The autistic community may need to advocate for itself

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Some days I get the sense that the support needed to help people on the spectrum match their qualifications to real and rewarding jobs is a task that may have to come more from the AS community, than from neurotypical society at large. I have this impression quite simply because, although there are wonderful NT people who "get" what autism is about, and how it affects social communication, the vast majority of society doesn't get it, and can't be bothered to take an interest in it.

It really pains me when educated and intelligent, loyal, persevering people on the spectrum can't attain work commensurate with their qualifications, simply because they fail at the "charisma and bull*&%" that is so critical, so crucial, to making it in this world... The result is that you have very smart people, often times, doing menial work, being pushed around and treated poorly - thanks to which they may develop undeserved secondary health issues (PTSD, social phobias, isolation, depression, etc.). It is all a terrible injustice.

I am so grateful for people like John Elder Robison and Temple Grandin, who, despite their autism (and even to a large degree, because of it!!), are successful, respected professionals, who are recognized and in the public sphere. I am extremely grateful for them and how they speak out for the AS community. I also feel that our society needs a sustained effort from many more such people, so that a critical mass is achieved and barriers to gainful, suitable employment are identified and removed.

Would appreciate your thoughts on this.

I mostly despise this society....I think its a big part of the problem, I think society needs some major changes. Including not being based upon how well you play a bunch of superficial games or how 'competitive' you can be. Though I think it is nice that there are people with autism that have become known by the public and neurotypicals who do try and help........but to succeeding in this society in the face of autism or any other disorder/disability in my mind isn't what i see as a massive accomplishment. I think we need a better society or no society.

I mean the public still does not seem to get it even if you do have a public figure like Temple Grandin, then they just see it as 'oh look how this person finally overcame their difficulties and suceeded and is now a functioning member of our lovely society.' So then they expect that others with autism will do the same if only they develop a positive attitude and try very hard to strive for the status quo, then they can do great things 'for' society. But that is just how I feel about it.

Our social problems aren't inherent, that is to say, we can function in society just fine, it's the discrimination from NT's that causes the issue. This is an artificial dilemma derived from their ignorance. Look at their society, they're due for an awakening sooner than later.

I am inclined to agree that we don't need many of the things that ordinary society promotes as desirable. In that sense, we as autistic people are self-sufficient.

However, I can't help but point out that we as human beings by and large are dependent on wider society to make a living somehow. If an educated autistic person is rejected time and again, in effect, he or she is being barred from earning a living - qualifications notwithstanding. That is a serious issue, and one that does need to be addressed somehow.

Yeah, I agree. I also think schizophrenia is possibly a part of the Autism spectrum. It really means you have a different way of processing information, but where-as some people are overstimulated to a certain degree, others are more in the extreme. There must be so many unknown brilliant people out there with Aspergers and other mental disorders. It's not really a social issue as much as an issue that is pragmatic although always evolving with social issues.

There are hard working, good, honest NT people in the same board. Under employed, unemployed, working in boring jobs. It's not an AS issue alone.

Life doesn't always work out where you land the dream job right away, sometimes never. It's sad and unfair, but it's life. Your not entitled to a job, and not to a good job either.

It's a 'dog eat dog' world for everyone basically and unfortunately most people are not going to go out of their way to make life easier for others. It is unfortunately far more practical to try and modify yourself to enable you to fit in with what society wants than to get society to change.

I've never found it easy in the workplace but I've always strived to find jobs or voluntary work in the interim and this has worked out ok for me. Life will never be free of stress or bad situations - that goes for most people, whether they have AS or not, but it's the striving that's the main thing not the results in my opinion. The harder you try the more likely you will get some good results in amongst the bad ones.

Having some kind of vocational qualification is important to give you more job opportunities. I have an IT qualification and have worked mainly in IT support for 15 years and switched to administration work over the last 8 years. The stress of the IT Helpdesk support work and all the travelling on bus and train to and from work was unbelievable but I have my own mortgaged house to show for the effort I put in so despite it nearly killing me with stress/depression at times I'd far rather have my own house than not, so I think in the long run it has been worth the pain.

You will wait a long time for society to change to accommodate people on the autistic spectrum for the very fact that there's no incentive for it to change - certainly not a financial one, which is usually the main factor. People will usually only do what they need to do and it will invariably also be something that benefits them and they do not need to give us a helping hand as we are in effect competing with everyone else as we're human beings and life is all about competing to get the best resources (in the real world that is)