The IT industry and autism
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
There's an interesting article over at Computer World New Zealand discussing something I hadn't thought about much before. It says the IT industry is uniquely attractive for people with Asperger's and autism, then gives a few examples of such people. To be honest, I haven't come across many myself, but maybe that's because I've worked mainly in big corporates and not software shops.
"Where statistics come up short, anecdote is happy to take up the slack," it says. "Ask an Asperger's-aware techie if there is indeed a connection between AS and IT, and you're likely to get 'affirmative, Captain'."
It also gives a useful definition of the two disorders, with a history of both of them.
Have others noticed this? Does the theory hold water?
Read the full post at Computer World NZ.
Paul Knapp (editor@brainbox.com.au)
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Definitely a linkAnd not just only techies - Info tech managers as well. More accurately - techies tended towards autism and managers tended towards schizophrenia or bi-polar. UnemployedITer, 06/24/2008 08:55:58 PM
Not a laughing matterDon't joke about mental illness. They are all serious disabilities and shouldn't be trivilised for the purposes of having a go at workers in the IT industry Yoda, 06/25/2008 01:04:02 AM
Hey YodaWho said I was joking? UnemployedITer, 06/25/2008 01:09:26 AM
Ominous propaganda Ominous propaganda Article indirectly implies, that most of IT workers are retarded cripples, who should be grateful just to be employed at all. And should not expect decent pay, promotion etc. Very much like in 90s-80s blue collar workers has been called “lazy, fat, dumb, broom pushers” etc.. bstd, 06/25/2008 07:31:31 PM
Silicon Valley and Asperger'sIndeed, about a decade ago, a link was made between Silicon Valley and Asperger's. If IT is a field where people with Asperger's can thrive and can contribute to without being discriminated, or put into a box, I think that is a good thing. A, 07/28/2008 11:31:58 AM
Engineers and Technical PewopleThis link has been made for many engineering and technical roles. It is related to their intense concentration to the task at hand. A disability is only a disability if it disables. How can being suited to IT or Engineering but not Sales and Marketing be a disability? Actually, many in the sales industry have a simular thing. It's called Narcissism. This is fact, not a joke. Which would you prefer? Anon, 08/01/2008 07:51:05 AM
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