| We again visit the workplace of employer
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| | questions, which helped to steer Al into
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| 'Jack' and his new employee 'Al' who has
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| | another activity, if necessary. To help
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| Asperger Syndrome. In this small informal
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| | him break focus and evaluate, Al set his
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| office, Al felt discomfort and confusion
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| | watch to beep three times a day to remind
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| with ordinary routines related to phones,
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| | him to review his questions list:- "Is
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| break time and workplace jargon. In this
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| | there something else I need to tend to
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| next phase of our work together, we
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| | right now?"
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| designed three customized action plans,
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| | - "Is something going on that everyone
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| which helped Al succeed with the more
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| | else is a part of?"
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| social side of office responsibilities.
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| | - "What do I need to do before getting
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| Jack: "When it comes to the job he was
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| | back to my work?"
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| hired to do, Al is outstanding. But when
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| | Al faithfully relied on his 'guiding
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| people skills are required, he flounders.
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| | questions' once he experienced how good
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| He goes off topic or seems confused about
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| | it felt to fit in with the normal office
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| what people do in ordinary daily
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| | rhythms. Goal #3 Expressions of Speech
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| situations." Jack decided he would work
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| | Office life had its own culture and early
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| directly and discreetly with Al, to help
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| | on Al was grappling with language that,
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| him feel less 'centered out' for this
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| | for him, was a garble of confusing
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| personalized training program. Co-workers
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| | messages.Jack: "Al is really mystified
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| had 'supporting roles' but Jack was the
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| | by phrases we all take for granted here.
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| one-to-one trainer and advocate for Al.We
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| | When we use expressions new to Al, like
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| created action plans for these three
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| | 'shift gears' or 'hit the ground
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| social aspects of office life:
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| | running' I can see he is baffled. When a
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| 1. Telephone Conversation Skills
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| | co-worker said "I am fit to be tied," Al
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| 2. Flexibility and Feelings of Fitting
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| | did not make the connection that his
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| In
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| | co-worker was feeling short of patience
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| 3. Expressions of SpeechGoal #1
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| | and frustrated. The Plan: Al was
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| Telephone Conversation Skills Jack:
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| | encouraged to be honest and ask people to
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| "Sometimes we have to rely on Al to cover
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| | rephrase statements or instructions he
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| phones for parts of the day when the
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| | did not understand. One of Al's strengths
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| office is short on staff. Al tells me he
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| | was memory for information so once he
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| has had some bad experiences trying to
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| | understood he was on board when the
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| figure out what to say on the phone. I
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| | expression came up again. His co-workers
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| can see he is anxious about this." The
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| | were very kind in helping him with
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| Plan: Al and Jack created a phone
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| | work-place vocabulary and Al enjoyed that
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| answering 'script sheet' that gave Al the
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| | support. It was thrilling for him to
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| words and phrases for opening greetings,
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| | experience the feeling of belonging in
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| message taking, transferring calls,
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| | this office, so it got to be something of
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| general comments about who to speak to
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| | a game for Al to find new work related
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| for what, and a few social niceties. They
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| | figures of speech. In Closing: These
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| role played privately in Jack's office.
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| | action plans took time and planning, but
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| Jack asked Al to keep his conversations
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| | were successful because Jack saw the
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| business-like brief. Al's scripted answer
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| | long-term value in the commitment
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| to
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| | required. And Al, who was painfully aware
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| "How are you today?" was "Fine, thank
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| | of his social skill 'deficits' was
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| you." since Al was sometimes tempted to
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| | receptive to the program and delighted
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| answer with enthusiastic details more
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| | with the good feelings that come with
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| appropriate for social conversation with
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| | support and progress.This is a case study
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| friends. If someone's question threw him
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| | companion article to Help Your Employee
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| a curve, Al's SOS script was "Please
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| | With Asperger Syndrome Get into the Flow
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| hold for someone who can help you." and
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| | of Your Office RoutinesEllen
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| immediately transfer the call to Jack or
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| | Mossman-Glazer M.Ed. is a Life Skills
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| Jack's assistant. Al's phone skills grew
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| | Coach and Behavioral Specialist,
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| and on his own initiative, he spent time
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| | specializing in Asperger Syndrome, High
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| sitting in areas where he could listen
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| | Functioning Autism, ADHD, and learning
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| and learn from co-workers fielding phone
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| | difficulties. Over her 20 years in
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| calls. Goal #2 Flexibility and Feelings
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| | special education classrooms and
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| of Fitting In Jack: "Al gets fixated
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| | treatment settings, Ellen has seen the
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| on his work. It's a quality that turns
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| | struggle that children and adults have
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| into a disadvantage at times. Other
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| | when they feel they don't fit in. She now
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| things come with this job! Time is open
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| | works in private practice with people
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| ended for Al! I want him to know when to
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| | across the USA and Canada, by phone,
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| focus on something else that needs to be
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| | teleconference groups and email, helping
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| taken care of, or even just have lunch."
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| | parents, educators, caregivers and their
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| The Plan: This was a two-step plan:
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| | challenging loved ones, to find their own
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| 1. Jack worked with Al to clarify and
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| | specific steps and tools to thrive. Ellen
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| prioritize tasks that could be done over
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| | is the author of two on line e-zines,
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| time, and tasks that had deadlines that
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| | Emotion Matters: Tools and Tips for
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| were more pressing. He explained to Al
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| | Working with Feelings and Social Skills:
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| that it was important and encouraged to
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| | The Micro Steps. Subscribe for free and
|
| stop and take breaks on occasions that
| |
| | see more about Ellen at
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| threw the usual routine off schedule,
| |
| | You can take a free mini assessment
|
| such as an office staff meeting or a
| |
| | which Ellen will reply to with your first
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| birthday gathering.2. Jack and Al
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| | action step.
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| collaborated on a set of guiding
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| |
|
