Often we have an individual’s best interest at heart in our actions and words, but what right do we have to assume someone else’s best interest? Working with adults on the autism spectrum is something of a minefield at times. We all love the work we do and want to enhance the quality of life for so many of those that we assist, but are we just projecting our own views of what a good life is onto them? Or how they should behave and interact? Are we ever going to get it right?
After five years of working with adults in a college setting it was easy to start to believe that I “know” what I’m talking about. This proved to be untrue after recently hiring the newest member of our team. In an effort to ensure the highest quality of program and to ensure the autistic voice is being heard we hired a person with autism, who was qualified for the position, onto our team. This brought a fresh perspective on the work that we are doing and how to better serve the needs of a community that for so many years we were the driving voices in.
Now having an Actually Autistic voice on our team meant that we could begin listening rather than talking. We can learn while we teach and guide those through the dark with a voice that knows the path ahead. Bringing this person on board has reaffirmed that not every autistic person has the same wants and needs and that there is no cookie cutter path to happiness and fulfillment for these individuals. Having someone that truly understands and can relate has started to make a big difference in the way we instruct and guide these adults in their lives.
This has opened my eyes to the fact that I don’t actually have the answers. I don’t actually know what is best for every person. My views on what a person should do with their life or how they should engage with others are not right for everyone. It is important to have an autistice voice in the work that we do. It is more important to remember that these voices have been here all along. We need to stop and listen to the individuals we are working with and really take into account their wants and needs for their own lives.
That cookie cutter idea of an autistic person living independently with gainful employment is certainly not for everyone. Some want to live independently and others shudder at the idea of it. Most of the adults I work with are more interested in having a friend or a relationship. Many of these adults don’t want to work; I mean honestly do you or I really want to work…?
To sum up my feelings on having more autistic representation; it is only a win. We can service the autistic community much more and much better by including these voices. We have tried to be their voice for long enough. They have their own voice and it is our job now to be the platform they stand on and to hold the microphone for them.
I am grateful to be learning from someone I thought I was teaching; from someone who was actually teaching me all along.
ASD: Promises To Keep 