Merged Arday life and death

[Vixen]

Sure, its not an extraordinary claim by Arday that he was autistic, but in his case, I need at least some ordinary evidence because his word has shown to be not evidence at all.

So many analogies that work here. I say I live in Colorado at 10 feet above sea level, why even believe that I live in Colorado? I say I got my pilots wings with one leg and then became an astronaut, why believe I'm a pilot or even only have one leg.

You were hired as a professor at Cambridge claiming pilots wings with one leg and then became an astronaut? You think that's equivalent to claiming being on the spectrum of ASD and running marathons...?

 

[ahhell]

You were hired as a professor at Cambridge claiming pilots wings with one leg and then became an astronaut? You think that's equivalent to claiming being on the spectrum of ASD and running marathons...?

If that was all he had been claiming, no.

 

[SpitfireIX]

He told his story as being an aspirational one. You know? Rather like the pilot with no legs (Douglas Bader) succeeding in getting his wings?

Is there anything you can't get wrong? Bader was already a fully qualified RAF pilot when he lost his legs (one above the knee and one below) in an air crash in late 1931. As soon as he'd recovered and become proficient with his artificial legs, he demonstrated that he was still fully capable of piloting an aircraft. The RAF initially decided to put him back on flight status, but this decision was reversed due to ambiguity in the regulations. With the outbreak of WWII, however, and the great need for pilots, he was reluctantly allowed to undergo refresher training and eventually qualified to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes. Not only were his artificial legs not any kind of a hindrance, some experts believe that they actually gave him an advantage in aerial combat by allowing him to endure higher G forces.

 

[theprestige]

You were hired as a professor at Cambridge claiming pilots wings with one leg and then became an astronaut? You think that's equivalent to claiming being on the spectrum of ASD and running marathons...?

Name Jason Arday's three most important post-doctorate achievements. Bonus points if two of them aren't "was autistic" and "was black".

 

[theprestige]

But honestly I'm willing to consider narratives along the lines of Arday being hired in spite of his handicaps and lack of qualifications, because there's a war on, and Cambridge needs a body in every professorship, whether they can fly or not.

Only somehow Cambridge set him up to be a kamikaze for the other side.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Is there anything you can't get wrong? Bader was already a fully qualified RAF pilot when he lost his legs (one above the knee and one below) in an air crash in late 1931. As soon as he'd recovered and become proficient with his artificial legs, he demonstrated that he was still fully capable of piloting an aircraft. The RAF initially decided to put him back on flight status, but this decision was reversed due to ambiguity in the regulations. With the outbreak of WWII, however, and the great need for pilots, he was reluctantly allowed to undergo refresher training and eventually qualified to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes. Not only were his artificial legs not any kind of a hindrance, some experts believe that they actually gave him an advantage in aerial combat by allowing him to endure higher G forces.

You're going to get a dozen pearl-clutching replies from Vixen about how you hate people without legs.

 

[Vixen]

Is there anything you can't get wrong? Bader was already a fully qualified RAF pilot when he lost his legs (one above the knee and one below) in an air crash in late 1931. As soon as he'd recovered and become proficient with his artificial legs, he demonstrated that he was still fully capable of piloting an aircraft. The RAF initially decided to put him back on flight status, but this decision was reversed due to ambiguity in the regulations. With the outbreak of WWII, however, and the great need for pilots, he was reluctantly allowed to undergo refresher training and eventually qualified to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes. Not only were his artificial legs not any kind of a hindrance, some experts believe that they actually gave him an advantage in aerial combat by allowing him to endure higher G forces.

The key word was 'aspirational', not 'legs'.

You know? An example to others of how you overcame an obstacle..? You know, the guy with the thorn in his side... who learnt to live with it?

That is why Professor Arday gave it large about his disadvantaged background as inspiration to others.

 

[Ziggurat]

That is why Professor Arday gave it large about his disadvantaged background as inspiration to others.

You're still assuming that he was telling the truth. The obvious alternative possibility is that he lied, and he made a big deal about something that never happened because that "inspiration" helped him get a job he wasn't really qualified for.

 

[Vixen]

You're still assuming that he was telling the truth. The obvious alternative possibility is that he lied, and he made a big deal about something that never happened because that "inspiration" helped him get a job he wasn't really qualified for.

He fit the qualifications and person specifications. Plus at least two interviews.

He DID have a PhD from JMLU.

He WAS on the ASD scale.

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[d4m10n]

He WAS on the ASD scale.

Seems plausible, but no one in a position to confirm the original diagnosis wants to do so just yet.

 

[Emily's Cat]

I never said anything about medical records, which fall under a whole other penumbra of legal protections.

If you give it to your employer, said employer would have information regarding "staff medical conditions [in] personnel files," contra #1,542.

No, they won't. They'll have information that says an employee is disabled. In some cases, they will have information that says the employee's disability is visual, or aural, or mobility-related - since that's the type of accommodation that will be needed. They might have a document from a doctor that says "Alex is disabled and has significantly reduced visual capabilities". They don't get something that says "Alex has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia".

I don't think it is unreasonable (or unlawful) for employers who set aside accessible parking spots to document that said spots are being used by people who really need them in accordance with their current medical condition, rather than, say, someone who borrowed a piece of plastic from their homebound uncle.

They set aside parking spots for people who provide the appropriate documentation that they are disabled and have limited mobility. They don't get something that says they have Muscular Dystrpophy.

 

[Emily's Cat]

I'd have to look up UK law on point, but it's difficult to imagine how an employer could tailor reasonable accommodations to an unspecified condition.

It's not though.

 

[Emily's Cat]

How does someone ask for an accommodation for photosensitive epilepsy without giving away their actual condition? How does an employer document that accommodation without implicitly documenting the condition itself?

"I have a condition that requires limited exposure to fluorescent light. Here's my doctor's affidavit that I need to be seated near a window with natural sunlight, and preferably with the fluorescents above me turned off or blocked."

 

[Emily's Cat]

Bit of a rock and a hard place for Cambridge or any other employer. Whilst there are circumstances in which an employer can require proof of a disability it's fraught with risk of an accusation of illegal discrimination. Also an employee does not have to mention a disability during recruitment even if to do the job they will require reasonable accommodation from day one.

Arday could have mentioned his autism during his recruitment, but practically Cambridge couldn't have asked for proof of that during or after recruitment.

Did Arday even require an accommodation of any sort?

 

[d4m10n]

"I have a condition that requires limited exposure to fluorescent light. Here's my doctor's affidavit that I need to be seated near a window with natural sunlight, and preferably with the fluorescents above me turned off or blocked."

I don't believe that accommodation would actually work for the stipulated condition. Non-strobing fluorescent lights aren't the problem, really.

 

[Emily's Cat]

Cambridge believed his affirmation of a specific diagnosis, but they did not document that claim in their own files during the job search and onboarding process? Pull the other one.

You're really digging a hole here. My employer knew nothing at all about my epilepsy throughout the entire interview and hiring process. My boss didn't even know until a few months in when they arranged a staff party at a place packed full of flashing christmas lights and loud music and I sent them a text saying "I'm out" when I showed up. Nobody has ever asked for medical records to back up my claim of being epileptic, and requesting someone keep an eye on me going down the stairs during fire drills. They simply take my word for it.

 

[d4m10n]

My employer knew nothing at all about my epilepsy throughout the entire interview and hiring process.

Then your situation isn't remotely analogous to Arday, who was quite public about his condition.

 

[theprestige]

"I have a condition that requires limited exposure to fluorescent light. Here's my doctor's affidavit that I need to be seated near a window with natural sunlight, and preferably with the fluorescents above me turned off or blocked."

That's not quite accurate. The doctor would provide the limitations, not propose accommodations. The accommodations, if any, would be worked out between the employer and the employee, based on the stated limitations.

 

[Emily's Cat]

I don't believe that accommodation would actually work for the stipulated condition. Non-strobing fluorescent lights aren't the problem, really.

Are you now a doctor with expertise in epilepsy? Fluorescent lights can flicker as they age, and in at least some people who are photosensitive, they can present a risk. It's a low risk, but it's still a risk. More likely to be a risk for migraines though, tbf.

 

[Emily's Cat]

Then your situation isn't remotely analogous to Arday, who was quite public about his condition.

Yes, I know. But the point stands: actual proof of the condition is not required, and it would be extraordinarily inappropriate for an employer to expect it.