The obsession with getting us back into work

I'm not sure if this is just me. Although, a few people at the local Autism group have said the same.

I am currently on ESA due to a mixture of disabilities, including Autism and hearing and sight impairments. Because I'm in the support group, the job centre have left me alone. (as per the letter they sent me in November)

My "support worker" (who agreed with some silly woman that I'm not Autistic and thinks it's ok to take me somewhere noisy) keeps telling I need to find work. But why? It's not as if I spent my time doing nothing. I run, I'm currently self-teaching (with some help soon, hopefully) Spanish and am hoping that soon a friend can help me with my GCSE English.

At a local Autism group I attend, we were talking about this Autism strategy and it seems to mention work a lot. The current stats are, that only 15% of people on the spectrum are employed. But that stat (well, the 85% who aren't employed) includes people right across the spectrum and those like me with physical disabilities on top of having Autism.

It seems that these so-called professionals want people with Autism back to work. Yet, they won't give us support for our issues which means we could possibly work.

Attitudes from other people doesn't help this at all.

Parents
  • It's not just you. I am quite recently on esa for autism, deafness, mental stuff and recovery from serious illness. Also my son is autistic and has its' related mental health issues which means I am classed as a carer too. I do `permitted' work - that helps to keep my self-employed business alive and helps me also.I've been waiting 8 months now for my ATOS medical so am yet to find out where I am placed. Like you I've recieved loads of advice - lots of it conflicting - and I now describe my  autism outreach worker as `out of reach, out of touch'.

    Attitudes from others are detrimental to say the least. And apparently myself and my son are too high functioning to be "autistic". 

    Many brick walls, many rivers, etc. We'll get there someday yet. x

Reply
  • It's not just you. I am quite recently on esa for autism, deafness, mental stuff and recovery from serious illness. Also my son is autistic and has its' related mental health issues which means I am classed as a carer too. I do `permitted' work - that helps to keep my self-employed business alive and helps me also.I've been waiting 8 months now for my ATOS medical so am yet to find out where I am placed. Like you I've recieved loads of advice - lots of it conflicting - and I now describe my  autism outreach worker as `out of reach, out of touch'.

    Attitudes from others are detrimental to say the least. And apparently myself and my son are too high functioning to be "autistic". 

    Many brick walls, many rivers, etc. We'll get there someday yet. x

Children
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