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?
