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?
I think you have a lot to offer when I look at the thread entitled, ' If we could design it ourselves'., You have had quite a lot of input and have some really good unique ideas, in the right environment I think you could flourish, with the right support, there is a job for everyone just need to find your interest and turn it into reality. I am a nurse it took me 5 years to get where I am but I couldn't just nurse anywhere because of my sensitivities so I work in the community it suits my need for interaction and caring for others but with the get out of being an autonomous worker I'm largely self managing and can prioritise my workload, therefore I am doing a job which in reality for an autistic is so not suitable but I have been able to adapt it to fit me and I can't ever imagine doing anything else
It seems you have done very well! I think that statement from that university was really unfair. I believe people with ASD can be good teachers. But I really like your attitude, and that you decided to work even harder to prove that you are capable. You have done amazingly well, having had work experience + masters + PhD. Good luck with the rest of your academic studies and future career!
Thank you so much guys. It really helps :)
You are absolutely right. Appreciating people for who they are.
However I sense part of the problem is that people want to be defined by what they do, they want fulfilling careers that enable self actualisation.If people are good with something, it is not fair that we get pushed out of the job because of bullying or because the boss doesn't think he can pay money someone 'disabled'. People are not in jobs that reflect their skills and aspirations because of ASD. Not all of us chosen to work where we work. This is what hurts I think. At least I could say that for myself.
Following on from my previous post above, I can never understand why people are defined by the employment they do.
People have many skills, some of them not 'employability' skills but they probably define someone far more. To be a good parent, to help others, to have a skill in art or craft, these are far more defining than the job one has. Added to this the fact that many are thrown into a job by circumstances or because the Employment Service 'forces' people into employment of any sort at all however skilled they are if they cannot find a job in their qualified area, and the fact that whatever job you have can suddenly come to an end through no fault of one's own, that your employer is taken over and you are then given a different job, it does really mean very little to a lot of people.
I had a job I really liked, I was TUPEd to another employer and my job just became general office work (it was that or nothing). And nothing would not pay my bills.
In my life I have seen many eloquent people who have 'lowly' jobs such as labourers, dustmen and cleaners. I have also seen people in high positions in very important sounding jobs who just haven't got a clue.
I just wish one of the first questions people asked wasn't 'What do you do for a living' and would be more about 'What things do you enjoy doing'.
Yep. Thats why the NHS is haemorrhaging good nurses. I will give agency some serious considerstion the only thing I dont like about it is, if ever theres a problem the poor agency nurse always gets the blame.. I also feel it leaves our pin a bit more vulnerble.. still food for thought
Write down you strengths and skills and do what you can to grow from there. Search for a Job you can do and crack on with it until the right job comes along for you to do.
Many jobs are a nightmare where there are too many chiefs and not enough braves. Beancounters taking over. with their Metrics, KPI's, Added Value, Cost saving yet anyone with an idea about improvement in the process/ways of working are ignored.
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....
No, that is a ... thing (I do not want to be accused of being sexist lol)
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.
I work in a college with students who have additional learning needs. I wanted to be a teacher but was told that I had no future working in education by a certain university in Glasgow because I have ASD. So, to prove a point, I am now doing a Masters and have been accepted onto a PhD course next year at a rival university. I may not be a registered teacher, but my future career in education looks very bright. I hate when people tell me I can't do something! My undergraduate degree is in IT, and I worked briefly in web development but it was so boring - it always interests me when people think that autistic people are well suited to computing. I enjoy it as a hobby but I couldn't work in it.
Yes, it's definitely had a cumulative effect. This makes me think that any future work would need to be chosen very carefully and I'd probably favour self employment in order to avoid many of the difficulties and misunderstandings.
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!
