Being denied because of being an Aspie.

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I would never ever think of this happening. My local supermarket were looking for staff, I called the manager and we agreed to to an interview. As this was my first job interview, I bought a cheap voice recorder so I could review the interview later on. The interview went well, I focused on sitting straight in the chair and looking the manager into the eyes. Then he asked me, "do you have any physical or mental impairments"? I told him that I had Asperger's, which is a very mild and not impairing condition that just makes me not liking small talk .I told him that I enjoyed meeting other people and the job of staffing a supermarket counter would fit me well. He looked at me and said, "uhm, I am sorry, but we do not employ people with mental impairments". I kept calm and told him some more Asperger's and soon after it turned into a fiery discussion. Me: "Do you know that this is discrimination?" Him: "What if I employed 10 mongoloid people, what would happen then?" me again: "I don't care, I am not mongoloid! And I have this on tape, I can call the ombudsman of equality, if you want to?" he: "*groan* I do not care. Get out of here!"

I do not know what to do now. I have the tape of the interview, and I think that I should go to the ombudsman with it and have their guys to review it. This is discrimination and I hope noone has ever experienced this. Or have you?

I have experienced being turned down for several jobs because of my inability to communicate my opinions and feelings correctly. I never told them I have aspergers though. It sounds like the guy is an ignorant a** hole. That said you might be able get a job at another place if you just don't tell them about asperges.

Wow, great you had the tape recorder. YES! Pursue it! It is discrimination and if Norway is the progressive, or even basically humane, country I think it is, it's illegal!

When I was applying for a postdoc my advisor decided not to tell the employer that I have Asperger. So I got successfully employed. But then i went and told her myself about Asperger. At first she didn't mind. But when any problems came up, she just decided that they are ALL because of Asperger (even though a lot of it was plain immaturity) and that there is no way I can possibly change any of it; therefore, she simply gave up on me which spoiled the rest of the stay there. She also got angry at my advisor for the fact that he didn't tell her about Asperger to begin with.

How dare this jerk racially discriminate against you. You need to track him down and beat his head in. It is racial discrimination.

Easy there. Tracking and beating is not going to help anyone!

@alexfromnorway: I know nothing about how things are there where you are, but I do believe you would definitely have a case here.

Are you aware of any advocacy services near you?

Good point about "discrimination". Just delete the word 'racially". Being disabled is not a "race". Lumping all of discriminations under umbrella of "racism" is part of US propaganda.

Yes take this guy to court get a huge windfall payout and hopefully it will put him out of business. Disability Services Networks have lawyers and they will pursue your case. The tape evidence will guarantee this guy is brought to justice. How dare this scum bag employer racially discriminate against Aspergers?

Post his name and contact details on FaceBook and other social media and you can get some angry people to give this employer a hard time.

I am fairly certain this type of discrimination would be classified as a Hate Crime in America. That means good night for the employer. Mob of angry Americans throwing bricks at you, bad media publicity and sued for everything you own.

All forms of discriminations against the disabled and racism are placed under same umbrellas of "Hate Crime" and "racial discrimination".

Freedom, justice and tolerance for all fighting against the haters. All forms of racism should be stamped out.

Last edited by Dark_Lord_2008 on 18 May 2011, 7:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

Whoa! Is it not possible for you to believe this particular manager knows nothing about Asperger's Syndrome and only knows about "mental impairments" being a bad idea there in the store because in the past they have tried using ret*d people to help stock the shelves or even to just "sweep, swab and buff" the floors?

There truly is a case here, but there is no justification for a lynching until at least after we know the man even understands what he has done wrong (and then even still refuses to consider).

Yeah, I don't know why but when people discriminate against me I shout, 'You're being RACIST!! !' even though I know that' not the right word Not entirely sure why!

I don't know if you have a disability act protecting you in your country. If you do, then you have DEFINITELY got a case. In the UK if someone said something like that, they would be shut down! (well you would like to think so...) Keep the tape, make a copy or two (if you can) and use it to your benefit. Sure, you won't want to work for this guy now, but at least you can give him comeuppance!

The reason you do that is that in USA school system they lump everything under racism so you are used to think this way. Your fellow Americans probably won't notice it since they are used to the same lexicon from their highschools. But anyone in Europe would easily pick it up and you will basically embarass yourself.

By using American lexicon of defending yourself you are basically admitting that you are not fit to measure up to European standards. But the fact of the matter is that you SHOULD be! I mean lets put blacks and aspies side by side. In case of blacks they were told that they will get guaranteed promotion if they just bother enough to show to work once in a while, and they don't even do that. In case of Aspies they work really hard, but everyone ignores them just because they are aspies. Blacks bring American education down because everyone is trying to make the curriculum easy enough so that blacks could pass courses and they wouldn't look "racist". Aspies on the other hand are usually ON TOP of their class (I was taking college math and college physics while I was in high school).

So in light of this, why should an aspie appeal to society's sympathy towards blacks? Blacks need an affirmative action to succeed. Aspies don't! All ASPIES need to ask for is for society to forget their aspieness and pay attention to their productivity which speaks for itself. That is why the two things should not be lumped together!



Can you tell me exactly what you mean by "shut down"? Are you referring to "physically shut down (in jail)" or are you referring to "socially shut down -- no one is talking to you". In case it is the latter, I think it is just as unfair as "shutting down" aspies. In fact, THE most disabling symptom of Asperger is precisely "bad reputation". So if that employer will be "shut down", then all it would mean is that he will get "Asperger" as a "punishment" for judging another aspie, and then he will be subjected to "discrimination against Aspies".

I mean seriously, being an Aspie myself, bad reputation is the main limitation I am dealing with. Its not like I don't know how to act when social apportunities arize. It is simply that I DON"T get any social apportunities because of my past. The "disability" comes from the fact that no one can change the past. So what if your employer becomes a saint? What the f**k will he be able to do? Everyone thinks he is such a "racist" and everyone shuts him down. But he is fucken saint. He is so fucken desperate to show his TRUE, reformed self. But no one sees it because he is "shut down". Don't you fucken see how unfair it is?

I think some measures should be taken so that NO ONE gets "shut down" -- neither an aspie nor an employer who tries to turn him down. Everyone needs to have fair chance to DEMONSTRATE that they can change. Just like an aspie CAN change and improve social skills, so does that employer.

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If you are so intelligent how is it possible you can be foolish enough to believe any of the nonsense you have just spouted.Other people are of ceaseless fascination to me.

Yeah, if i were you, i would definitely report that .

Even if it doesn't get help you a job there, reporting them might help usher in changes so future applicants who also have Asperger's or similar disorders might have better chances .

if not for yourself, then for the betterment of society as a whole.

And this is exactly why you keep this sort of stuff to yourself. I've learnt that the hard way.

sorry dont know your laws, here in the states though......you want the name of my lawyer ?