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How many with autism really want to work or are able to?

ClaireHig

Hi,

I just received an email from the national autistic society as many of you probably have also. It is asking us to sign a petition to put pressure on the government for us to get 'jobs we deserve'.

It claims:

But 77% of unemployed autistic adults, or people responding on their behalf, told us they want to work.


This got me thinking. How many of those responding were only doing so on behalf of those with autism, without stating how the autistic person really felt. For example if you ask my mother, she would say I do want to work. Stating I can & should want to work. She will then quote her Christian beliefs to say it's an order. But personally I don't wish to work because I know it leaves me suicidal etc, no matter how much support I were to have.

Obviously I'm not signing the petition. But it could still be signed by those such as my mother, on behalf of those with autism. Making it of benefit to the economy, but of little benefit to many with autism.

The state already tries to force us to work & refuses to acknowledge that many of us can't. It stops our benefit, leaving us with nothing to live on, pay bills with nor council tax (which many are now forced to pay). I view my council tax, as a tax on me having autism! All this seems against human rights & even migrants here don't have to tolerate this. This petition could give a very dangerous get out of jail free card to government, to do even worse.

Parents

  • A lot of people will say I'm lucky.  I have a job. 

    It gives me money, not a lot, but I can support myself.  But what it doesn't give me is satisfaction.  It causes me great anxiety.  I dread going to work each day.  And trying to explain the reasons for my anxiety gets remarks about how negative I am.  The managers think I need 'support' to get me to do work I absolutely hate.

    What I do want is to do a job I have skills at.  I will always be useless at telephone work, at work that is tedious which I am forced to do in a way I am unhappy with.  At working as a 'team' member.  At working in an office full of other people.  At continually being interrupted.  And no amount of 'support' will change this.  The support I need is being left alone to concentrate on the job in hand, in being able to use my mathematical skills my IT skills, my logic skills and skills of concentration on a job that allows me to think.  And all these have been taken away from me in the past few years in the cause of 'reorganisation'.

    Work does not always give peace of mind and a sense of purpose.  I often wonder what I am there for. 

    And the feeling of the management is that I should be grateful I have a job.

Reply

  • A lot of people will say I'm lucky.  I have a job. 

    It gives me money, not a lot, but I can support myself.  But what it doesn't give me is satisfaction.  It causes me great anxiety.  I dread going to work each day.  And trying to explain the reasons for my anxiety gets remarks about how negative I am.  The managers think I need 'support' to get me to do work I absolutely hate.

    What I do want is to do a job I have skills at.  I will always be useless at telephone work, at work that is tedious which I am forced to do in a way I am unhappy with.  At working as a 'team' member.  At working in an office full of other people.  At continually being interrupted.  And no amount of 'support' will change this.  The support I need is being left alone to concentrate on the job in hand, in being able to use my mathematical skills my IT skills, my logic skills and skills of concentration on a job that allows me to think.  And all these have been taken away from me in the past few years in the cause of 'reorganisation'.

    Work does not always give peace of mind and a sense of purpose.  I often wonder what I am there for. 

    And the feeling of the management is that I should be grateful I have a job.

Children
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