With regret, I no longer have a volunteering job, or any job at all. This is because recently, I was unfairly dismissed by two insensitive managers at two different establishments. I say unfairly, because on both occasions I was just behaving like I normally do as an autistic, and yet both these charity shops (Oxfam and Cancer Research UK) are used to having volunteers on the spectrum. I am a veteran volunteer, and when I started out doing this, I very rarely had this kind of ill treatment or prejudice. If i had a meltdown, or a.semblance of one, they would just ask 'are you ok?' rather than say 'behave yourself and stop acting like a child!' I am just being who I am - they are the ones with the problem.
For me, charity work is harder to find now than ever. With my wealth of experience, I was sure I would have a good chance of getting a new job at a new charity, but they dont seem to give a monkey about me any more. They only seem interested in neurotypical "normal" people, in the belief that they are more reliable and generally more ABLE.
I'm tired of this feeling of not having a purpose. Volunteering has given me a purpose and a chance to contribute to society, but now all I see are doors slamming in my face. I may never get out of this.
