Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm quite curious what kind of work do people here do? I've seen from some comments in other threads that there are social workers and teachers out there. The stereotypical autism job is computer programmer, which I think is really cool and requires lots of talent. There are also students on this forum (I'd be interested to know what you're studying).
Also, what jobs do you think are well-suited for the autistic personality?
Broadly I am a Systems Engineer (computers, electrics, electronics, mechanical, hydraulics, Pneumatics) with a hobby/background in Personal Computers since the early 1980's.
I can visualise across Automotive, military, naval, space, aviation and home automation and provide excellent analogies to get those less technical to understand.
I want to follow up on the analogies... if I may?
I 'self-label' as having 'analogy Tourette's' - I'm a Business Analyst and use them all the time to facilitate understanding of non-technical stakeholders of technical (and sometimes non-technical!) issues, solutions concepts etc.
I have had people say on numerous occasions "I wish I could have put it like that..." usually after I've got frustrated by someone's Nth abortive attempt to explain something to the room and I've stepped in...
I'm also a highly visual thinker...
Is this an ASD thing?
Oh god... when EVERYONE in your family acts like you're their personal IT support...
"Have you tried turning in off and back on again...?"
Though with my in-laws it's often a case of "Have you tried turning it on...?"
So here's a funny thing.
I wouldn't describe myself as "into tech" - in fact I've put a lot of effort into distancing myself from techy stuff at work. There is undoubtedly some lack of confidence playing into this, but it's also that I so, so often find myself asking "why?" when it comes to techy invention. (Someone invents a remote-controlled calculator pen watch calendar with internet connectivity for e.g.).
There's also a big part of me reacting against the decades of expectations from my family that I will know everything and anything about any kind of science and tech, and be interested in it. I'm not. I enjoy maths, algorithms (from software to business processes), and speculation about how the universe works (cosmology, quantum mechanics, relativity, philosophy, arrow of time etc) but I have no interest in the latest Mars probe or chip manufacturing process.
Human minds are strange - mine certainly is!
Think it is I have great difficulty learning unless I can watch whatever it is that Im learning... I have to watch closely because theres a saying in my job, 'watch one do one teach one'. Although I usually put myself out there to do as many of whatever Im learning before teaching it....
Analogies - Hearing Aids with Psychosis (hearing voices) and how I struggle to process sound (Audio Trigger). If I'm talking with someone and everything is quieter than out speech then there is no problem BUT louder conversations/noises cannot be blocked out.
Older cars are easy to diagnose whereas the modern "computer says no" are a nightmare - When someone tells you something basic (how can you help if it won't start, drive, etc?). Starting is electrics, switches and fuel whereas drive could be clutch assembly (or starter inhibitor on automatics), gears, cable/fluid and or gear selector.
Others are not clear at the moment including things to do with my employment history.
If you're into tech and physics, have you been to see JET & MAST in Didcot? They do open days every now & then.
+1 for analogies and visual preference.
Engineering degree, physics-y PhD, career in analysis & helping people think and communicate complex ideas simply. I've toured engineering analysis, business analysis, process analysis, commercial analysis, modelling, and a lot of people-oriented stuff before I realised it was bad for my health.
I also get "I wish I could have put it like that" all the time!