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