An Autistic New Year

I would like to start 2023 with the assertion that “autism” is not and must not be a dirty word. It is not a shameful thing to be autistic or to have an autistic family member. It is hopefully becoming a normal thing to have autistic employees and, quite possibly, managers and leaders. Autistic people can be clever and strong and brilliant or complete and total prats, just like anyone else. We don’t have superpowers – we are people who have strengths and weaknesses just like all other people. Some of us need round the clock care, and some of us need holding back from annihilating crass people on Twitter with our wit (Greta, I’m looking at you). Most important of all – we are everywhere. If around 1-2 people in a hundred is autistic, then you know a lot of autistic people. Everyone does. Some people are autistic. I hope to spend this year helping the world get over it.

Showing the way

You may well have resolved to do many exciting things in 2023 – in which case good for you. Suppose you’ve resolved to do a sky dive for charity – as some people do. When it comes to it: what gives you the confidence to actually jump out of the plane? Is it the knowledge of the physics of how the parachute works, the intellectual certainty that you’re deeply unlikely to die doing something that’s become almost common place, or the sight of someone else jumping out successfully first? I’ll bet it’s more seeing someone lead the way (and be fine) than it is the intellectual rationalisation. There’s a world of difference between knowing something’s possible and actually seeing it happen. That could be skydiving or achieving a leadership role or anything intimidating. It makes the world of difference to see someone do what you’re going to do, and particularly to know that they had the same sort of life experiences and difficulties you have.

Getting the management basics right

If you’re having a good day at work, a good manager can make that great – helping you to understand what your work is for, why it matters, and appreciating the good you’re doing. If you’re having a bad day, a good manager can help you work out what’s going wrong, correct slips without blame, provide security from more senior people getting involved, and stand up for you if you’re mistreated. If you’re autistic, those things are doubly or triply important. I need to have my communication slips corrected (I speak “people” like I speak French – with mistakes) but in such a way that I won’t feel humiliated for something I can’t help. I can find it difficult to identify the right problem, particularly if it’s to do with how I feel, and a bit of security and understanding at work can give me space to do that. I also experience a fair amount of unintended aggression or rudeness because of my autism – and a good manager and colleagues will stand up for me – possibly taking the colleague who said the wrong thing aside and correcting them politely so it doesn’t happen again. Having a manager who is an ally is an immense gift.

“Much-needed reform”

I want to talk about the need for reform and change and improvement and ideally what I’d like to see happen in 2023. “Autism” is not and must not be a dirty word. It is not a shameful thing to be autistic or to have an autistic family member. It is becoming a normal thing to have autistic employees, managers and leaders. Autistic people can be clever and strong and brilliant or complete and total prats. We don’t have superpowers – we are people who have strengths and weaknesses just like all other people. Some of us need round the clock care, and some of us don’t need anything much. If around one to two people in a hundred is autistic, then you know a lot of autistic people. We need to be boring, unremarkable and “meh” if we’re to have true equality. But how to achieve that?

Speak its name!

I would like to start 2023 with the assertion that “autism” is not and must not be a dirty word. It is not a shameful thing to be autistic or to have an autistic family member. It is hopefully becoming a normal thing to have autistic employees and, quite possibly, managers and leaders. Autistic people can be clever and strong and brilliant or complete and total prats, just like anyone else. We don’t have superpowers – we are people who have strengths and weaknesses just like all other people. Some of us need round the clock care, and some of us need holding back from annihilating crass people on Twitter with our wit (Greta, I’m looking at you). Most important of all – we are everywhere. If around 1-2 people in a hundred is autistic, then you know a lot of autistic people. Everyone does. Some people are autistic. I hope to spend this year helping the world get over it.