80% of people on Autism spectrum are unemployed?

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eleventhirtytwo
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27 Aug 2015, 9:26 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:

I hope you don't get the idea that I'm not for autism advocacy. I darn well am for it!

Not at all! I have a lot of respect for you from seeing you post over the time I have been on this forum, and know you're quite a cool guy

eleventhirtytwo
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27 Aug 2015, 9:29 pm

B19 wrote:

eleventhirtytwo wrote:

kraftiekortie wrote:

Glass Half-Full, Glass Half-Empty.

These problems exist and we must tackle them rather than sticking our heads in the sand OR giving up in the belief that it is futile. We have a real chance of setting a precedent so that we are the last generations of Autistic people to feel (and be) excluded from society, socially or economically.

I wholeheartedly agree. The problem of economic oppression of ASD people is real, and I am in no denial about that. But statistics can be used against us - just as Autism Speaks has tried to use them - to blame the victims. I can see that people quoting "80% of us are unemployed" think this may automatically lead to inclusion and effort on the part of employers to create pathways. I don't believe that will be the result. Instead it will be used instead, against us, to "prove" how unemployable and unfit this "deficient" group is, and it has been already. Ideally, we would create our own employment agencies and networks to create pathways and specialised training plus in-to-work placement and transition support. If we wait and hope that NT employers will take pity on us and do this - we will be waiting a few more generations at least.

Another toxic use of that false statistic is that it is used by some younger adults to prove that even trying is a waste of time. That is as harmful as what the stigmatisers do. It is self-stigma in a way, and it discourages others from giving themselves a go.

You would be interested in Specialisterne. They are pretty awesome, although still much in their infancy. I can't wait till they can help pre-grads...

B19
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27 Aug 2015, 9:46 pm

Yes, a terrific initiative. There are many HFAs who have the skills to be pro-active in this, fully capable of the lobbying, fundraising, mentoring and management that it requires. We have something similar here called Escalator, to which I have been an advisor, especially in the field of identifying and liaising with potential employers in real jobs, so that it becomes a collaborative effort. It is not just for autism but the whole of the neurodiverse population, and we have had some real successes. It's just astonishing what a vision, commitment, and a sound plan can achieve. It is not hopeless and I get very fatigued by the hopeless theme song that is played rather too often here on WP. We must rescue ourselves by collaborative initiatives - I truly think that is the only way forward, and it is easier than people might think as long as you have capable people in charge who are playing to their own unique strengths in a positive context of organisational vision and support. The right people in the right place at the right time with the right vision can create HUGE change..

Adamantium
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27 Aug 2015, 10:16 pm

btbnnyr wrote:

I remember reading some study that found 1/3 of young autistic adults in the US were unemployed 5+ years after high school, which was one of the worst employment outcomes in all disability groups in the study. That is still not close to 80% though.

I was unemployed 5+ years after high school. But I have been in the same job for over twenty years. Where I would fit on that statistic would depend on when you asked me.

6 years after high school, you could have seen me as a total failure: no job, incompetent at job interviews, dropped out of two colleges, High test scores, but little achievement. 3 years after that, though, I had gone to technical schools to turn a particular talent into a marketable skill and found employment.

B19
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27 Aug 2015, 10:24 pm

And Baby, look at you now!! !

ASPartOfMe
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27 Aug 2015, 11:49 pm

Rudin wrote:

Lots of people with ASD have great futures. There are dozens of successful people here on WP.

Agreed

Rudin wrote:

Jacob Applebaum- Responsible for the Tor project and full disk encryption, diagnosed with ASD as a child. He is also a freedom of speech activist.

Maybe I am having a bad day doing search but I have seen no sources for the claim that Applebaum is on the spectrum

Rudin wrote:

Don Aykroyd- Responsible for Ghost Busters, diagnosed with ASD as a child.

This claim by Ackroyd that he was diagnosed as having Aspergers as a child is about as credible at the 80% ASD unemployment figure thrown around. As we noted in this thread http://wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=283792 Ackroyd was a child in the 1950's and 1960's when only a few people in the world knew what Aspergers Syndrome was. Then there is the matter of him changing his story. First he said was diagnosed with Aspergers as a child, then it was he was diagnose with Touretts, then last year he tells the Huffington Post he was self diagnosed

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DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity

It is Autism Acceptance Month.

“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman

LoveNotHate
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28 Aug 2015, 2:26 am

ASPARTOFME wrote:

Ackroyd was a child in the 1950's and 1960's when only a few people in the world knew what Aspergers Syndrome was. Then there is the matter of him changing his story. First he said was diagnosed with Aspergers as a child, then it was he was diagnose with Touretts, then last year he tells the Huffington Post he was self diagnosed

Yeah, he worked as a nightclub comic telling outrageous, off-the-cuff jokes in front of people. I argued before that it was hard to imagine he could do that if he had an ASD.

Then other argued that ASD people can be extremely social and socially insightful.

Now in the US, the new DSM cleared up the definition, so that one must have impairment in functioning, or there is no "condition".

ASS-P
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28 Aug 2015, 4:01 am

...I don't think there's much " future decent employment " fated for me- Unless...........

glebel
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28 Aug 2015, 10:53 am

kraftiekortie wrote:

In truth, I was pretty lucky I got this job.

I was working for the Yellow Pages in 1980, when this Hispanic girl I was working with called me on the phone, and recommended I come for an interview for this other job. I didn't know it was Civil Service! I thought it was just another job, but it would mean a raise in pay to $201 a week, from $140 a week. I almost didn't go to the interview because of my anxiety--but I went! And I got the job the same day!

That's why I always advocate that people try the Civil Service route, get on a waiting list after taking a test. There are a few people on this Site who are civil servants.

And always remember: you could always bank on your reputation as a playwright in the Athenian world.

There is no way I could work in any form of Civil Service job. No way. I am way too independent minded to be acceptable to them.

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ASPartOfMe
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28 Aug 2015, 1:25 pm

LoveNotHate wrote:

Yeah, he worked as a nightclub comic telling outrageous, off-the-cuff jokes in front of people. I argued before that it was hard to imagine he could do that if he had an ASD.

Now in the US, the new DSM cleared up the definition, so that one must have impairment in functioning, or there is no "condition".

If the off-the cuff jokes are really scripts well planned in advance a spectrumite can do it. Evidence is coming in that spectrumities can be very creative

kraftiekortie
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28 Aug 2015, 4:33 pm

At my job, they know I'm the Village Idiot, so they leave me alone

kamiyu910
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28 Aug 2015, 7:22 pm

I held a job at a public library for 4 years running teen programs despite my anxiety eating me up constantly. I had severe acid reflux from it... but I did it and I am proud of that, with fairly little complaint from others!

I am currently unemployed, but I do freelance art whenever I can. My brother just got a real job though!

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Raleigh
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28 Aug 2015, 7:54 pm

I don't think there's anything wrong with doing menial jobs.
I worked on a farm for four years and loved it.
It was low stress with loads of alone time out in the sunshine tending (and talking) to the crops.
I work for the government now.
I never even had to attend an interview.
They called me up and begged me to work for them.
They couldn't find anyone else with my skills even though I never finished high school and had 0 qualifications.
I guess it really is about finding a niche.
I got lucky.

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kamiyu910
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29 Aug 2015, 9:27 am

Never mind, my brother no longer has a job.... :cry:

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ASS-P
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29 Aug 2015, 9:55 am

...Are you " out " about being AS ? When were you DX'd ?

kraftiekortie wrote:

At my job, they know I'm the Village Idiot, so they leave me alone