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Is there anyone who is self-employed?

Leona26

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about self-employment in the autistic community. We often hear about barriers to employment, but not as much about autistic people starting their own businesses or being self-employed. 

  • Do you know some programs that can offer entrepreneurial training for autistic people?

  • Is it that the stories just aren’t being shared enough?

  • How can we get funds?
Parents

  • Hi Leona26, I am self-employed in the same kind of area you are interested in (although I was forced into it through being made unemployed..... again).

    Take5 has good advice about starting small and keeping costs down, it is possible to do this. Like whiteD404 I struggle with self-promotion and the selling side of things which means my income will never be as good as those who are shouty people!

    There is a local business hub here that gives business advice and can offer free (?) office space for meeting clients. I got a 100% grant from the county council to buy equipment and tech but they aren't well advertised so it might be worth contacting their local funding team?

    Sant**der offer free business banking.

    Let me know if you want any practical/making advice.

Reply

  • Hi Leona26, I am self-employed in the same kind of area you are interested in (although I was forced into it through being made unemployed..... again).

    Take5 has good advice about starting small and keeping costs down, it is possible to do this. Like whiteD404 I struggle with self-promotion and the selling side of things which means my income will never be as good as those who are shouty people!

    There is a local business hub here that gives business advice and can offer free (?) office space for meeting clients. I got a 100% grant from the county council to buy equipment and tech but they aren't well advertised so it might be worth contacting their local funding team?

    Sant**der offer free business banking.

    Let me know if you want any practical/making advice.

Children
  • in reply to Boika

    Hi, thanks so much for your message — it’s really helpful to hear from someone in a similar field. I also find self-promotion hard, so it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one!

    That business hub and grant sound amazing — how did you hear about it? I’ve been looking around but it’s hard to tell what’s actually available.

    I do have one worry though — if I try self-employment and it doesn’t work out, do you think it would be hard to get back into regular employment? That thought has been holding me back a bit.

    Thanks again!