Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi there,
Just wondering, does anyone else feel as though there is zero support out there? I have searched and searched including on this website and it just seems the only real support is for children, parents/guardians/carers of autistic children or severely autistic adults. I am high functioning autistic with a diagnosis in the past couple of years. It feels as though no one cares. Once I got my diagnosis there was zero follow up at all. Nothing. Is it not the people who have always struggled through life and never known why that need support? Of course children and severely autistic people need support, but it feels as though high functioning adults are completely left behind as if because we are high functioning we can cope on our own. I have been completely and utterly lost since graduating university with no direction and no purpose. I am one of the 88% of adults with autism who are out of work, but there is just no support to help those 88%.
I feel like I am slowly going insane and no one seems to care or want to help.
Am I the only one?
Sophie
I haven't read the full thread so if I've missed a reply, or covered something you've already had experience of, apologies.
It's very messy. Getting the diagnosis is the first step (at 46!) - even with that I'm still working with folk at work trying to get them to understand it.
I had three follow-up sessions with a clinical psychologist (I can have more, but it's pricey) and paid for counselling privately. The rest has been this forum, books and whatever webinars and You Tube video's I can get my hands on. Some of the behaviour adjustments, and things I ought do do, are difficult - even now at work I find myself not being disciplined enough with regular breaks or closing down conversations (if I'm absorbed in something - I don't switch off very well). It's much worse when I'm tired - so I'm having to "nudge" myself every day instead of looking at a place I need to be or reach.
In terms of employment support, which I'm guessing is one of the things you're looking for, there is stuff out there - it's knowing where to find it, and finding those employers who are willing to make adjustments (although I've just started to understand how chaotic people are when working together - so my experience in getting those adjustments, which really is just good working practice, has been nigh impossible).
Living Autism has a list of useful links @ https://livingautism.com/ and https://livingautism.com/employment-support-autistic-individuals/
And the NAS has a page @ https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment
You could focus on employers who have signed up to the governments disability confident scheme https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up (Look past the "disability" label- as that's a whole different conversation.The scheme is purely voluntary though, so there's no guarantee of the standard of support).
If in doubt, try some stuff out through volunteering.
If there's local autism charities/social enterprises in your area they may be worth reaching out to. Your council should have a list of ones in your area.
Not to forget some universities do lifelong career support. If there's on regret I had after graduating it was not making enough (any) use of mine. I spent a while looking for the ideal job and then decided to settle for one that would pay the bills. There's a few regrets in there but in terms of security I'm in a good place.
The sense of feeling lost post graduation I'd suggest isn't uncommon - but is probably exacerbated by your autism. If possible counselling may help to give you a starting point - my therapist was invaluable only in that there was someone there to listen without judgement which was enough to get me going and get me back to work.
E