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Have you stuggled to get a paid Job?

Amy

I am the mum to a 17yr old daughter, she was diagnoised autistic at 15 after having a serious breakdown abd having complete school refusal resulting in her finishing school with no qualifications.

I worry about her furture so much as i know she would struggle just to attend an interview let alone hold down a job. 

She is bright beautiful and creative and has recently started doing an Art class at her local college, she has found this rewarding but struggles every week with noise, the amount of people ect. When she gets home she is so overwhelmed she has a bath and then sleeps for a few hours just to recharge herself. Her Art class is only 3 lessons per week and i drive her there and pick her up as she hates to get the bus on her own.

She has had alot of days off as she feels so overwhelmed with it all. I.ve spoken to her teacher to explain how she feels and she is very supportive which helps so much.

My question is i suppose! did you struggle with getting a job? Is there any resources for young autistic people to start work? Or training programs ect i feel pretty much on our own with this and would appreciate any tips or feedback if you was in a simlar situation.  Thankyou

  • in reply to Amy

    No A levels, but did get GCSEs.  Sixth form college really didn't suit them at all!

  • took me until i was 31 to get a job. and its really hard to carry on holding it, every day is a fight against wanting to quit and 8 hours feels like 20 hours and yet were told we have to stay and do more and more and more and i cant get any sleep as the day shift goes into night through to the next day.

    so yeah, its hard to get one, its hard to get yourself out there, and when you get one its harder to keep it and justify this system where we have to get a job we dont want just to exist.

    no help exists that is useful.

  • Yes I've struggled to get a paid job. Even voluntary work is hard to find.

  • in reply to Martin

    Hi Martin Thanks that is so intetesting!  glad your child ended up with a BSc with no GCSE's or A Levels! Just goes to show they are not the B All that society makes out they are.

  • in reply to CaliforniaDreamer95

    I really hope you find a good job that suits you soon. I suppose the positive is you have had alot of experience at interviews so you can deal with them better. Can i ask what is the Work and Heath Program?

  • Hello,

    I am currently having this struggle. I am 28 and have currently held only 2 paid positions. I have had umpteen interviews in the past year and I have been told that I gave a good one every time. But I still don't have a job.

    Don't worry, something will come along for your daughter eventually, as long as she tries her hardest.

    I have been on the Work and Health Program. They put clients in touch with employers and can provide training for jobs.

  • in reply to Amy

    My other child (ADHD) dropped out of A levels, didn't understand what was required. Then spent a year 'sorting their head out'. After that, did two fine art courses, got into Cambridge Art School, transferred to the Audio and Music Technology course and ended up with a first class BSc. There is a tendency to see GCSE and A levels as make or break, but they are not, there are second, third and more chances in education. The best of luck for your daughter's future.

  • Thankyou Martin for taking the time to reply.

    Its useful to know that there are some resources available if she applies for benefits.

    When she was in school i did apply for an EHCP for her so hopfully she can stay in education up until she is 25 and get some qualifications under her belt! Cant imagine her getting a job without them. 

    Glad you and your daughter are doing well.

  • I think that once you are in the benefits system, access to support can become available. My daughter (autistic) graduated in July and now has a part-time job tutoring children. However, she is also claiming universal credit. Through their disability support wing (no idea what it is called) she has been referred for online counselling specialised for neurodivergent people, she is also starting a course to help with her sleep problems. As for me (also autistic) I left university during the Thatcher cutbacks and was unemployed for over two years. I got rather down and couldn't think of any skills I had that anyone would pay money for. I had a couple of clerical jobs, one sickness cover, in the Civil Service. Then I saw an advert for a research job at a university that dove-tailed with what I did in my final year research project as an undergraduate. I applied, was interviewed (scary) and got the job. I then spent 34 years in research at the same university, my job changed somewhat over the years and I did a masters' degree and PhD while working. I had slotted into my ideal job.