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Phone call to an AS charity left me crying.

Mark

Hi, I’m currently working as a supervisor but lately I’m finding it very hard to deal with. I work in a supermarket so the hours and days are all over the place. And that one thing is, the pay. I can’t afford to move out on the pay and I have no idea what to do. I feel trapped. 

I phoned up a charity to ask if there was anything they could help me with, we talked about my needs and what I find difficult. But the person I spoke to was very rude…I actually left the phone crying. 

I told them about my current job and what I do, her words were “to be honest, I think this is the best it’s going to get for people like you” I asked her what did she mean, she told me most people with AS don’t work jobs as supervisors and that she can only offer me part time low paid jobs. It felt like a dead end for me and i had built up so much courage to phone someone for help. 

I’ve had a really bad panic attack. It’s left me feeling trapped even more. I can’t breathe, I feel selfish for wanting a better job when people with AS don’t work jobs like mine. 

I don’t know what to do now. Who can I go to for some real help? I’m sick of my job and I can’t do it anymore. 

Parents

  • Reading this thread makes me cry because it's so true to life.

    Sitting alone at lunchtime rather than with colleagues. Check.

    Job centre has no idea what to do with my qualifications. Check.

    Employment agency advising me to take totally unsuitable jobs. Check.

    Now I am applying for jobs which don't mention any specific qualifications.  That way I am not lying by missing out my qualifications and I'm not frightening employers by disclosing them.

    I remember being compulsory referred by the job centre to a private employment agency on their back to work schemes.  At my first appointment I was asked about my qualifications and the type of work I am looking for.  I replied honestly that my last full time qualification was a master's degree in Statistics and I'm looking for analyst jobs.  My new employment advisor said we don't have anything like that.  How about sales assistant in  Primark or cook in MacDonalds. 

  • in reply to Robert124

    Don't know what you are doing now but have you considered GORS / GSS. I hated working for the civil service as an analyst but it did help me get my foot in the door employment wise. Also the application process is very structured so if you get good (inside) advice on how to answer questions you can kind of game the application process.

  • in reply to Peter

    Indeed. I've spent my whole career in public service organisations.  They are often more open to E&D generally, with better support from OH if needed.  And for all I had no clue I was Autistic until recently; I found the structure of interviews suited me better.  Now that I am diagnosed and very much out about it at work, I have met with nothing but support and appreciation.  That isn't necessarily so for everyone, I know, but I know if I did have line managers who were negative, the weight of organisational policy for reasonable adjustments etc would be on my side.

    Civil/public service jobs are a good place to start.

Reply
  • in reply to Peter

    Indeed. I've spent my whole career in public service organisations.  They are often more open to E&D generally, with better support from OH if needed.  And for all I had no clue I was Autistic until recently; I found the structure of interviews suited me better.  Now that I am diagnosed and very much out about it at work, I have met with nothing but support and appreciation.  That isn't necessarily so for everyone, I know, but I know if I did have line managers who were negative, the weight of organisational policy for reasonable adjustments etc would be on my side.

    Civil/public service jobs are a good place to start.

Children
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