Asperger's + NLD=royally screwed in terms of jobs

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Vocationally, I feel like I am very much in trouble. I have both Asperger's and NLD, so there are many jobs unavailable to me. I can't pursue lucrative science or technology jobs because of my non-verbal learning disorder, but my atypical social style means that most jobs with an emphasis on soft skills are unattainable. The NLD-friendly jobs that I would gravitate toward, which focus on the humanities and social sciences, require interpersonal interaction. I enjoy being around other people (as long as the setting is one-on-one or in a very small group) so I don't have a problem with this, the issue is that my Aspie traits are so blatantly obvious and prevent me from advancing in any position which requires socialization. Supervisors always say that I am kind and have a good sense of humor, the problem is that they can seldom tolerate my stimming, eye contact issues, or voice modulation problems. I am good at hiding my Asperger's for short periods of time, but inevitably it manifests itself during periods of high stress, or when I get absorbed in a task. Whenever I tell someone about these challenges, they always say "well, why don't you look for a typical Aspie job, you know, IT, engineering, lab work?" But I could never excel in any of these fields because of my profound difficulties with mathematics and visual-spatial skills. Even less math-intensive solitary positions (library science, general office work), are out of reach because of my difficulties with organization. Worst comes to worst, I thought I could always settle for waitressing, janitorial work, or manual labor just to feed myself, but my coordination issues means that I can barely hold an object without dropping it. I feel that my combination of deficits is incompatible with virtually every job that exists. Any recommendations for careers that an accommodate someone with both AS and NLD? I feel like I am running out of options. I really need to find a field that is tolerant of individual difference.

Hi, I think the longterm solution is political activism and us running our own employment agencies.

I mean, think of how people who were 'stereotypically' gay or lesbian were treated in the 1970s? Or, how people who are transgend were treated until maybe the last ten years. So, the patient work of political activism.

In the meantime, I'm going to pitch you on some ideas . .

In a speech, Temple Grandin said that persons on the Asperger's-Autism Spectrum tend to have one of three cognitive processing styles:

1) abstract thinkers good at such subjects as math and music,

2) story/narrative thinkers good at the social sciences, who might also take to the case study method in whatever field,

3) visual thinkers, thinkers in pictures, like Temple herself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgEAhMEgGOQ
See starting about 21 minutes into it. And of course there can be some overlap among types.

The overwhelming stereotype among the general public, and even among many of us on the Spectrum, is the first cognitive style. I myself am the second style. My big love in my 20s was philosophy, the problem is that there are justvery few jobs in that field. I can be good at biology and geology. Well, those are more narrative type of sciences. I struggle quite a bit more with physics and chemistry, or at least a way they are commonly taught.

One thing you might want to consider is sales. One, there's a lot of jobs. And two, theyre more likely to judge by results and allow the sales person to be different and have a personality. I worked for a year with a company which owned a chain of boutique mattress stores. This one guy went on a long lunch, leaving the store in the hands of a brand new associate, came back drunk, and then angrily tore up this written reprimand---and yet he wasn't fired because he's a good sales person! Well, that's going too far. He should have been fired whether a good sales person or not. But not working with someone because of voice modulation issues?? That is being perfectionist in a way which reflects poorly on the supervisor. Or, can you imagine not hiring the philosopher Wittgenstein because he stims? Well, we shouldn't have to be rock stars to get decent jobs. I'll try to think of other things. And hopefully, other people will help out with ideas, too.

How about customer service on hotline? Assistants in the library? Cleaning jobs (you can still drop things, it's ok)

You sound like you are giving your career great thought, which is a really good thing. What you may want to do is to what you really want to do, then work out accommodations for your deficits. No career will perfectly fit around anyone's deficits. As an illustration, being organized is one of my deficits. I chose to find a charity that offered coaching services on this. Your local 'learning disabilities' association might offer this service, if there is one in your geographical area. Mine was also quite affordable. Ok, my office is still nowhere near being neat as a pin. But I have better skills and am better at organizing than I was in the past. They also offered tips on organizing time too.

There are also softwares and apps to help with many disabilities, like reading and writing and organizing time or organizing space.


By the by, I am a librarian and on my worst days, am chaotically disorganized. Don't let being disorganized keep you from pursuing library sciences, but the field in general is poorly paid. However, I love being a librarian and have found ways to survive the cuts. I was also informally coached by an aunt of mine, so finding 'life mentors' who can help you with the ins and outs is important.

I also worked at a call center, where I read a script and then updated the data in the computer. Again, not well paid, but people did not care if you sounded scripted. No organization needed there either. I am not the best vocal modulator, and am boring at worst, and also Mickey Mouse at worst too, but that job worked... I had the conversations to find out the information I needed, not to chitchat.

Also, give yourself some time. You are 21, after all! I did not get my ideal job til I was 28. And then, I had spent years doing that and searching.

The one most important thing you should hold on to is hope. Remember what your best attributes are at all times, and even keep track of the good things you do and happen to you. Keep these memories and writings at hand, so on your job search days when you are feeling tired and down, you have something positive to look at. I wrote mine on a whiteboard on my wall so that when I feel depressed, I have something positive and hopeful to look at.

I recommend security. I'm 22 and have many of the same issues. Security is great because if you're non-verbal and intense, people just assume you're really, really dedicated to your job . You crack jokes occasionally, but you mostly stand guard and basically daydream until your shift is over, which I think is great for people like us.

I start my full-time job in it tomorrow. Excited!

I think that I have AS (or even mild McDD), which makes my thinking and emotions weird and obsessive and gives social ineptitude. I think that i have mild NLD which diminished my visual thinking and technical abilities. I think that I have also SCT, which additionally makes me slow, "drowsy", spacey nad daydreaming. I am really irritating to my parents. I do not want it. I have quite many NT traits, which allow me to be quite universally talented in scholastic skills. I do not like complex tasks, such as projects on the studies. I may be quite poor in executive functioning due to AS, NLD and SCT. I am unsuitable to world. I rather do not think about my future job. I do not know what to do. I have moderately functioning "aucorigia" (autocontrast nad originality) now. I am developmentally "nerd and weird".

Coralie, everyone in the world has weaknesses. Some weaknesses can be eliminated and some can be lived with. The successful person is not one without weaknesses but one who deals with them, the one who works around them.

I am obsessive and my interests are not so useful occupationally as IT ones which may be the source of job for someone with AS. I have NLD(-like) profile which diminishes my technical abilities and visual thinking. I am also slow and "spacey" due to possible SCT. This combination may be really harmful for occupational career. I do not think about the job so much. I have some problems in family. It does not help so much. I am "slow" in making projects on the studies.

I worked security for a while, mainly overnights driving a golf cart around in a circle to keep drunks out of a park, but at some events too. Lack of social skills and a bit of flat effect were really helpful in that job. My boss once overheard someone trying to bribe me that got completely ignored, and I ended up getting a bonus for it- because I didn't tell him I didn't pick up on that at all. Also, there was one incident where a big drunk jerk was getting in my face and I got on the walkie in my normal monotone and asked for backup. Apparently I didn't look scared to them, just tense. I ended up leaving that job because they kept putting me on events and I much preferred just patrolling.
Overnights at a museum or something else indoors/lit up would be good for you, I think. You wouldn't have to carry a flashlight around, and if you have trouble with the walkie you can buy a lapel mic to clip to your shirt so you can't drop it.