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Getting a job in construction with autism

Stephen.

So not to sure if this is the right section so apologies if it isn’t. 

I’m 30 and looking for my first job, I left school and went to college and got a range of qualifications from a level 1 diploma to a level 3 certificate, left but was told by the job centre when I was like 20 that I’d be better off on benefits because I’d struggle with meeting the requirements for JSA, so I’ve been on ESA (the one were you don’t need to work). I’m sort of sick of staying on benefits and with my dad dying from cancer this year it’s sort of made me realise life is too short. So I’ve always been interested in physical hands on type of work I don’t like the thought of sitting at a computer all day even though my mum is insisting that I get either get a computer related job or stay on benefits. I’ve got a phone call from the disability advisor on Monday to arrange a face to face appointment. The autism I suffer with is mainly communication so like for example I wouldn’t start a conversation with someone about football but if someone talked to me about it I’d speak. Or if I’m not sure what I need to do I tend to stand around until someone tells me what to do. But I can work just as hard if someone else once I know what to do.

I’ve looked a lot this week into taking steps towards working as a labourer on construction sites. As someone with autism how advisable would this sort of career be. I know construction sites are loud but that wouldn’t bother me as much because theres more pros to it than cons, mainly it’s hands on, all weather work and it’s not the same work everyday. I’ve looked also looked into possibly taking training as a construction plant operator working on the excavators, I don’t know if I should bring this up to this up with at the job centre because every time I bring certain job up me mums like oh no you don’t want that type of work. I mean I wouldn’t be looking at careers I don’t think I could do. 

So would a career in construction be a good move to come off benefits? 

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  • Stephen. said:
    The autism I suffer with is mainly communication so like for example I wouldn’t start a conversation with someone about football but if someone talked to me about it I’d speak. Or if I’m not sure what I need to do I tend to stand around until someone tells me what to do.

    For the conversation starters, that is a fairly easy one to address - you can learn how to do it.

    Like many autists you never developed the neural pathways for that led to the intuitive social communications / expectaions so you need to actively learn them if you want to "fit in" - no judgement if you are happy not to do that though.

    Some simple guides like this one are the best place to start:

    How to Make Small Talk - Conversation Starters, Exercises, and Scenarios - Wadsworth, Melissa (2018)
    ISBN 9781507204993

    You don't need to be out there talking the back legs off a donkey but if you find silences awkward around others then this is a good way to change that dynamic.

    As for standing around until told what to do - you can get away with this as a labourer (so long as your foreman knows about your autism I suspect) but for a more skilled profession (eg electrician) then you need to be able to use intuition.

    The simplest way to deal with this is to ask. Especially when you are a trainee it is best to ask what your boss wants done next when you finish a task, what to do if you run into a problem you have not seen before, if something is not clear - basically build up your own mental map of tasks and how they should be done to give you a framework for future situations like the one you are in.

    I think you will find that your boss will appreciate you doing this much more than you just standing there doing nothing, and it will be good practice to make the conversation down to you initiating it - familiarity with doing this should ease the resistance to it.

    One last thing, if you are going to be a labourer, be sure to get into a passable shape physically before starting as it can be gruelling. I recall having to carry dozens of 30kg boxes of floor tiles up 99 steps (I counted them being an autist) to my 4th floor victorian apartment and was a wreck by the end of it.

    Also make sure you understand the basic safety around moving heavy items (for the sake of your back especially) so you avoid physical injury.

Reply
  • Stephen. said:
    The autism I suffer with is mainly communication so like for example I wouldn’t start a conversation with someone about football but if someone talked to me about it I’d speak. Or if I’m not sure what I need to do I tend to stand around until someone tells me what to do.

    For the conversation starters, that is a fairly easy one to address - you can learn how to do it.

    Like many autists you never developed the neural pathways for that led to the intuitive social communications / expectaions so you need to actively learn them if you want to "fit in" - no judgement if you are happy not to do that though.

    Some simple guides like this one are the best place to start:

    How to Make Small Talk - Conversation Starters, Exercises, and Scenarios - Wadsworth, Melissa (2018)
    ISBN 9781507204993

    You don't need to be out there talking the back legs off a donkey but if you find silences awkward around others then this is a good way to change that dynamic.

    As for standing around until told what to do - you can get away with this as a labourer (so long as your foreman knows about your autism I suspect) but for a more skilled profession (eg electrician) then you need to be able to use intuition.

    The simplest way to deal with this is to ask. Especially when you are a trainee it is best to ask what your boss wants done next when you finish a task, what to do if you run into a problem you have not seen before, if something is not clear - basically build up your own mental map of tasks and how they should be done to give you a framework for future situations like the one you are in.

    I think you will find that your boss will appreciate you doing this much more than you just standing there doing nothing, and it will be good practice to make the conversation down to you initiating it - familiarity with doing this should ease the resistance to it.

    One last thing, if you are going to be a labourer, be sure to get into a passable shape physically before starting as it can be gruelling. I recall having to carry dozens of 30kg boxes of floor tiles up 99 steps (I counted them being an autist) to my 4th floor victorian apartment and was a wreck by the end of it.

    Also make sure you understand the basic safety around moving heavy items (for the sake of your back especially) so you avoid physical injury.

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