• 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

  • Hi Laddo,

    I know exactly how you feel and I have been the same in all my jobs, can socialise for a while and then it gets too much when its all day, especially when you can sense people expect you to naturally be a good socialiser and dont know of your Aspergers'. It is definetely more about social skills than being good at the job unfortunately, I think it is extremely unfair that its like that because its discriminative against people on the Autistic spectrum. This is the problem with a mental disability is that its not noticable and you dont get sympathy compared to someone with a disfigurement or in a wheelchair etc.

    Dont let the nasty collegues get you down, usually they are just trying to distract attention from themself because they have flaws and secretly low self-esteem about themselves, hopefully they will get the same treatment down the line.
    If you know you are doing good work then I think the manager should take action against them because its discrimination and bullying. It would be nice if everyone could accept each other for being different because it would be so boring if everyone was the same! I dont think there is enough awareness of Aspergers' or Autism and this is what I think causes peoples judgemental behavior also because they just assume that people on the AS are behaving a certain way on purpose or that they are unsociable because they are weird, I really wish there was a way we could raise awareness, and fast!

    I think employment and finding a relationship are two things that is definetely difficult for people on the AS but is not impossible if people are thoughtful and kind hearted to give chances for these things and acceptance of differences. It is for sure illegal for employers to directly discriminate yes, they cant turn you down for a job and tell you to your face it is because you have Aspergers' why im not hiring you, but yes it happens all the time, people get turned down for silly things like being too loud or over friendly or even not likeable is a common one. Often they will turn you down if you click on the box on the application that yes you in fact have a disability and it is Aspergers' Syndrome as its called on most job or apprenticeship applications; But they will never specify a reason, only 'other' reason.

    Laddo, I am very tired of this whole work situation too my friend, these employers should be looking for someone who does the job well, but instead very often go for personality (over intelligence or qualifications/competence) and a lot of the time looks!!! I worked for a company before in a warehouse (no names!) and they kept on hiring female staff who were young and to be honest all attractive, it is biased!!!
    Its not our fault if we are not as sociable but we are usually good at logical thinking wouldnt you say? Also we like things done the way they should be done am I right?

    I think to do something big you must start small, how about a facebook or twitter page for people who are on the AS to meet and chat.

    It would be amazing if people with Aspergers' and Autism could live and feel normal, its the way others treat us I think that make us feel either normal or different/weird.
    Anxiety is probably the most common trait of it along with poor communication, no?
    Being lonely and feeling yourself is to blame is horrible, does anyone else ever see groups of people who just chat chat chat and seem like they are just doing it without even thinking about it, I wonder "how the hell do they do it"!!!!

Reply

  • Hi Laddo,

    I know exactly how you feel and I have been the same in all my jobs, can socialise for a while and then it gets too much when its all day, especially when you can sense people expect you to naturally be a good socialiser and dont know of your Aspergers'. It is definetely more about social skills than being good at the job unfortunately, I think it is extremely unfair that its like that because its discriminative against people on the Autistic spectrum. This is the problem with a mental disability is that its not noticable and you dont get sympathy compared to someone with a disfigurement or in a wheelchair etc.

    Dont let the nasty collegues get you down, usually they are just trying to distract attention from themself because they have flaws and secretly low self-esteem about themselves, hopefully they will get the same treatment down the line.
    If you know you are doing good work then I think the manager should take action against them because its discrimination and bullying. It would be nice if everyone could accept each other for being different because it would be so boring if everyone was the same! I dont think there is enough awareness of Aspergers' or Autism and this is what I think causes peoples judgemental behavior also because they just assume that people on the AS are behaving a certain way on purpose or that they are unsociable because they are weird, I really wish there was a way we could raise awareness, and fast!

    I think employment and finding a relationship are two things that is definetely difficult for people on the AS but is not impossible if people are thoughtful and kind hearted to give chances for these things and acceptance of differences. It is for sure illegal for employers to directly discriminate yes, they cant turn you down for a job and tell you to your face it is because you have Aspergers' why im not hiring you, but yes it happens all the time, people get turned down for silly things like being too loud or over friendly or even not likeable is a common one. Often they will turn you down if you click on the box on the application that yes you in fact have a disability and it is Aspergers' Syndrome as its called on most job or apprenticeship applications; But they will never specify a reason, only 'other' reason.

    Laddo, I am very tired of this whole work situation too my friend, these employers should be looking for someone who does the job well, but instead very often go for personality (over intelligence or qualifications/competence) and a lot of the time looks!!! I worked for a company before in a warehouse (no names!) and they kept on hiring female staff who were young and to be honest all attractive, it is biased!!!
    Its not our fault if we are not as sociable but we are usually good at logical thinking wouldnt you say? Also we like things done the way they should be done am I right?

    I think to do something big you must start small, how about a facebook or twitter page for people who are on the AS to meet and chat.

    It would be amazing if people with Aspergers' and Autism could live and feel normal, its the way others treat us I think that make us feel either normal or different/weird.
    Anxiety is probably the most common trait of it along with poor communication, no?
    Being lonely and feeling yourself is to blame is horrible, does anyone else ever see groups of people who just chat chat chat and seem like they are just doing it without even thinking about it, I wonder "how the hell do they do it"!!!!

Children
No Data