"People with autism are not broken"

Friday 18 May 2018

With less than four months to go before the new disability law comes into force, islanders are being urged not to forget 'unseen' conditions, including autism, stress, depression, dyslexia and various mental health issues - all of which are covered by the new law.

For their first meeting, "The Surprising Power of Difference," at the Radisson at 12:00 today, the Diversity Network is aiming to help dispel myths around being on the autistic spectrum and highlight a potential pool of untapped talent to employers.

They have invited Philip Le Claire, founding Chairman of Autism Jersey and current Director of Operations, and Karen Gallichan, manager at the Autism Jersey Boutique, whose son also has the developmental disorder. 

For her 50th birthday, Karen’s taken on the challenge to swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez on the north coast of France to raise £10,000 for an Autism Jersey bursary, specifically to fund qualifications or opportunities that will improve quality of life or enhance employment prospects for adults on the autism spectrum.

Mr Le Claire says it is estimated that there are 1,000 people on the autism spectrum in Jersey but these are just the people who have been formally diagnosed. There could actually be twice as much people facing the same challenges, however the way autism is officially detected means some people are not fully diagnosed. "To be diagnosed with autism, you need 70 out of 150 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle," explains Mr Le Claire. "But some people have only 68 or 69."

The charity currently provides a range of services to people on the spectrum as well as 150 families. While Autism Jersey aims to give them the right kind of support to help them succeed and achieve their potential, Mr Le Claire says that people with autism need nothing more than understanding from society as a whole. "People always think of autism as a deficit. They think about it as what's wrong with the person, what doesn't work, what's broken. People with autism are not broken. If you put a Playstation game in a Xbox and it doesn't work, it doesn't mean it's broken, it just functions in a different way.

"What people need the most is for people to understand that children are not naughty, they are autistic. If a child with a disability that you can see was having a tantrum, everyone would help. Yet, if a teenager with autism is having a meltdown, they are totally judged and nasty things said. It is not the child's fault. There is a difference between having a tantrum and having a meltdown. They just can't physically cope, their environment is either too challenging and they are having a sensory overload or on the other hand, they are too bored."

Beyond that, Mr Le Claire would like to convince businesses to give people on the spectrum the opportunity to work. A majority of affected adults are currently finding it hard to work in Jersey but he says they could be an incredible asset for employers. "Some people with autism have a great love for routine and repetition. So what would be boring and mundane tasks for others is a dream come true for them. They follow rules and processes and concentrate on their task. They are also very punctual, incredibly reliable and unbelievably loyal. When a person finds a job they like, it is very rare for them to leave."

Pictured: People with autism can be great assets as employees says Philip Le Claire. 

Many adults who have been helped to find employment by Autism Jersey have gone on to thrive. One such success story is that of a young man who went for a trial at Jersey Post. While it didn't start well, Autism Jersey pushed for him to be given one last chance. "He was almost on his way out," says Mr Le Claire. "A month later he was Employee of the month and three months later, he had come up with a saving data system that save 20 hours a week. Jersey Post asked us if we had any more people like him afterwards! It's a great example of inclusion.

"We need to make the distinction between inclusion and integration. Integration is a dirty word, it's how you change people to make them fit in. Inclusion is about making people an equal part of society, which is our right as human beings. You wouldn't shout at a flower who is not growing, you would look at what's wrong with the environment."

Pictured: With their event, the Diversity Network are hoping to highlight a potential pool of untapped talent to employers.

Kate Wright, co-Founder of The Diversity Network with Sam Duffy, hopes that the event, sponsored by Santander International, will help show how a difference like autism, far from being a ‘disability’, can actually be a real strength. 

She said: "In the U.K. and Jersey there is still a lot of misunderstanding and stigma attached to autism that means that for most people on the spectrum employment simply isn’t an option for them (for example, someone on the autistic spectrum may be highly intelligent and capable in a particular role, but will find the average interview process very stressful and so struggle to perform well). Alternatively, they may be in employment, but are having to try to hide their difference for fear of being stigmatised, or are struggling to feel comfortable and included in an environment that simply doesn’t know how to communicate with and support them.  

 "It strikes us that there is unfulfilled potential in our community as a result of this - a wasted opportunity for the individual and for employers who are often battling to find talent to fill their vacancies. There are 1000 people registered as being on the autistic spectrum in Jersey and a number of these people are talent waiting to be tapped by forward thinking businesses."