...academe is generally considered a more welcoming environment than most for people with autism. They get paid to talk at length about their area of interest in a realm where eccentricity and limited social skills are often seen as signs of genius rather than cause for scorn.
"Universities are probably the place where we get the kindest treatment, where we are respected and valued the most," says Mr. Perner.But, as quickly as the words come out of his mouth, he stops himself. "I tend to romanticize the university. There are definite challenges."
Since Mia started talking, she's been displaying an impressive vocabulary, even though mommy is the only one who understands most of it. As for her future prospects, lately I've been thinking less about WalMart greeter and more about quirky MIT student. Maybe she'll have a knack for the hard sciences (like her daddy). Afterall, as someone (can't recall who) once said "NASA is the world's largest sheltered workshop."
On the other hand, this professor from the Maryland Institute College of Art seems to think Autism is a catch-all term for every annoying personality trait and character flaw. She conflates autism with untreated mental illness and then suggest universities not give tenure to autistics (instead of not giving tenure to the untreated mentally ill):
Candidates' disabilities should not prevent them from getting hired. But, at the same time, we are all affected by our experiences. And if I am ever put in the position of casting my vote in the hiring of a midcareer candidate with no previous record of tenure -- especially if he or she seems ... well ... just a little bit odd -- I might, like Bartleby, prefer not to.
Perhaps she was one of the challenges to which the above referenced Mr. Perner was refering.
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