Anyone on the spectrum skilled at trades?

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danmac
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06 May 2012, 11:40 pm

wow, i'm the first painter
plus i watch everything around me, so i can do some: tile work, plumming, carp., electrical.
my need for info, and a need to know about everything around me has helped me keep working, not lately though


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Nim
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07 May 2012, 6:04 pm

I actually just became a Journeyman Carpenter here in the states through the local union.

I am good at working alone but have a hard time working with others/following directions. You can see I posted a thread that they actually think I'm arrogant. Usually what happens is I get to a job - they explain verbally, I ask questions and they get annoyed. They don't like my personality and/or at some point I get called to help with spelling and/or some random computer/phone issues, or I get called on to read out of a book in front of a group.... and I am then the most unpopular person out there. They try to burn me and/or get me fired.... Or they stay on my good side because they think they might work for me one day sometimes.

I'm not really quite sure the more construction oriented trades are good for aspies quite honestly. Its not as harsh as a office environment with socialization and you can disappear/work somewhere alone a lot of the time, but the people just do not like any of the traits associated with us. I mean - a construction worker with 4 kids, child support payments, drinking/drug problems, down on life - compared to an aspie who stays at home, doesn't socialize, isn't that interested in dating, and doesn't drink/smoke/or do drugs....

There is just no room for shared traits really. Yet, I find myself rather good at skills that require concentration/detail, most of your other workers will panic if they have to read paperwork or do something technical - but I can take the lead and figure things out. We were setting up a target recently (indoors), and had to setup a bunch of shelving - but they gave us no instructions so I had to take charge of about 3 people just so we weren't lost. I can also beat others at building things/out work them if left alone, usually what happens is I look like I'm going slower - but by the time I'm done I have one brace holding mine up and its perfect, and someone else will be taking theirs down to redo it and/or have it braced by about 10 braces compared to my one. The difference being mine doesn't move, even if you throw your weight into it - and theirs is, not so stable...