The obsession with getting us back into work?

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Has anyone from the UK had this:

I attend a local support group and many of them (85%) work. We've done stuff to do with the Autism strategy and it seems that all they want to do is get us back into work for which there's no support for. And for most of us, we have issues which need sorting out before we can even consider working. And then there's the issue of support (for which there's none where I live) for getting us back into work and keeping us in a job.

I receive ESA and am in the support group. This means that I am not required to look for work. Yet my "support worker" keeps telling me I have to get a job. Ok then, find me one which involves minimal interaction with people and won't cause me a meltdown or physical pain due to the noise or lights.

Quite a few friends on the spectrum have said the same. It seems as though everyone wants us to work; but they won't offer us the support we need to get a job and stay there.

I am also physically disabled, which makes getting a job difficult.

I think it's important to work. Not knowing what your physical disability is, I won't make any suggestions. But even if it's just a few hours a week, it makes a difference. Work and compensation is how society functions. In a sense you are infantilized if you don't participate at all. But if you can't get a job (which, at least, where I am, are hard to find,) try volunteering. I think it's important to contribute to society some how.

I understand that. But my "support worker" makes it sound as though I have to actually get a job. I don't. And it's not as if I'm sat around all day doing nothing.

I did volunteer for about 18 months. But got bored of it and fed up working with someone who is so ignorant about Autism.

Does your support worker have the power to force you? If not, then the're probably just doing their job. I know on the support program I'm on, they encourage working, even if it's not full time.
Still though, if you feel you are being harassed, that would be annoying. No one needs drawing of attention to something that's not going to change.

No, she has no power to do that. But she keeps giving me lectures on how I "must" work and how I need to pay own way with rent, etc.

It's because of ignorance from so-called professionals which is partly why I'm on sickness benefits. (and because getting a job is almost impossible with sensitive hearing)

I think your response is quite reasonable. Sure they want to see you working, but some follow through needs to happen.

If this person is so keen on seeing you employed maybe they need to help find you solid job leads for position and work environments you can handle.

Stranger, I think Ann is giving you sage advice. I'm probably older than you (fifty) and from a completely different place (Texas). Since when I was younger, there was no such diagnosis as AS, and since Texas abhors the welfare state, I was essentially in a sink or swim situation. It was either learn to support myself or become a bum on the streets--literally.

Though I wish I would've had the minimal support of even knowing what my problem was, having to become self-supporting was one of the best things that ever happened to me, though it was really tough and painful for a while. There is an ineffable, though very real, satisfaction that comes with being fully self-supporting and not having to rely on anybody else for my daily needs. It is what it took to begin respecting myself, and eventually liking who I am. The few times I have had to depend on others, I found myself resentful about the situation, which in the long run was far more unpleasant than learning how to support myself.

Becoming as self-supporting as possible would not only be good for your society (i.e., you wouldn't be a burden to others), but good for you too.

There's two very strong reasons for getting an aspie back to work.
A. Now they can forget about you and put their brain back on autopilot.
2. Most don't realize this... If you get an aspie in the "sweet spot" they're far more amazing/productive/valuable than almost anyone can dream.

I have to agree with this. I am 38, and only got diagnosed a few months ago. Until then I had no idea why I didn't fit in with others, or why I couldn't deal with some 'ordinary' things. I left home at 16, and it really was a case of sink or swim. I went through some pretty rough times, but there is nothing like having to make enough money to pay rent and feed yourself to force you to work through issues. That's not to say that I didn't have huge meltdowns, and go through a pile of jobs before I found something I could stand. I wish I had known about Aspergers at the time, it would have focused me, and given me an idea of what I could do and what I couldn't, and might have led me into a suitable job more quickly. I think it's a case of "it's amazing what you can achieve when no one tells you what you can't do".

That said, if I was given the choice, I would give up work tomorrow. But I would still volunteer a couple of days a week. I think having something that gets you out of the house, and gives you structure and a sense of achievement is invaluable. Just knowing you can do it if you have to is great for your confidence and sense of worth. You have the bonus that you understand what your issues are, and have a support worker who can help you with those. I do think she needs to be a little more proactive though. For instance, if you are very sound sensitive, she needs to help you find a position somewhere that is really quiet.

I really do think you should try, it's not that you are a 'burden on society', but that the sense of accomplishment you can get from knowing you can take care of yourself is worthwhile. Maybe that is what your support worker is trying to get across to you, but not phrasing very well.

If you did not get on well at your last volunteering position, maybe you could find another one with more sympathetic people? I wish you luck.

Thanks. I do currently study (well, am self teaching due to some issues with funding) so it's not as if I'm doing nothing with my time.

I did have a look into volunteering stuff some months ago; but there's nothing suitable out there.

I gotta say, I ´d agree with him. You eat, you live somewhere, you wear cloths...all that needs to be worked for, and if you are able to work its not fair sitting around and watching someone else do your work.

But I also agree, that nowadays for most employers its not about getting you to work, so that you can afford your own basic living stuff, but so that someone else can afford non needed luxury nonsense, and I agree that you dont need to work for that. See that you find something that allows you to give something to the society, in exchange for what you receive yourself. So your living standard is the bar for when you are equal with society. And if society wants more of you, because society needs some additional luxury nonsense, then simply deny.

Except, I am unable to work. She knows that; but still claims I have to find work.

Search yourself. Its your job to search for your job. And I know what problems you mean, when I lost work I would have the right of social support, but I never could receive it becaue to receive social support, I would have needed to be able to accept every work that is offered to me and fits my school education. I wasnt diagnosed then, but I had already lost some jobs, so I simply knew that whyever, some kind of work simply didnt fit with me, didnt make my employer happy and completely destroyed me. But without diagnosis, that I could point on, I was not allowed to refuse a job offer, because instead I would have lost my social support. So normally I simply looked as fast as possible for a halftimejob, so that I had enough relax time, some basic money for my basic needs, and didnt have to depend on the scoial support anymore, so that I could search for the job I want as long as I want, and refuse as many jobs as I want until I found one that fitted.

If you are not forced to work right now, the better, because you can search for the job you like as long as you want. You said you had audio sensory issues... I have them too, I cant work as long as someone is talking. Simply get yourself some earplugs, problem solved.

What I write is not about terrorizing you, but you wirte about your social worker bugging you. Why can he do that? Because of you depending on social system. My social carer also bugged me and couldnt understand me (How could he, didnt even know myself what was the problem.) and the solution is simply: Not being dependent on anyone. When you dont depend on a social system, then no social system worker can bug you. I dont know how its in your country, but if I decided to depend on the social system, then they would have influence on my financial stuff, influence on how and where I live in which way, influence on my daily routines.... I dont want that. And the only solution to it is being indepent, because then you can simply show everyone that bugs you the middlefinger if you want. (metaphoric...dont test that on policemen ^^)

I dont know about your issues, but as example I really liked to deliver morning newspaper, simply because noones around at 4:00 in the morning. The first times it was a bit hard, because you first need some experiences for some adresses to find them, but after a week its a nice work. An austrian autist I know is happy as a gardener of the capital city graveyard... Having issues simply means, that you need a job that fits to your issues.

This is great advice, I loved your job ideas.

I think many of you are missing the point. Her job is to help me eventually live independently. It's not her job to force me to find a job. I have been found unfit for work, which she's aware of.

    Just because it's 'her job' doesn't mean she's any good at it.
    I'm sitting in a "Business Education Center" right now. It's filled with people that have no clue what they offer, or how to even elaborate on what their fliers say.
    I've been self-employed most of my life and that clearly intimidates them. Perhaps because they don't really offer anything.