I've been unemployed for over seven years.
I worked for years without any gaps, but I was fired (wrongful termination) when the economy went under and my autism worsened considerably as a result of unemployment - I can no longer use a telephone and struggle around people, as you know interviews are also heavily biased against Autistic people (body language, eye contact, knowing what to say or what to keep to yourself, etc).
One of the biggest issues is the employment gap, and lack of references that comes with it - I've tried getting voluntary work but I've been told I can't even get a voluntary job without references (long-term unemployment and my last two employers no longer exist), also being Autistic I also don't have personal references either. No job without references, no references without a job!
I can't go back into my old roles because they involved telephone work which I just can't do any more, I can barely be in the same room with a telephone without meltdown. I've no idea what sort of work I could apply for, ideally I'd love to go to work in community services roles helping vulnerable people in some way and I know I could do it...if I only knew how to get into it, if I only had a chance of being hired. I know that once I'm working again my autism will improve and I'll be fine, it's just getting there.
I desperately need help to get back into work: I need to know how to explain the employment gap, get references, also guidance on what jobs to apply for or help finding courses I could do in order to get into the sort of work I want to do. Unemployment schemes only teach basics like 'How to write a CV' rather than addressing barriers like mine to help me back into work. In the mean time I get hell from the job centre for not being able to get back into work, my latest advisor threatens me with sanctions and doesn't accept that the 'help' the job centre provides is not appropriate...I'm also scared to tell them this or tell employment schemes what I need because it seems this is used as a means of attacking me rather than to help me.
I've tried various volunteer organisations but they start off telling me all these opportunities and options I have, only for them to gradually stop communicating with me and so nothing ever comes of it - I'm scared of even trying to contact them again because it's been so long since I've attempted to contact them and I've no idea how to re-establish contact when they seem unwilling to assist me. I've also been referred to organisations such as Shaws Trust and Remploy, they were unable to help me because no one seems to know anything past the basic stuff of 'How to write a CV'.
I'm beyond sick of unemployment, it completely destroyed my life.