You Might Be In A Position To Educate Them
Depending on how receptive your family is , you may end up being the means by which they learn about autism.
But theres a way of doing it. And a way of not doing it.
I remember being very open about my Christian faith at university . A big bunch of us were, and plenty of us were quite keen on discussing the Gospel. Myself included- surprisingly, given my social awkwardness. And in my time there, I saw how to do it and how not to do it.
Surprisingly, there are parallels with talking about autism to a non-believer.
If, for example, you go to a non-Christian and start talking loudly about the perspicuity of Calvinistic ideals or the specifics of the liturgy of the sacrament or how Jesus was a propitiation for mans iniquities, dont be surprised if they lose interest.
But talk gently about the basic principles, how they apply to you, and how they impact your perspective on life, and thats where the learning happens. Even if they dont agree with you, they often leave the conversation closer to understanding your perspective.
Likewise- dont overload the relative with words, phrases and concepts theyve never heard of. If you start going ASD, IEP, AAC, ABA, ODD, PDD-NOS, BIP/BMP all over the place, expect confusion rather than understanding. Because, even if they end up believing you, unfamiliar language will not help them understand the person behind the autism.
Can You Join The Air Force If You Have Autism
Joining the Air Force might be a little bit tougher for applicants who have autism. The main reason behind this is that the Air Force requires higher entry test scores than most of the other branches.
In addition, you must have excellent social and communication skills to join the Air Force. The cold truth is that these skills are often rare in people with autism.
Nevertheless, the Air Force may allow you in if you can prove that you have outlived the condition over the years and that autism is not a hindrance in your daily life.
In addition, you must not be under any medications for at least one year before submitting your application.
However, that is not all the Air Force may only enlist you if you have a special skill set that is urgently required.
It will also depend on whether they need more personnel or not. If the former is true, then you are likely to get a waiver if your condition does not display significant symptoms that may hamper operations.
Can You Serve In The Us Military With Mental Illness
Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Verywell / Evan Polenghi
If you wish to join the U.S. military, be aware that people with current mood disorders or a history of certain mental illnesses cannot serve. The U.S. Department of Defense has a directive which provides a detailed list of the mental health conditions that prevent a person from being in the armed services.
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Military Grade Autism How People With Autism Can Enhance Operational Effectiveness
When one considers diversity in the New Zealand Defence Force, most immediately turn to the push to recruit underrepresented groups. Women , Pasifika New Zealanders and Asian New Zealanders remain underrepresented in the organisation versus their share of the population, as do Mori in Officer ranks.
The reasons for this push rest on a simple proposition. Diverse groups produce diverse perspectives, which, when properly considered, can lead to better decision making and improve operational effectiveness. in her PhD Thesis, Retired Captain Dr Ellen Nelson noted that Diverse organisations have a larger talent pool, which brings diverse perspectives allowing for better informed decisions to be made and avoiding the tunnel vision that homogenous decision-making groups may experience.
Consequently, the NZDF now employs a range of policies aimed at making the organisation a safer, better, and more rewarding place to work for previously underrepresented groups. This includes Mori, female, ethnic minority, Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender servicepeople.
However, one group remains unmentioned. Despite a population wide prevalence of around 0.5 1.5%, high functioning autism is yet to warrant a mention in any NZDF policy. For an organisation seeking to capitalise on the benefits of diverse thinking, this seems an oversight.
Rebel thinkers
The Military Application
Dr Alan Turing, OBE
Brigadier Enoch Powell, MBE
How could it work?
How Israel makes it work
Personality Conduct And Behavior Disorders
The following conditions may disqualify you for military service:
a. Personality, conduct or behavior disorders as evidenced by frequent encounters with law enforcement agencies, antisocial attitudes or behavior, which, while not sufficient cause for administrative rejection, are tangible evidence of impaired capacity to adapt to military service.
b. Personality, conduct or behavior disorders where it is evident by history, interview or psychological testing that the degree of immaturity, instability, personality inadequacy, impulsiveness or dependency will seriously interfere with adjustment in the Army as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment in school, with employers and fellow workers, and with other social groups.
c. Other behavior disorders including but not limited to conditions such as authenticated evidence of functional enuresis or encopresis, sleepwalking or eating disorders that are habitual or persistent occurring beyond age 12, or stammering of such a degree that the individual is normally unable to express themselves clearly or to repeat commands.
d. Specific academic skills defects, chronic history of academic skills or perceptual defects, secondary to organic or functional mental disorders that interfere with work or school after age 12. Current use of medication to improve or maintain academic skills.
e. Suicide, history of attempted or suicidal behavior.
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Can You Join The Navy If You Are Autistic
Whilst those diagnosed with autism are excluded from joining the Services on medical grounds, those individuals suffering mild or entirely non-disabling Aspergers Syndrome may meet the entry standards following an assessment by an occupational health physician and gaining a favourable assessment after pre-entry tests
Mental Health Conditions That Are Disqualifying In The Military
Nearly 20% of the U.S. population deals with some type of mental illness.
Despite the stigma, mental illness is not uncommon or a personal problem.
These diseases and conditions are very serious and require treatment like any other medical condition.
Serving in the military with mental illness has always been a delicate issue, considering soldiers carry weapons and could put other lives in jeopardy.
The military treats mental health very seriously, considering going into combat or other stressful situations could trigger unwanted symptoms.
However, the Armed Forces have recently adapted and changed some of its previous guidelines regarding mental health disqualifications for military service.
Heres a list of 9 of the most common mental health conditions, and whether or not the condition will disqualify you from military service:
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Why Adhd Restrictions For Military Service Are Unfair
As a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience working with individuals with ADHD, I say that the militarys policies effectively cut off a population of talented, capable, and intelligent people from a tremendously valuable career path.
Military service is often an excellent option for people with ADHD, many of whom do well in highly structured environments and thrive on activity, which military service delivers in spades.
The problem with the militarys guidelines is that they label and discourage a population of people at the outset. Each branchs waiver customs may well allow for consideration of the person. But as written, the military is arbitrarily enforcing a blanket policy on people with ADHD.
One of the misconceptions about ADHD, for instance, is that these individuals cannot pay attention, and therefore are unfit for certain positions and situations. But this is not the case ADHD biology includes the ability to hyperfocus intensely when the person finds something interesting with or without medication. Depending on the person, the job, the interest level, and how talented they are for the kind of work, a person with ADHD can do extremely well in many jobs in the military.
As for IEPs what difference should it make if a student had an IEP after age 14? Many people need assistance with organization, structure, accountability, and more throughout high school. This has no bearing on how organized or responsible they may be at 20.
Seeing Themselves In The Autistic Person
Id like to thank Kirsty from the Facebook community for pointing this out in discussion, because it didnt actually occur to me. But its absolutely true.
Ive heard from a number of parents who tell a similar story: that they learned about their own autism/Aspergers while their child was being diagnosed. For many of these parents, they learned something about themselves and felt more able to help their autistic son/daughter afterwards.
But of course, among those who see autism as A Bad Thing, the natural response is resistance. Be aware of this- because if theyre phobic of being autistic and see a lot of themselves in their child , repeatedly telling them their child is autistic could be the equivalent of repeatedly telling them that theyre autistic.
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What About Alcohol Or Drug Abuse
A history of alcohol or drug dependence may disqualify you from military service.
The military carefully scrutinizes alcohol abuse or drug abuse that requires inpatient or outpatient care.
Problems with alcohol or drugs can become problematic during military service for several reasons.
It can also enhance or worsen symptoms of other, undiagnosed mental health conditions.
Behavior Therapy For Autism In Military Families
With 1 in 88 military children having a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, it is important these families, with so many other pressures and sacrifices taking place from military life, get the help their children need.
Your donation provides Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy treatment for military children on the spectrum.
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Abdominal Organs And Gastrointestinal System
The following conditions may disqualify you from military service:
a. Esophagus. Ulceration, varices, fistula, achalasia, or other dysmotility disorders chronic or recurrent esophagitis if confirmed by appropriate X-ray or endoscopic examination.
b. Stomach and duodenum.
Gastritis. Chronic hypertrophic or severe.
Active ulcer of the stomach or duodenum confirmed by X-ray or endoscopy.
Congenital abnormalities of the stomach or duodenum causing symptoms or requiring surgical treatment, except a history of surgical correction of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis of infancy.
c. Small and large intestine.
Inflammatory bowel disease. Regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis.
Duodenal diverticula with symptoms or sequelae .
Intestinal malabsorption syndromes, including postsurgical and idiopathic.
Congenital. Condition, to include Meckel’s diverticulum or functional abnormalities, persisting or symptomatic within the past two years.
d. Gastrointestinal bleeding. History of, unless the cause has been corrected, and is not otherwise disqualifying.
e. Hepato-pancreatic-biliary tract.
Cirrhosis, hepatic cysts and abscess, and sequelae of chronic liver disease.
Cholecystitis, acute or chronic, with or without cholelithiasis, and other disorders of the gallbladder including post-cholecystectomy syndrome, and biliary system.
Note. Cholecystectomy is not disqualifying 60 days postsurgery , providing there are no disqualifying residuals from treatment.
f. Anorectal.
And To Finish The Usual Bullet
- Establish why they dont believe you/your child is autistic.
- If theyre comfortable with discussing the subject, pitch your conversation at their current understanding.
- If you have the backing of a professional, quote the professional.
- If they wont talk about autism, talk about the struggles without mentioning the diagnosis.
- You are not alone in not being believed. But the tide is turning in the right direction. I promise.
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What Does The Exceptional Family Member Program Do For My Family
EFMP, a Service run program, serves service members within DoD who have children with special needs, including autism. EFMP is mandatory for all active duty service members who have family members with special needs, and enrollment is required immediately upon identification of a family members qualifying special need.
There are two primary functions of EFMP: a personnel function for administrative and management purposes and one that provides a range of family support.
Each military branch implements EFMP differently, and even some of the programs goals vary from branch to branch. However, the main goal is to ensure that family members with special medical or mental health needs are not sent to assignments where the MTF or facilities in the surrounding area cannot meet their medical needs. This is not to say that the service member will not be sent to such assignments, but the families should always be in a location that can meet their exceptional family members needs.
EFMP is not required to take into account area schools or the special education needs of families. This issue has continually been brought up by advocates across branches, as families are sent to areas where the schools that cannot support their childrens educational needs or behavioral issues resulting from their autism. Refer to the Education section for information on how to manage school transitions during PCS moves.
- Military OneSource now merged with MilitaryHOMEFRONT
Adhd Medication Rules Are Unreasonable
The military should relax its enlistment standards, but much more needs to be done beyond that, including reforming overly restrictive policies regarding ADHD medication. While few cases are known of people with ADHD who are able to take medication while serving, for the most part, an applicant with ADHD is not able to take medication immediately prior to enlisting and while on active duty.
Realistically, and perhaps in alignment with the militarys reasoning if a person with ADHD cannot function well and be productive without medication, then they are probably not a good fit for the military. You dont want to be in a combat environment, for example, and run out of medication.
But an individual with ADHD who is being treated with medication is not necessarily too ADHD to be an effective soldier. Again, it all depends on the individual. A good argument can be made that taking the appropriate medication will make a soldier who is already capable into one who is even more capable.
The main benefits of drug therapy for adults with ADHD are significant improvements in attention, concentration, and mental alertness, along with a significant decrease in physical restlessness and impulsivity. Common results from taking the proper ADHD medication are significant increases in efficiency and productivity.
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Military Missing Out On ‘brilliant’ Applicants With Autism
An MP wants more to be done to deal with a “fundamental failure” in the application system.
Britain’s military is losing the opportunity to hire “brilliant minds” due to moves to stop people with autism from applying to join, ministers have been warned.
Conservative MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, whose 19-year-old university student son has Asperger’s syndrome, appealed to the Ministry of Defence to work with her to deal with the “fundamental failure” in the application system.
‘Your Army Needs You’: Army Unveils Latest Recruitment Campaign
3rd January 2019
Speaking during a Commons debate, she added the talents of those people on the autistic spectrum should be employed for the “nation’s good”.
Ms Trevelyan began her speech by saying it was “simply wrong” for autism to be classified as a “mental health disorder”, telling MPs: “I do feel the Government needs to be taking on the global network of conversation that says this is an acceptable way to do it.”
Ms Trevelyan said everyone has mental health, and mental ill health is something specific which requires medical treatment.
She added: “I’m trying really hard to let the MOD let me do some work with them to look at why it is that autistic spectrum disorder is an automatic disbarment at the moment from participating in application to the military in the United Kingdom.
“We have now, because many more, thank goodness, young people are diagnosed, listed it as an automatic disbarment and that shouldn’t be the case.
3rd January 2019
Why The Military Should Consider A Waiver For High
Correction: An error was introduced during the editing process. The author serves in the New York State Guard an unpaid, all-volunteer force and not the National Guard. We regret the error.
Serving in the military is both an honor and a service to those who volunteer in this great country of the United States of America. However, many potential volunteers are disqualified for various reasons, thus the reason for my letter.
I am a 25-year-old man with a four-year college degree in history from Stony Brook University with high-functioning autism. I have been rejected by the Army three times outright just from disclosing my diagnosis. I was also rejected by the Marine Corps twice after disclosing my medical records. I was never given the opportunity to take the ASVAB, nor was I given an opportunity to appeal the decision.
This is a personal fight for me, but this is also a fight for other people with high-functioning autism. For far too long, our right to serve and fight has been denied on the grounds of our disorder we are so much more than that. I was even told by one of my recruiters to hide my diagnosis by not mentioning it. This is wrong. Like the ethnic minority and LGBT service members before us, we shouldnt have to hide who we are when serving.
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Seeing Autism As An Excuse
Yep, we all knew this point was coming. Lets get it over with.
In my last article, I went to great effort to differentiate between autism being a valid reason and being used as an excuse. There are massively important differences. But unfortunately, to the untrained eye tantrums and meltdowns often look similar.
Particularly when combined with the last point- when the autistic family member does not match up with the stereotypes- its only a hop, skip and a jump to youre just using it as an excuse.
This is very damaging, by the way. Partly because theyre being hurtful to a family member with genuine unrecognised struggles, but also because they might actually convince them. And that could lead to an autistic person growing up to believe theyre defective, which is a dreadful thing .