• Replies 12 replies
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 2274 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Creating work opportunities for people with ASDs

Laddo

Like many people with ASDs, I struggle to find work. Once I get a job, I usually struggle to stay in it due to the huge demand to be sociable constantly at work. I generally end up managing okay for a few months, then getting overwhelmed and having a breakdown. I also have issues with nastier members of staff victimising me and constantly singling me out to criticise my work, regardless of how well I actually do it. Now I can imagine that many of you have experienced similar problems to me - after all, supposedly 80% of people with ASDs are not in long-term employment. In theory, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against us but often it is not the case in reality.

I am personally pretty tired of it. I want to work, I want to contribute to society, but I feel so held back by the way other people perceive me and my poor social skills. I have been wanting to do something charitable, something big for a while but haven't been too sure what to do. Now I've had an idea. I would like to see some kind of organisation set up that gives us the opportunities we deserve. Something that genuinely recognises people's individual strengths instead of judging them for supposed weaknesses. Somewhere that people with ASDs can not feel judged and not have to worry about the social pressures of today's working life. I was thinking that with the help and support of various different charities, this has a chance of working. What are your thoughts on this?

Parents

  • Well I wasn't really thinking of a separate state for us per se, more an organisation where our strengths are recognised over our weaknesses. There is a cafe I know of on the island of Anglesey which primarily employs people with disabilities I think. I'm thinking of something like that, but on a much larger scale. It is interesting to note that companies like Tesco - which have a very strong focus on "customer service" and being "social" - proclaim themselves to be "disability friendly" while in fact they are not. People with disabilities rarely last very long in these sorts of companies as they are generally ousted by intolerant staff and management. However, they are seen by the general public and the government in a good light for claiming they are "disablity friendly" despite this being far from the truth.

    I propose that if an organisation is set up which primarily employs disabled people including those with ASDs and treats them with respect and focuses on their strengths, other companies may follow suit and begin to treat people with disabilities in the same way. If other companies see the value in hiring disabled people, as opposed to instantly rejecting them as unfit for work, things may just begin to change for the better.

    In the case of start-up capital, that is why I think the backing of several charities would be essential to create such an organisation. The government may follow suit after that and be willing to grant a business loan. I intend to contact various charities including NAS directly about this. If I can gain enough support, I will go from there

Reply

  • Well I wasn't really thinking of a separate state for us per se, more an organisation where our strengths are recognised over our weaknesses. There is a cafe I know of on the island of Anglesey which primarily employs people with disabilities I think. I'm thinking of something like that, but on a much larger scale. It is interesting to note that companies like Tesco - which have a very strong focus on "customer service" and being "social" - proclaim themselves to be "disability friendly" while in fact they are not. People with disabilities rarely last very long in these sorts of companies as they are generally ousted by intolerant staff and management. However, they are seen by the general public and the government in a good light for claiming they are "disablity friendly" despite this being far from the truth.

    I propose that if an organisation is set up which primarily employs disabled people including those with ASDs and treats them with respect and focuses on their strengths, other companies may follow suit and begin to treat people with disabilities in the same way. If other companies see the value in hiring disabled people, as opposed to instantly rejecting them as unfit for work, things may just begin to change for the better.

    In the case of start-up capital, that is why I think the backing of several charities would be essential to create such an organisation. The government may follow suit after that and be willing to grant a business loan. I intend to contact various charities including NAS directly about this. If I can gain enough support, I will go from there

Children
No Data