Wasted days

[Flora]

Ok, so you can't exactly call it 'wasted' time but that's what it often amounts to.

 

How many hours of our time do we spend writing letters, reading reports, writing reports, attending medical appointments, attending meetings, on the phone, tearing hair out, etc etc do we spend trying to get help and support for our kids???

 

I've just spent all together (that's just today) 5 hours tweaking, rewriting and at at one point losing an updated version of my supporting evidence for the request for Luke's stat assessment. I've ran out of people to ring for support or advice. Then as I'm doing all this and the sun is blazing outside and William is hovering around I'm thinking.... for gods sake!!!! Why am I wasting all this precisious time? If I don't do it nothing happens, but even after all this still nothing may happen.

 

And honestly, how many people have gone through imaginary scenes in their head where they smash some professional over the head with a cricket bat??? Or imagine suing them in 10 years time because your son/daughter is totally dependent on you but if proper provision had been made when they were growing up the story might be so different? How long do you spend on that? Then you find that you are shaking with rage and take it out on your unsuspecting husband/wife/partner etc?

 

If the system was fair and working properly that's 5 hours today that I could have spent with William. Or am I supposed to do it during the night when they are all in bed and I can't get anyone on the phone? Rendering me incapable of much due to exhaustion the next day??

 

I Know we're all more or less in the same boat. But I'm just so ###### pissed off about it all. Nothing, absolutely nothing we do makes a difference or at least that's what it feels like from my point of veiw. Maybe i'm lilly livered or maybe it's because I'm now fighting for two of them. Or maybe I've just got the most ###### school for SEN??

 

Totally and utterly pissed off.

 

Lauren

[Guest flutter]

we were given these kids cos we can is all i can say

every time we think we cannot do any more, it comes,

so think on

you are a strong strong woman, fighting for your chld, and in the long run the time will be worth it for him

<'> <'>

[sue1957]

Lauren

 

<'>

 

My row with the LEA isn't even SEN related but I'd hate to think how many hours I have clocked up writing rant letters. Sometimes they have just finished up being a vent for letting off some steam, which my husband then either trims down by two thirds, or starts again.

 

After 6 months of aggro, my kids are in week 3 of not being in school at all, and I'm now realising that I have to set limits on how much time I spend on the dispute. I have almost come to think of it as my current "job" but that I must somehow find a way of only working on it for so long per week and then letting it go.

 

Its not easy, but I'm seeing it as a learning curve. Its gone too far to stop now. Next time the ***** try it on I'll know the ropes better.

 

Hang on, you're getting there. <'>

[gladysmay]

I hear you! I feel like I have spent my whole life worrying over this one child and now the other kids are ranting about how much time they have missed, itis so painful but I know there is no one else to do it, it will all work out for the best I agree with the above, its a learning curve and you will manage what you can and what you cant you will leave to another day, the truth is no matter how much we put in, we can only do our best, there are bound to be some failures along with the successes, remember the positives and draw from them all the best.

[jb1964]

Lauren,

 

I know the feeling too - I get so despondent at the lack of returns for so much effort - everything is such a constant battle for nothing - I never thought the day would come where just getting your child educated would be so difficult, where they can have so many health/anxiety problems yet receive no support - it's almost as though once they are diagnosed ASD they are no longer anything else - they are not allowed to have 'normal' illnesses/problems.

 

We all still continue the daily struggle emotionally and physically - life continues to pass us by and my daughters' childhood!!!! will be gone.............

 

Take care,

Jb

[KATHY BLAIR]

We spent 2 years tip- toeing round the school, trying to be nice and not upset anyone, while we alone tried to sort out a statemnet for our daughter. When they got it they did not like it - it was too detailed and identified too many special needs, that they believed our daughter did not have to start with. They were then saying they could not cope with her needs - just because it said it on paper, when she had them all along

 

They told us, despite the fact that we had remained poilte when we had every reason not to, that we had left all the staff who were involved with us feeling despondent; that nothing was ever good enough for us.

 

But that was the whole point they were doing nothing - and it wasn't good enough for us

 

You know I think they just didn't like the fact that parents are capable of achieving something for their kids.

 

The head master made such a fuss that even the special education department told him to stop whingeing and get on with putting the things in place for Rachael that he should have done long ago!

 

I have yet to find anyone who has not had to spend time fighting for things that should come by right to these children

[Flora]

I know we're all in the same boat and it's just so ######

 

I've found lately that I'm often debilitated by inner rage and I think my original post in this thread was done to let off some steam.

 

Part of it was the final paragraph of the school's evidence against statementing Luke

 

'It is very likely that Luke has been affected, naturally, by the support and attention the family needed to give his older brother during a period of uncertaintly about his secondary schooling. Mrs XXXX(Me) will have done all she can to mitigate this but it is nevertheless a factor which will have affected a sensitive child like Luke'...

 

YES, he was affected by William's state of mind and constant melt downs all night long, but the reason they stated for William feeling that way had NOTHING to do with secondary school... Obviously their idea of a right laugh. I've put in my statement that them blaming this on Luke's lack of progress is 'staggeringly ironic' considering the real reason William felt like that was caused by them in the first place through a lack of understanding and support for William.

 

I know our problems aren't as bad as some and I feel guilty that I'm probably wallowing in self pity, but I'm dealing with a bunch of genius' when it comes to turning the tables on the parents. They did it with William and now they are doing it with Luke.

 

Sooo sorry guys for being such a pain but I'm suffering from chronic rage.

 

Lauren X

[KATHY BLAIR]

I think you have every right to feel enraged. Your childs case is supposed to be taken on ots own merits and they are way put ofline making statements like this - especially in writing. So much for seeing a cild as an individual.

 

I am only new to this forum. Would you mind if I ask what this letter was about?

[bid]

Oh Lauren

 

I really do know how you feel...it took me 10 years and 3 goes to get my son's Statement.

 

Don't give up!! Get ######-minded and refuse to give in...that's what motivated me!

 

Sending loads of <'> <'> <'>

 

Bidxx

[sue1957]

I know our problems aren't as bad as some and I feel guilty that I'm probably wallowing in self pity, but I'm dealing with a bunch of genius' when it comes to turning the tables on the parents.

 

Bunch of genius'? That would be a novelty in our case.

 

Part of my learning curve has been to make myself wait a day or two for the anger to pass..... then the pen is mightier than the sword Just a shame I can't make the correspondence shorter and use less ink

 

Our dispute is nothing like what some people are going through. That is what scares me so much. If these people won't/can't deal with the simple things, then heaven help anyone who has something really difficult to deal with.

 

Our latest is that apparently it is not their fault that we weren't told our daughter had sustained a head injury, because our daughter should be old enough and mature enough to tell us herself. And as it happened at the end of the school day, and she was sent out before the bruising and swelling started to show, then there was no injury so the incident wasn't recorded.

 

I think their motto is "A parents place is in the wrong."

 

But when I calm down and sift through the total c*ap they spout, then start being awkward. Is it standard procedure to wait almost 3 weeks to respond to a health and safety incident? It is significant that after such a wait, when any injury would obviously have healed, that we should only now be told no injury has occurred. We note that even though our children have been withdrawn from school for nearly 3 weeks, that less than 24 hours after we request home tuition for our children until the dispute is settled that you suddenly threaten that if we do not return our children to school, we must find another school, or home educate or you will bring in the social workers.

 

Stick with it Lauren, it does get better when you get to awkward instead of angry. Good luck <'>

[jen]

remember good things come to those who wait, write,challenge, write and complain.

My years of writing got my son a statment straight away. we won the tribunals using the letters we had written to the school. We than appealed to SENDIST re support in statement and description and the LEA settled before going to tribunal, so now we have a statement which accurately describes our child and his difficulties, support which he needs 33 hours all by continually writing letters.

 

Jen

[Canopus]

I suppose this will ruin your day but I have to inform you that there is a thing called a pyrrhic victory. What this means is that you have won a battle but the amount of time, money, and effort you put into the battle was so great that the victory wasn't worth it in practice.

 

My findings are that far too many parents here rip their hair out over problems with schools and LEAs but fail to look ahead to the situation once their kid reaches 16. AS doesn't magically vanish once your kid finishes Y11 and I can assure you that it will be problem after problem after problem for many years after that. I am very concerned about what will happen to your kids once they become adults and whether the battles you are fighting today will be worth it in 10 or 20 years time even if you win them.

[Flora]

canopus, nothing you say or do could ruin my day! I don't even know you.

 

I'm not going to try to justify anything to you but I will tell you that post 16 plays a huge part in motivating me to fight on.

 

Also, if I do enjoy a victory as you put it, then every single bit of time, effort and money spent will be 100% worth it.

 

Lauren

 

ps... your post was extremely patronising and unless you are bringing up two autistic boys and a teenage daughter thrown in for good measure then you are NOT qualified to make such crass and patronising comments.

Edited June 12, 2006 by Lauren

[Brook]

Lauren <'>

 

I can relate to how you are feeling <'> .

 

Canopus,

 

I've no doubt whatsoever that there are many battles ahead, and I dont think it's because we

are not thinking of the future, I'm pretty sure that we ALL think of the future, but our battles

now are ones we HAVE to fight, and will do so each step of the way and well into the future.

 

Brook

Edited June 12, 2006 by Brook

[baddad]

Lauren, ain't nothing I can say that will help or not sound twee, so i hope this'll do instead...

 

<'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> &

It was sooooo many years ago now, but Johnny Rotton was right: 'Anger is an energy'...

 

feel the force, hun

 

 

The 'strange old man'

 

 

Canopus : valid points, certainly, but badly put and TERRIBLE timing. Lauren's fighting now for what she needs now... I've not met the lovely lady (yet!), but I do know enough to say she'll still be fighting just as determinedly in 10 or 20 years time, and the battles now are part of that ongoing process - every 'victory' part of the arsenal she wages the next stage with...

 

L&P

 

BD <'>

[Kathryn]

Lauren,

 

<'> <'>

 

I agree with everything in your first post. I spent over a year doing much the same things - sometimes staying up all night to write reports, knowing that next morning I'd be back on the phone again.

 

Stay angry, and keep fighting!

 

K x

[Flora]

Thank you baddad, Katherine and Brooke and everyone else <'>

 

A good nights' sleep and a cooler morning and I'm back to full strength....

 

Onwards and upwards...... Power to the People (where's the power salute smiley??? )

 

 

Lauren <'> <'>

[Canopus]

My parents spent 8 years battling with schools, the LEA, doctors, psychologists, teachers, governors, and the police. They were constantly stressed out and it damaged their health including diabetes and heart problems along with plenty of gastric ulcers. At the time they thought they were doing the right thing for me but more recently they think the time and effort they put in just wasn't worth it in the long run. If they had known about AS at the time then they would have told the schools and so called professionals to sod off and just allowed me to spend all day attached to a computer where I caused nobody any problems.

 

You might think my post was patronising but I am concerned that some people might be spending too much time fighting the battles of today without giving enough thought to the even bigger battles of tomorrow. I am becoming increasingly worried that people with AS are becoming unemployable because of changes in attitudes of society and employers towards wanting flexible employees with lots of people and team building skills rather than technical experts and specialists. I see this as a more serious issue than anything to do with education because school isn't essential, but most people with AS have no choice but to find employment as adults. If your kid leaves school with lots of good GCSEs after several years of stress from battling with the system then it is a pyrrhic victory if they are unable to put their qualifications to use by getting a job.

[gladysmay]

Canopus, I know what you mean about the changing style of employment requirements, I have been struggling to find an ICT course for my son and they seem to be really 'people and team building skills' oriented. I have asked myself whether this could actually benefit my son i.e. will it help to improve his weaknesses in these areas or will the struggle outwiegh the benefit and risk the whole course, I reckon very careful management, maybe disapplying certain units if at all possible would help. My dad was a reclusive and eccentric engineer, clearly a genius but no people skils whatsoever!

 

My son was not diagnosed until he was 18, he is now 19. Looking back it is hard to know whether he could have benefited from appropriate intervention during his younger life, while his brain was developing, I do not know enough about the biology of it all but maybe he would have. I do feel he would not have developed depression and felt so bad about himself he knew the reasons for why he was so struggling so much no matter how much effort he put in. For me, I would have been able to move more quickly to acceptance which in itself would have helped hugely.

 

Whether and who it is of value to when it comes to adjusting to NT way of things is a complex issue. For me, all my letter writing etc has been about just accessing things that I decided would be of benefit but so often even these are very hard to achieve. The struggle for him has been to accept help sometimes.

Edited June 13, 2006 by gladysmay

[Valiant_Skylark]

I don't want to upset anybody either, but having just survived the past weeks spending every waking minute working on getting through an Annual Review, with little extra to show for it at the end, I had been, more and more, thinking along the lines of Canopus's posts.

 

I've had very dedicated, knowledgeable supporters - thanks to those, who know who they are - (although not lawyers), who have worked incredibly hard to keep the pressure on me minimal, but I've still ended up with sky-high blood pressure (which I'm now under the GP for) and at risk of all the nasty, nasty diseases at which Canopus hints . I must be positively SWIMMING in cortisol and my adrenals must be at least as "fatigued" as I am! So the gist is that, right now, I'm "paying a very dear price", in terms of my own health, for my "successes". In that, I can identify with Canopus's warnings and I , personally, would do well to take his warnings on board. For me, Canopus's warnings are as "timely" as could ever be possible. I don't really want to have a stroke.

 

We have also spent so much time, effort and money trying to get the school, EP, lea etc to admit that the provision on the statement is not actually being met (Senco lies), that I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that a statement, without the goodwill of those who implement it, is not worth the paper it is written on. Yes, there are legal routes, but without qualifying for legal aid we risk vast fees, which we can ill afford - and even appeal to the ombudsman takes so long that the child can be without provision for months - with no compensation for the child at the end of it.

 

And even if my child gets some exam passes (my lea seems only interested in academic support, judging from their last letter to me), what good is that if the child cannot cope with the demands which are "taken-for-granteds" in the work world - like the ability to get oneself up, cross a road, drive, present oneself appropriately in word and deed, have the stamina to get through a day's work etc etc?

 

Would we be better off spending our limited cash on educating our child ourselves? Could we afford it? Would we at least know what provision the child had actually received? Time is running out for us; our son is already at Senior school. I have the sense of fighting for crumbs when, as Canopus points out, there may be a whole bigger picture to consider - like the health of the whole family and the completely different demands that the world of work will present. Have I got to the stage where I can't see the wood for the trees?

 

Emotionally, I feel like Lauren, and regularly pick myself up to "fight another day", but I have rarely felt more impotent or worn down by a system as with the current educational system as it stands. When I look at how much I used to acheive with such little effort and I compare that to the efficiency of how I work now, I feel nothing but shock: There has to be a better way. Is this hooked-in "I-will-change-them" psychologically healthy... or am I becoming a "Woman who loves too much" and becoming a "Co-dependent" in a system the purpose of which is to lock one into a nightmare merry-go-round designed to ensure that only the very few manage to jump off with any sanity in tact? (I'll include in that not only the cat-and-mouse tactics of the schools and leas, but also the fiasco of trying to get needs recognised... and that Holy Grail... "The Diagnosis")

 

I admire all those who ARE fighting (and currently I hope you won't mind me including myself among you?), but I'd be lying if I didn't also admit to having a leg, torso and possibly my head in Canopus's camp too. If you can get more than crumbs and then spend little time having to police that provision, then I really do have open admiration for you (unless you simply paid lawyers to fight the case for you... in which case, "Good for you", but I wish I had that kind of money...)

 

You'll guess from this post that I'm a bit "worn" at the mo. We may decide to disembark from the Mad Merry-go-round, or, given a few days off, jump back on for another jolly spin - who knows? But is it all worth it...? I guess each of us must answer that one for ourselves. "Go with your gut insinct" seems appropriate here.

 

vs xx

[Canopus]

My parents went through hell when I was at school. They thought they were the only people to have to endure such misery and mountains of paperwork that took up so much time that they neglected the interests of 3 other kids. They went round thinking why no other parents in the area had to go through what they went through, and the blame was pinned squarely on me. At least parents here have the luxury of knowing what is wrong with your kid and that other parents have to fight the same battles with schools and LEAs. My parents had no idea what was wrong with me and were completely unaware of any other parents in the same situation.

 

I might have upset some people but I don't want to see a bad event from history repeating itself.

[Flora]

I just want to do the very best for my kids, and I'm doing it in the way that is available to me at the moment.

 

There may well come a time when I give in 'fighting the system' but I'm no where near there yet. I know what's out there and I won't feel comfortable until I've tried every single means I can to get it.

 

Lauren

[stressedmumto2]

And honestly, how many people have gone through imaginary scenes in their head where they smash some professional over the head with a cricket bat??? Or imagine suing them in 10 years time because your son/daughter is totally dependent on you but if proper provision had been made when they were growing up the story might be so different? How long do you spend on that? Then you find that you are shaking with rage and take it out on your unsuspecting husband/wife/partner etc?

 

I too can relate to this and the imaginary scene, thanks for sharing that.

 

I'm fighting at the moment and it seems like a loosing battle but I know my child and I know best how to care for him and if that means me slogging it out writing letters etc then so be it. The ###### will know the reasons for my son's behaviour.

 

Good luck Lauren and stay strong <'>

[gladysmay]

Valiant Skylark, lots to think about in your posting -

 

will the sytem let us drop out I wonder, I did once get to a point where I thought, what the heck, why dont we just buy a big van, sell the house and drive off into the sunset and just let life happen, and go on a journey of discovery! maybe that is just a fantasy that it is nice to have around, I dont know, I do recognise that the needs of the parent and the needs of the child are seperate but dovetail also, and I was thinking what do we want? needs to be met but by whom and what are the needs, social, emotional, practical, financial, and educational? are there any psychologist posting on here, does this look like a gestalt question, there seem to be so many layers. I would say education is more than qualifications. If I were a millionaire and did not have to worry about financial provision at all I might just drop out because the world seems to have treated us so cruelly but in the end we have to negotiate a place in the world and demand it as our right if necessary.

[Valiant_Skylark]

I would never advocate "dropping out" of life, but I would consider the notion that there may be a case for "taking the path less travelled", or for taking a different path, which may or may not end up at a similar place in the end.

 

For example, I took some unusual steps in my career, following a less usual exam route, eventually re-joining the more usual route a few years later. The plus was that I then found myself way in advance of my "peers" and was able to fast-track in my career. I learned again and again that the obvious route is not always the best or the only route - It all depends on your individual circumstances and what you need to learn.

 

vs xx

[gladysmay]

definately agree with the different path way of thinking, I think that sums up what I mean when I say dropping out, finding a different path, maybe not so extreme as driving off into the sunset as originally posted! I mean, life is what you make it and all that, it isnt fair but we know it to be true. If you cant go over it, go round it and you might even discover youve changed paths along the way!

[Canopus]

I definitely think that in times of difficulty you should look at taking a different path. A question parents must ask themself is whether their kid should be provided with an education or whether they should be provided with the full National Curriculum and GCSEs. If your kid is at primary school then something close to the National Curriculum would probably be a better choice, especially if they want to go to a secondary school. For kids at secondary school level then really the choice depends on them and their circumstances. It is important to assess the post 16 situation and find out what the prerequisites really are before choosing which path to take.

[Flora]

"taking the path less travelled", or for taking a different path, which may or may not end up at a similar place in the end.

vs xx

 

As far as I'm concerned this is exactly what we are already doing. I often describe our life as 'the road less travelled'... all of my family and friends comment on our slightly alternative way of doing things, not something I chose to do but more out of neccessity than anything else. I refuse to drop out of life, and while I've still got energy and fight in me I will do my best to make sure my kids get what they deserve both now and for the rest of my life.

 

I had no intention of causing such a discussion when I posted this thread in a fit of temper, funny though how it's developed and the different perspectives that have come out.

 

I respect everyone's way of doing things as long as they are not hurting anyone, but I also expect the same respect in return.

 

Lauren

[gladysmay]

Hi Lauren, I think its been a really interesting discussion, no right or wrong answers I reckon, I be back next week with my own breakdown! :)

[Flora]

I didn't have a break down I had a fit of temper....

 

But yes, a very interesting discussion and as you said, no right or wrong answers.

 

Lauren

[jen]

Canopus our main concern is the happiness of our children. If our children are supported correctly than this means they can achieve their potential. For some this could be as simple as dressing themselves for others it could mean achieveing A grades in GCSE or A levels going on to college or university.

 

 

As parents we do the best we can. Bring up children is one of the most difficult jobs you can do, it is a job where there are no courses to show you the correct way. Bring up a special needs child is even more complex and difficult and there will be mistakes made.

 

 

If you look back at your grandparents, greatgrandparents, aunts and uncles I am sure you will find high blood pressure and diabetes in the family. Yes stress can bring on high blood pressure but that means when the stress is removed it will go done. If you father has had consistantly high blood pressure than you are not the cause of it. Stress does not bring on diabetes.

 

 

If parents do not fight for their child than they can get depressed by seeing their child constantly suffering so as you see being a parent means you never win.

 

 

Jen

[stressedmumto2]

I've really enjoyed reading this discussion. I'm fairly new to the site and have so far had so much help/advice from some people. I don't talk alot about what is going on in my own life that much, I don't answer alot to threads but I do read alot of what is said. I understand within everyone of us we have our difficulties/problems etc wetaher it be family issues, children issues, fighting the system it still goes on.

 

Most of all i'm fighting in the hope that if I can't do something for my own children there may be support out there for their children (when they have them).

 

If we sit down and do nothing then how can we complain that our childrens needs are not being met. Within our childrens needs not being met, family life may well suffer.

 

Just my opinion, don't shoot me down anybody please.

[Suze]

hi ..........bit of a dodo me ...........completely missed this thread....soz loz ..... <'> <'> ..........take care mate <'> Suzex.

[baddad]

Hi all -

Canopus - I do see your point and POST education is something we all hjave to worry about, but for parents of younger children the 'battles' now are hugely important, because they may shape the future in so many different ways... Your parent's view is one taken with the benefit of hindsight - which DOES offer 20/20 vision. Some of the 'battles' I or Lauren or any other parent may be fighting in the present MAY turn out to be futile or 'pyrrhic', but we don't know which ones yet!

As for employment - I too am hugely worried that the 'employment criteria' is getting narrower and narrower - and that 'brilliance' in one area is being overlooked in favour of 'jack of all trades' networking skills. I don't think it means the more intense personalities will become less employable, though - just that they are more likely to be 'administrated' by someone less skilled with better socialisation techniques; which is pretty much what happens now, but it will become even more polarised...

Don't know what we can do about that particular scenario, but throwing the baby out with the bathwater by throwing in the towel now (heehee - I'm a sod for a mixed metraphor!! ) would seem like another negative in an equation that already has far too many...

The one saving grace seems to be that home working is becoming an increasingly viable option, and new technology/computing hardware and software are helping people with quite 'jagged' skills profiles to smooth out the bumps for themselves...

20 years ago, a brilliant engineer wouldn't have been able to 'present' his ideas without a full team of people behind him... That same engineer can do a big part of that 'teamwork' himself now, with software - though it's probably still true that he'll need an NT to do the 'hard sell!!

 

L&P

 

BD

 

L&P

 

BD

[Flora]

baddad, I was discussing the employment problems with William's new CAMHS consultant yesterday.

 

William is pretty damn brilliant with flash, power point, making animated movies using plasticine etc. At the minute he's working hard designing his own game using flash and some other software can't remember... it's all gibberish to me with my lil old cheese brain! He's self taught and his only problem is frustration when he has no choice but to use the online tutorials. The consultant said he'd have no problem getting a job some where in the computer industry but I pointed out to her that this would be unlikely if things continue down the present path. There seems to be less places for people like William to 'hide'... in the work place. At one time accademia was an excellent niche but even now the universities want PR people rather than the usual socially uncomfortable egg heads, usually because of funding for research projects etc so they need someone who can 'network'.

 

I'm always trying to be optimistic and hope that the pendulum swings the other way eventually but realistically this is unlikely to be the case. Just read that last sentence back Did I say I was optimistic then contradict myself

 

Lauren

Edited June 13, 2006 by Lauren

[Canopus]

Canopus - I do see your point and POST education is something we all hjave to worry about, but for parents of younger children the 'battles' now are hugely important, because they may shape the future in so many different ways... Your parent's view is one taken with the benefit of hindsight - which DOES offer 20/20 vision. Some of the 'battles' I or Lauren or any other parent may be fighting in the present MAY turn out to be futile or 'pyrrhic', but we don't know which ones yet!

 

I wasn't targetting anyone in particular. I was just issuing a warning to look out for situations that could result in pyrrhic victories in the long run in order that parents make the best choices for both today and tomorrow.

 

As for employment - I too am hugely worried that the 'employment criteria' is getting narrower and narrower - and that 'brilliance' in one area is being overlooked in favour of 'jack of all trades' networking skills. I don't think it means the more intense personalities will become less employable, though - just that they are more likely to be 'administrated' by someone less skilled with better socialisation techniques; which is pretty much what happens now, but it will become even more polarised...

 

I mentioned this in the thread about the electronics magazine and it is something I worry about even for kids with AS that aren't planning on a career in engineering or programming. Ideally employers should look at the strengths of employees and allocate them to positions where they can excel rather than expect employees to be everything to everybody.