Are the any legal restrictions for autistic people, other than not being able to join the army?

Thanks for the info. Sounds like they are really strict! 

Yeah, I think they should judge people on an individual basis, plus there are plenty of jobs in the forces that are more office based, so I don't know if you can't even do one of those. 

That's strange how they wanted to know things like that. 

to be fair i think they made the right choice on me though. i get too depressed and probably would shoot myself if i had a gun. they can reject you on depression too.... they ask if you have been depressed in the past whatever months or something, if you say yes thats a immediate reject. so you have to say no if you really wanna join.

dont tell them your diagnosis.... from what i gather the only way for autistic person to get in the army is to actually not tell them and try pass off as normal and undetected. if you tell they can legally reject you, they have a exception to be allowed to discriminate on disabilities or mental health issues. the only way around that is to simply not tell them.... although if you got diagnosed officially then it will probs be on your health record and thus they may see it... but perhaps by the stage of health checks maybe they will give you a go given the health checks i think are passed the interview stage and so on. its the interview stage they rejected me at. not even a proper interview more like a prying into your life and even asking how you got on with teachers in high school which is rather unfair as the teachers in my high school didnt even try to teach and had no professionalism at all so ofcourse i didnt get along with them lol

i tried to join the navy.... now im not diagnosed, but on the interview they pry deeply into your life and want to know you and how you live.... they rejected me because i dont go out and dont have a social life or any friends. they found it suspicious. they are allowed to discriminate against anyone who may be autistic.... because in war a person with communication issues can get his entire team killed, so they get a exception and pass to reject people they even suspect of being mentally unwell in any way.

never worked out why ---- i have been in several armies and functioned fine in all before my diagnosis. I learnt to work and live with allsorts in terrible conditions which is the best thing about armies. 

As far as I am concerned if you can get through the Basic training you should be allowed to stay.

Many dont make it through basic training. 

One guy shot the guy beside me through the leg ( accidental discharge ), he was out after he was attacked by the shot soldiers mates and almost kicked to death.

Any serious mistakes especially on the firing range, or not following instructions  and you are out.

Sleep deprivation is part of basic training that cracks many people.

The basic training also includes being in a room full of CS gas with no gas mask and u have to find ( u cant see ) and put on your mask and stay there until the instructor in there can say you can leave --- feels like forever.  

I suspect that if you are obviously 'not normal' then you might be unpredictable when it comes to the crunch - in which case you endanger yourself and your comrades.

I'd guess there's some very high functioning ASD people that have joined up and not been noticed - probably undiagnosed - and enjoying the rigidity and routine of the service life.

Why can't we join the army?

I've found it useful on medical side - I have certain quirks when they do things to me and it allows my wife to be present even if they are playing covid games.

As for the workplace, you need to get the feel of the place and the people before you disclose - some places are better than others - especially civil service or local authority / NHS / Schools etc.  

Private industry is all about the bottom line and risk - they are sometimes less welcoming to people with additional needs.

Thanks, I can imagine that being the case and I will think twice about when to disclose. I just wonder if there are any instances where having 'autistic' on my medical record will be a bad thing. I don't want to join the army, but if I did want to I would've wished I hadn't been diagnosed.

There are sometimes issues in the workplace if you're 'out' - some people can decide to treat you differently - that can be awkward to deal with.

Thank you. 

If your autism affects your ability to drive safely you are supposed to inform the DVLA.     Other than that, if you're not a danger to yourself, I'm not aware for any restrictions or limitations other than the ones you place on yourself.