Autism & the difficulty of getting & doing a job

I can give you many suggestions but not sure if all will apply to you. His ability to find a job might depend on the type of work he seeks, his schedule, his transportation and the geographic area. In general, he should network as much as possible. If he's not comfortable doing it in person, he can do it on social sites. He should join LinkedIn Alumni groups for his college and also for his major. He can then post the type of work/schedule he's seeking. Also, check local unemployment offices for postings, staffing firms if he has full days available to work, etc. He can search using the term part time or internship (some are paid). He can also check local Facebook groups about jobs. Of course, he should work with his college's placement office as well. There are some staffing firms that work with individuals having disabilities if he wants to self identify and work with them. I hope this is helpful if there are any specific queries you have do not hesitate to ask.

To piggyback on what @calypso said, the website indeed.com could be a valuable source for positions.
Ginger

gingerw sorries imissed this post but i was very deep indoodoo of depression and suicidal thoughts .sorries bear hugs right now i can offer u a shoulder whilst you work thru your own distress after a 1,000 oak shooting and the fires ,.tajke care hugs and i hope you are back home or some where safe and secure and not in your car

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I heartily agree with you, dear @usernameca. I am retired now, and work only on a volunteer basis. I did not know until very late in the game that I was wired differently than 99.9% of all my co-workers and employers. I remember very clearly the day I sat in the "break" room and reslized, to my horror, that I was not understanding a word that they were saying!

Now, you must understand that I have always had a gift of understanding people with foreign accents. I grew up in a multi cultural environment and quickly jumped on board with a huge desire to understand orhers. But in that room, that day, I felt like I was from another planet.

I was in despair. I had no idea what was going on with me. I had never been around people who spoke that way. I honestly didn't think I would survive rhere. My phone us dying. I must go now, but I will be back to tell you the rest of you story.

Have an Ausome day, me lovelies!

Mamacita

People at work teased each other unmercifully. It was the worst example of it that I had ever seen. What I didn't realize was that it was their normal. It was how they dealt with the stress of dealing with fifty juvenile delinquents five days a week

That job, which I detested at first, came to be the place where I was the happiest. I was forced to shed some layers, grow a backbone, and learn how to speak the language. I kept my own identity, but I learned to relax a bit. I started becoming comfortable in my own skin.

Talk with you later. Gotta close my eyes for a bit!

Mamacita

Just stopping by to thank you all here for starting this discussion/group. I am thrilled that there is the opportunity under such competent leadership to express one's opinions, share facts, and tell the stories of how they overcame. Sometimes, most of the time, actually, there are many struggles and challenges. That does not pose a problem . There are always mountains to be crossed, no matter who we are or where we are in life. I have had many interesting jobs in my 66 years. I am not done yet. If I can make it, anyone can. With the right support, training, and work skills, there are opportunities available. We need to all work together to support one another.

Talk to you soon!

Mamacita

@harleneq Hi there! You had posted about your son having difficulty finding a job, and that he has been diagnosed with autism. Has he found a position that is a good fit for him? If so, can you share any tips that helped him be successful? And how are you doing with your support of him? It must be difficult to watch your child struggle, isn't it? Working can be such a rewarding experience, but sometimes the wrong fit has just the opposite effect.
Ginger

@usernameca How has your job hunt been going? Are there any good tips you can share with us? Having meaningful work is important to everyone, and being on the autism spectrum means we sometimes have to have special concessions to be comfortable!
Ginger

Hi @gingerw, my stepson has been diagnosed with autism. He is in his 30s now. He has a mild case of autism so it is difficult for people who once meet him to see his disability. A person will not notice unless they have several interactions with him. It is very limiting and challenging. Each person with autism is slightly different from another as some have a behavior more pronounced where it becomes an infatuation. With my stepson his is watching shows and movies particularly superheroes. He can recite the words in those shows. He sees them over and over. His discussions are all about movies and shows because that is his interest. He has had jobs over the years but nothing long lasting. It is difficult to find a job that fits his interest. So far any jobs involving thinking he cannot do like restocking shelves because he had to know and give counts or cashier. He has also tried driving a van. It is difficult seeing him struggle but he chooses not to listen to any advice. He probably can’t follow advice. He has learned it is much easier for him to say “yes” although he doesn’t understand rather than to listen to explanations. People who don’t know him think he understands the simplest things when he does not. This continually gets him into trouble. I know of another older woman who has similar traits. She wants people to believe she can understand to do things just like my stepson. Toni