Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello, I am wanting some advice on employment for my 22yr old Son. Diagnosed with High Functioning Autism with complex communication issues.
My son has been working voluntarily for a Heritage Railway for the past 2 years. He has shown a good apptitude in all areas he has been trained in. Including the standardised code and tests for railway safety. He currently volunteers as a train guard as well as other areas of maintenance, of the safe running of the Heritage railway.
There have been various full and part time jobs advertised which he has applied for over the past 2yrs but not even been offered an interview!!
Being my sons official appointee, I contacted the company on my sons behalf to ask for an update on how they see my son as a future employee. Mainly due to his Job Coach at the Job Centre asking for an appraisal.
I received an email from the HR and Manager stating how my son was a valued member of the volunteer team and was often willing to undertake jobs that other volunteers and permanent employees shyed away from. He is safety conscious and has shown vigilance in ensuring all the safety and safe running of the railway.
My son has applied for various permanent jobs that have been advertised, but at the time it was felt that he did not fit the criteria for the job advertised.
This year the company have expanded and are now advertising for various seasonal, aswell as permanent roles.
All of which, my son has training and experience in, as a volunteer! He hasn't so much as been offered an interview!!
I feel the company are now taking the proverbial but my son loves the work and volunteer roles. I'm at a loss as to what to do!! I don't feel I could stop him volunteering as it is valuable work experience and to be fair he loves it so much I don't think he could just walk away, without it destroying his confidence!
I'm hoping someone can help me out on where next to turn for help!!
Thank you
It's just unfair that he going to be stuck in this situation for a while or the rest of his life. people say things are improving but things are only improving for those in the four major cities and not the rest of the country.
Thank you for your comments. Employers can be very intolerant of people on the spectrum. If only they would listen to employees and future employees.
Employers are missing out on some very unique talents and perseverance to succeed in the world of work x
I'm so sorry to hear that. I will not try to highjack the discussion and make it about me, but I do have experience with unfair terminations and treatment at work. Hopefully you can find a solution and secure a position for your son.
I agree, I would never stop my son from volunteering. He loves the aspects of the work and the Job Centre are happy he is gaining valuable work experience.
My son has tried Network Rail, LNER, Northern, they all have these stupid timed psychometric tests. I have tested him and he can get a high scoring when the test isn't timed. GBRailfreight...where he did have a traineeship. His line manager was disgraceful at his 12wk appraisal, which I insisted on attending. I also requested someone from HR to be present. From the comments my son had told me, he'd had from the line manager. I guessed he would probably be dismissed... which he was!!
I printed all the information from the NAS website from the links I was sent. Regarding employers and employing an Autistic Adult. The manager pushed the information aside and told my son he had already decided he wasn't suitable for the job!!
HR personel offered to help me take his dismissal to tribunal but to be honest, my son was already gutted and spent days in his bedroom. Trying to de-stress the rejection.
How do you explain to a then 19yr old, he lost his job because he learns at a different pace and level. Yes I realise it was the ultimate discrimination but his mental well being came 1st. Hence we didn't take the matter to tribunal.
He is articulate, funny, able to devise his own coping strategies. Learns at his own pace but once the information is processed, my son never forgets.
Various agencies have worked with us, since he was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism, at the age of 4yrs. It hasn't been easy, as I know anyone on this forum will agree. It's hard work being talented and unique!!
It's so hard being his appointee, as people just see me as his mother and not the mentor.
The Job Centre just want to get him into work. I asked at his last Job Centre meeting.... If there was a Disability Welfare Officer we could talk to..... apparently NOT!!
My son is Customer Service focused. He has explored engineering on the railway but his Maths grades are not acceptable for engineering. He struggles beyond Level 2 Functional Skills.
Thank you for the current replies. They are gratefully received.
NB I never mentioned I was on the spectrum at any of the interviews. I'm not saying your son should lie, but if it isn't necessary to disclose this fact, I wouldn't.
I'm a woman and also older and work in a completely different field (team secretary for a firm that does accountancy and audit among other things). BUT, I think this might also be helpful in your son's case. I understand new systems and learn everything much faster than other people, but am horrible at interviews and interacting with my coworkers. I did some coaching with agencies until I found my current position, which the agent described as "they're a bit boring, but the pay and benefits are good". Which in practice actually translated to "no drama and expectations to be overly sociable, etc." I had a lovely line manager who taught me what to say when I'm overwhelmed with work and how to ask my colleagues for things without getting on their nerves. I've been working for them for the past 2 years and a half. Before, all my jobs lasted no more than a couple months to a year. Speaking to agents was so draining and I dread the day I have to do it again, but it has helped me a lot, in the sense that I got a list of potential interview questions and some agencies have also provided possible answers. Best of luck to your son!
Autistic Human here, Been there, Done that & from my own experience is that businesses/organisation and their management have this awful attitude of stringing us autistic individuals along with the intention of keeping us as volunteers because for some reason and i have been told this directly from management of similar businesses/organizations twice now in different roles is that the organisation/business will keep a capable autistic individual on as long term volunteers because they get a free staff member and they don't have to pay them as they are on benefits.They also have no incentive to hire autistic people and the businesses/organisation know that theirs are little opportunities out their for us so the businesses/organisations know this and know that it's often in our best interest to stay volunteering so that we don't get are benefits sanctioned or deducted.
You preventing him from volunteering is the worst thing you can do because he will have nothing to work towards also from experience when my mother who was my appointee pulled the similar stunt of preventing me from volunteering the job centre took their opportunity to sanction me as a result.
If your son is in receipt of personal independence payment and is on universal credit for limited capability to work you may be able to get him on to engineering course or a course that could lead to working in the industry. while keeping his benefits however this is a gray area and many people struggle with knowing if this is an option because the rules aren't clear or straightforward. whatever work your son goes into has to be within his special interests as it is the primary skill that will give him somewhat equal footing with non autistic individuals.
Have you looked into your local train service provider. They should have a variety of roles and a disability and inclusion policy. At least it’ll be around trains.
Then just go directly to Network Rail! And don't stop asking around. Maybe pop into the rail station and find someone who looks friendly and ask for advice. He's obviously willing to do whatever is needed and it sounds like he would be a complete asset to their technicians.
You will have more interest and investment than a job centre to help him find the career of his dreams. A quick google search will pull up these, but I'm certain theres more:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/rail-track-maintenance-worker
Thank you. He has his heart set on working with trains.
Can he further study for landscaping, maintenance and builder jobs? Would he want to find work keeping up heritage sites: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/jobs/ or with something like the RHS https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/opportunities
If he's willing to start as a volunteer for careers like these and can easily prove himself reliable, perhaps mute the job centre and apply direct? There's also the Canal Trust https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us
Just some ideas!
Hi customer service roles. Basically the same job he is doing as a volunteer.
What roles is he applying for?