Proving discrimination

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Maybe try a different/related field?

I had an incredibly difficult time getting a job as a web developer. I graduated college in 2002 and didn't get to use my degree until 2012. I didn't fit the culture or they found someone else who was more qualified. I got my foot in the door of the Web Development industry as Quality Assurance(software testing), and now I find that I enjoy QA much more than development. My degree still helps with what I do now, even though I thought I wanted to be something else in the beginning. I still have the option to get back into development at my current company, but I'm afraid I'm out of practice.

If you decide to try the QA route, I've heard good things about ultranauts.co as they hire almost exclusively on the spectrum.

It's good activism and I am willing to start a string of petitions being that 90% of the autism population is un or under employed.

Instead of focussing on past discrimination, why not consider not disclosing your disability, if you don't need accommodations?

That way, you can trick employers into thinking you are semi-normal, at least, with a bit of effort.

At this point, it doesn’t matter if I’m being discriminated against. I can’t compete with other applicants. I guess I can forget about living in Seattle.

Tim,

If you wish to stay in computing/ICT, then you may want to take some associated certification examinations. Start with Certiport's Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3). (Anyone reading this who does not live in North America may want to start with the Europe Computer Driving License (ECDL) instead.) Next, take COMP-TIA's IT Fundamentals and then COMP-TIA's A+ exams. (Or, if you think you are up for it, just do the A+ exam.) Where you go after that, depends upon which area of tech you want to specialise in.

There are, however, two important caveats. First, although obtaining certifications may help a bit in your job search, I doubt they will help a lot (because experience always trumps certification). Second, age discrimination may be against the law in many countries, but I am afraid that it is also a fact of life, and the IT industry is notorious for being "ageist". (In other words, given your age an lack of work experience, you will likely be fighting an uphill battle in order to get a job in the field, even with those certifications.)

As some of the other responses have already noted, there are charitable organisations which assist people with disabilities and they may be able to provide some assistance in finding a job. This includes a few which are focused on computing/ICT (such as Auticon http://auticon.com/ , Daivergent https://daivergent.com/ , Passwerk http://www.passwerk.be/ , and Specialisterne http://specialisternefoundation.com/ ). Also, I gather that some of the major technology firms (such as Microsoft and SAP) have set up "neuro-diversity" programs which look to hire people with conditions such as autism.

If you are willing to go in a different direction, and you are okay with working in (potentially) noisy and/or brightly lit environments, then please consider a career in modern manufacturing. Advanced manufacturing requires a good foundation in mathematics and computing (which it sounds like you already have). You will likely need to take some specialist courses from your local community college (for example, to learn how to operate CNC machines), but I have read that the industry is much more open to hiring older workers.

Here are a couple of (old) articles about modern manufacturing:
"As Manufacturing Demand Grows, So Do Jobs"
https://www.npr.org/2011/03/05/13426857 ... so-do-jobs
"For Manufacturing Jobs, Workers Brush Up On Math"
https://www.npr.org/2012/07/10/15583796 ... up-on-math

Best of luck with whatever you do.