In my last job I was working in a state employment capacity. While I was not diagnosed as on the spectrum until very late in my work career, there had always been indicators that I was not neurotypical. Working 4 the people I did in that last job, they were happy with my abilities they were happy with my work product, but they had a difficult time with my personality. This came not only from my coworkers but also from management. They wanted me to have a smile plastered on my face the entire time I was there, and to participate in voluntary group activities that I had no interest in. They created an adverse environment for me to feel comfortable in. While I could have really raised the roof and gone the legal way to make them change, it would have taken such a toll on me. I would like to hope that I paved the way for others by the way that I was able to progress in that job. But it's very difficult when there is a mindset of everybody has to fit in. It's been proven time and time again that not everybody does.
Ginger

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well guys for the record I have just come thru a very torrid time of planning my suicide due to severe depression and anxieties brought on by the following.
5 weeks I had a massive hemorrhage fro 2 varicose veins which I hit by accident whilst waiting for a smoothies I felt cold liquid on my leg and looked down and saw a pool of blood .I took off to the local doctors and argued with the receptionist to get a doctor I am bleeding out she was more worried about correct paper work .then the doctor was a numbnuts I knew more about my condition and to immediately to elevate my legs to stop the bleeding and I had 15 stitches put into both veins to stop the bleeding no chance of getting to Ed AND TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF BLOOD THINNERS.
I then had 2 wars with 3 prominent autistics in Australia and new Zealand and got very depressed and preached at and rejected and isolated and then euthanatized George my cat and got told off for asking for help from my fellow autistics we don't help see your local mental health team or go to hospital . so I gave up hope and purpose dear usernameca one of the few to keep hanging in with me or would of been dead.
whats this to do with employment unfortunately we still face a world of suspicion abuse denigration and isolation being hassled and bullied in the workplace .we must skill and equip ourselves in my case I found my niche thru working in small pathology teams and morgue work and pathology .I also teach .we must develop resilience to handle things and to be aware its a dog eat dog world even in the work place .people are competitive intimidator and controlling and how ones overcomes that lord knows .in addition with the current American politicians making choices for their cronies and influencers and not to build a country and care for fellow Americans. I am an aussie I can see and read more than those whom live within your borders

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I am so sorry that you have been through so many difficult experiences, @sirgalahad, but I'm glad to read your post.

How are you doing now?

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Thanks for responding. Can I ask, what was a job you applied for that you think was a good fit, looking back? Also, was it a Mayo psychiatrist who diagnosed you? If I knew what I know now, I probably would have spent most of my life staying home, watching TV. I'm not kidding. So it's a good thing that I didn't know what I know now. 🙂

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me sanguine now scared how quickly my brain switched to planning suicide and organizing it amazing to look back . the new meds and mood stabilizer are helping but I have noticed after sleeping I always wake depressed and grumpy and unsure why going to sleep is making me like this .I will figure it out maybe need to take a mood stabilizer when I goto sleep .
I sadly found how judgmental autistic people as well as able bodied persons and no support but ignoring what I was crying out about .took me effort to get to my psychiatrist twice to fix myself . I have had over the years so many autistics reaching out to me to support them and being kind and finding help .when it was my turn very few auties mainly able bodies

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well guys for the record I have just come thru a very torrid time of planning my suicide due to severe depression and anxieties brought on by the following.
5 weeks I had a massive hemorrhage fro 2 varicose veins which I hit by accident whilst waiting for a smoothies I felt cold liquid on my leg and looked down and saw a pool of blood .I took off to the local doctors and argued with the receptionist to get a doctor I am bleeding out she was more worried about correct paper work .then the doctor was a numbnuts I knew more about my condition and to immediately to elevate my legs to stop the bleeding and I had 15 stitches put into both veins to stop the bleeding no chance of getting to Ed AND TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF BLOOD THINNERS.
I then had 2 wars with 3 prominent autistics in Australia and new Zealand and got very depressed and preached at and rejected and isolated and then euthanatized George my cat and got told off for asking for help from my fellow autistics we don't help see your local mental health team or go to hospital . so I gave up hope and purpose dear usernameca one of the few to keep hanging in with me or would of been dead.
whats this to do with employment unfortunately we still face a world of suspicion abuse denigration and isolation being hassled and bullied in the workplace .we must skill and equip ourselves in my case I found my niche thru working in small pathology teams and morgue work and pathology .I also teach .we must develop resilience to handle things and to be aware its a dog eat dog world even in the work place .people are competitive intimidator and controlling and how ones overcomes that lord knows .in addition with the current American politicians making choices for their cronies and influencers and not to build a country and care for fellow Americans. I am an aussie I can see and read more than those whom live within your borders

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well guys for the record I have just come thru a very torrid time of planning my suicide due to severe depression and anxieties brought on by the following.
5 weeks I had a massive hemorrhage fro 2 varicose veins which I hit by accident whilst waiting for a smoothies I felt cold liquid on my leg and looked down and saw a pool of blood .I took off to the local doctors and argued with the receptionist to get a doctor I am bleeding out she was more worried about correct paper work .then the doctor was a numbnuts I knew more about my condition and to immediately to elevate my legs to stop the bleeding and I had 15 stitches put into both veins to stop the bleeding no chance of getting to Ed AND TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF BLOOD THINNERS.
I then had 2 wars with 3 prominent autistics in Australia and new Zealand and got very depressed and preached at and rejected and isolated and then euthanatized George my cat and got told off for asking for help from my fellow autistics we don't help see your local mental health team or go to hospital . so I gave up hope and purpose dear usernameca one of the few to keep hanging in with me or would of been dead.
whats this to do with employment unfortunately we still face a world of suspicion abuse denigration and isolation being hassled and bullied in the workplace .we must skill and equip ourselves in my case I found my niche thru working in small pathology teams and morgue work and pathology .I also teach .we must develop resilience to handle things and to be aware its a dog eat dog world even in the work place .people are competitive intimidator and controlling and how ones overcomes that lord knows .in addition with the current American politicians making choices for their cronies and influencers and not to build a country and care for fellow Americans. I am an aussie I can see and read more than those whom live within your borders

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@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

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As you can see @sirgalahad there are many of us who are here for you.

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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.

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Hi @usernameca,

I'm also tagging Mentor @mamacita @sirgalahad to bring them into this conversation.

Along with advocating, I do think that educating people and employers, about the benefits of hiring those on the autism spectrum, is crucial as well. People are hesitant because they are unfamiliar with how a person with autism will perform on a job. Employers need to be made aware about the tremendous skills that those with autism can bring to the work place.

Another reason education is important is that today's work culture has shifted focus to include communication and 'social' skills, as criteria for hiring – and from what I've learned, on Connect and elsewhere, this is not easy for many on the autism spectrum. So, if employers or interviewers are educated and can understand the behavior or actions of a potential candidate who may have autism, the process and the opportunity for getting a job would be far better.

These are just my thoughts, and I'd really like to learn more from all your insights.

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