Autism & the difficulty of getting & doing a job
Have you noticed it is difficult to get hired? And if you do get hired, have you noticed how it's almost impossible to do the job? If people with Autism don't stand up for their rights, no one else is going to. And in my opinion, no one has.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autism (ASD) Support Group.
@usernameca My diagnosis did not come from Mayo. Looking back, there were jobs in radically different environments and fields. Each one challenged me at the time, and fulfilled a need at that time. The job I had the longest was training racehorses. In other times, I was an accountant, oil field worker, veterinary technician, law enforcement support, and worked for the court system in California. No position was "cookie cutter".
Ginger
@sirgalahad Everyone around this cyber table is here for you. Please let me know how I may help?
Ginger
@sirgalahad I for one, am glad you did not follow through with that plan. How scary for you! Our minds often work at warp speed, so fast the thoughts tumble faster than we can make sense of them. Hoping you are feeling better, and can see the lightness every day. I had a saying on my board, that said something like "there is no strong shadow without much light". And the reverse holds true, also.
Ginger
As you can see @sirgalahad there are many of us who are here for you.
I didn't know I was autistic, am autistic. I.m 64 years old. Diagnosed bipolar 14 years ago. Never tested or whatever 4 autistic. But my mother can list the symptoms still - NO touching #1. Still my #1. No noise. When I was young, even in elementary school, if I was involved in a project - LEAVE ME ALONE. On the positive side, I've gotten super jobs in computer research, night jobs with FEW people, people like me. Find a high tech computer lab - Intel, HewletPackard, DEll. Don't TELL them you're autistic. Just flaunt your capabilities. SHOW them what you can do. They'll snap you up, pay you big bucks and be grateful.
thanks gingerw bear hugs
bear hugs and cuddles and thanks heaps
I appreciate your post, @stlouisgmajenn, because it sounds as if you have learned to make the most of your abilities and to find the right fit in your employment.
You are correct! People fear the unknown so unless they have had experience with a disability or a diverse individual they will not "get it". Good news is that many many companies are moving towards diversity hiring initiatives. Not only to hire but to educate their current employees, understand accommodations, etc. It is a slow process because of so many people involved but at conferences, etc. all the buzz is about this and how to make the change etc. Hope is on the horizon!
Thank you for your forum for this particular topic.My 22 y.o. son,who is in his 3rd yr of college is having the toughest time finding a job.I forgot to mention has high functioning autism.If you have any suggestions, please leave me a message.Thankyou kindly.