"Mommy, Mommy, Mommy! Am I stupid? ? excitedly requested Christopher, nearly out of breath from the long run into the kitchen. She knew he had been playing with neighborhood children under a mighty pine tree in the side yard. Saddened by the question and realizing he had just been tormented by the others, she tenderly gave him a hug and lovingly told him, "No, Christopher, you are not stupid. ? "Oh, ? replied Christopher, with obvious disappointment in his tone. Certainly you must be wondering why these loving words of motherhood would be met with such sadness. You see what had really happened was that as the children were teasing him about his autism they were really paying attention to him. He was the center of their focus and for a brief moment he felt like he was accepted by them. He felt special. His value as a human had astronomically increased because he was, as they put it, "stupid ?. As Christopher grew he understood the lesson he learned that summer afternoon better than most people ever do. He understands that he is different, but that it is okay to be different. Now a teenager, Christopher sees himself as an individual that has value. He knows that even though he may be "stupid ? in many people's eyes, he is an individual with special traits and talents that excel above those same traits and talents in "normal ? people. During his work training class at Rochester's Stoney Creek High School, Christopher has proven these talents. During his assignment at Mr. Pita every take-out bag was exactly the same: neatly bagged pickle, napkin, and utensils in the exact arrangement he was first shown. At Rochester's Dillman & Upton Lumber each tube of caulk was placed on the shelf with precision - label facing out and in the proper slot for the brand and type. And in his semester at Duke Humphries' Grill, luncheon diners would see every place setting in perfect match and each salt and pepper shaker filled to precise spot Christopher has been shown. Despite this unquenchable desire for perfection in the accomplishment of routine tasks, thousands of people just like Christopher have another label placed on them today: "unemployable ?. When the economy is strong and unemployment is low, employers find autistic workers to be among their best. However in an economy where every worker must market themselves to beat out dozens or competitors for the few available jobs, the autistics lack the polish and credentials of the more traditionally groomed candidates. It seems employers quickly forget the advantages of autistic workers when it comes to repetitive tasks. Those with autism possess an uncanny ability to focus on their work and perform the repetitive tasks with tremendous accuracy and reliability. They are also extremely loyal workers, unlikely to jump ship because they can earn a quarter an hour more at another employer. The Federal Reserve board is reporting "fresh momentum ? in all 12 surveyed districts across the nation. This is an early indicator of economic conditions that will change the current employer's market back to the employee's market. Along with the change will be a return to the problem of employee retention. Gallup shows nearly 50% of employees feel disconnected from their employer and BostonWorks.com finds that only 43% of employees are satisfied with their current employment situation, down from 50%. According to BostonWorks.com president, Peter North, many employers are misled by the fact that their current retention is low. These three facts point out that the marketplace will soon return to an employee's market and up to 57% of employees are likely to change jobs. Given these facts the smart employer will begin to prepare today for this shift. They will do so because even if the shift does not occur the analysis will provide for a stronger, more productive workforce. The even smarter employers will look for ways to combine tedious functions or repetitive work into jobs for autistic Americans. By seeking out these tasks and combining them into special jobs they establish a core group within their organization to do these tedious jobs effectively and joyfully. They will also find a core of loyal employees for many years to come. Being a leader means making the choice to do what is right for the long-term good of a company or organization. When a company can hire someone unlikely to leave their employment, they have reduced the future hiring and training expenses. A real leader takes this into account. When they do, it helps the handicapped to offset the stigmas associated with their disability. For more information about hiring workers with disabilities, contact New Horizons or the Jay Shops in Pontiac, or Community Mental Health Services in Auburn Hills. Rick Weaver is President of Max Impact, a leadership and organization development organization based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Contact Rick at 248-802-6138 or visit their website: www.getmaximpact.com. Rick is also Christopher's Dad. |
