live in the same world.

Translation: Magdalena Fowler

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