Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello everyone!
I have just joined this community after completing yet another online self-test for autism.
So far, every online test that I have taken has suggested that I am probably on the spectrum and should consult with a professional about that possibility.
But its only now that I actually feel motivated to do that.
November 30th 2020, will mark four years of unemployment for me.
That's the longest I have been out of work in my entire adult life. I am 47 years old now.
Although there are neurodivergent people who are conventionally very successful in various jobs or business enterprises, I understand that the unemployment rate for people on the spectrum is much higher than that for the general population.
I am hoping that a diagnosis may ultimately lead to a strategy which would get me back into gainful employment.
But not into another call centre!
Been there, done that, don't see myself doing it again.
Although I have developed strong technical interests in my free time over the last couple of years, any job in tech would present precisely the kind of problems which I feel ill equipped to manage.
Working as part of a team, reading social cues, taking and giving feedback in a tactful way, etc.
In my youth, I feel that I was good at "masking" my oddness. But now, in my late forties, I feel that life is too short to pretend to be someone that I am not.
so, as an american, i think autism can qualify one for permanent, lifelong disability from the government - (altho i'm not positive). but, does the uk make special dispensations for asd? it sounds like friendly alien is not dysfunctional enough to NOT be employed, but i'm wondering about others.... in particular, being unemployed for 11 years (markd) would make job hunting quite hard, even for an NT! well, another option is just to try to get out of the rat race, and wait for old age support (here we call it social security). like, living really simply, giving up on the shiny baubles (i've mainly done that), learning to manage money, etc.... it's just a suggestion. but with limited resources, i guess many are already doing this - out of necessity. happy december..........