ASD.. Don't know what it is... Just ask me, I'm an expert!

I know a lot of autistic adults.. in fact, you might call me an expert on them....

Since moving to a more rural setting some time ago, I have noticed the prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder amongst my 'peers'...  Obviously these folk haven't been formally diagnosed... but with my extensive experience I can spot 'em at 50 paces.

ASD is typically characterised by a number of 'issues',
1/ social interaction
2/communication
3/restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behaviour interests and activities

The majority of people I have worked beside 'in the country' have fallen into this definition.

I have been asked to move an ambulance eight (8) times, only to end up back where I parked it in the first place, and when I had the audacity to roll my eyes and ask, 'Where would you like it?' (I had several dark, anatomical places in mind!) the person barking the orders adopted a sarcastic tone and said, "What do you think?"

What do I think?  What do I think?  I think where I had it parked in the first place was best.  It was easy to get the stretcher in and out, it was safe, and it was 10 feet away... that's what I think! But instead, knowing I was dealing with yet ANOTHER undiagnosed ASD sufferer, I just replied, "Whatever's easiest for you, buddy!"... I even had the patients husband come up to me and tell me to 'just do what he says as 'some men are ALWAYS right!'... Embarrassing?  A bit... but I am getting used to it.

Another colleague felt he had to tell me to 'slow down' on the freeway.. it was a straight bit of road, daylight, dry and I was doing 120kms... He was male and I am not... Clearly 3/ Stereotyped behaviour.

Lately I have been working with the 'Barker'.  I am not to interact with the patients at all... I am to 'Get the Bed'.  'Get the bag'.  or 'Get ready to go'.  This suits me fine, except when I am supposed to be attending to the patient and writing up the paper work!  

Things are just done differently when isollated.  Drugs go out of date, people forget their manners and common place checks are ignored.  A Station Officer once told me not to replace a half empty oxygen cylinder, "Patients need VENTILATION NOT OXYGENATION", he had said. ( WTF???????)

I worked with a couple of 'instructors'.  Both were amongst the most uncommunicative people I have ever met.  I asked for clarification on a couple of clinical issues, and was told to 'look it up'.  Another, I asked where the shoe polish was, and he took it as an opportunity to put me down in front of a couple of other peers.  It made me feel small.  Obviously, he was compensating for something!

What goes around comes around.  Do you ever find yourself wondering what sort of childhoods people had?  If my instincts are correct, they are a motley bunch with bad histories....

Thats the kind of person this job attracts.  The moody, objectionable, sometimes helpful and loyal types.  It is a fine job.  And it takes ALL types to get it done right, most of the time.