The inability of autistics to earn a living

Post Reply New Topic

Anybody worried about the fact that in America at least it seems impossible for aspies and auties to earn a living, forcing most of us onto the welfare rolls? It seems that employers prefer social butterflies who can fit in to people who are actually competent at doing the job but who aren't as great at networking. Career classes hone "social skills" and suggest to interviewees ways to indicate they fit in to an employer's "corporate culture".

In addition, with the elimination of America's manufacturing base, most available jobs seem to be in "sales" or other "service" professions, where the ability to sell and be personable is prized above technical skills. America is a country where we sell each other stuff, outsourcing the actual manufacture and repair to low paid slaves in China, India, and Mexico, or in some cases bringing people from those countries here, so woe to he who is unable to sell.

The fact that American society seems intent on consigning millions of people to be welfare bums for life seems not to matter, since most Americans work for the government either as employees (directly or for "contractors") or collect welfare. Inflation combined with stagnant salaries and welfare payouts are forcing the nation into poverty. Unlike some welfare collectors, most aspies would never sell drugs or their bodies under the table to make a living, leaving us out in the cold.

We seem not to belong in American society, and some elements of that society seem intent on eliminating us entirely, so that America doesn't have to pay us welfare. How is America supposed to exist with more people getting welfare than paying taxes? Are we really at the point where we need to kill off massive numbers of Americans to make the books balance?

I have been working since I was 15. I have been unemployed for a total of 1 year and 10 months since then.

There are plenty of jobs for people like us. It depends on what you're good at. I am a detail person. I've been at the same place for 11 years. I'm not the most popular employee, but I am treated and paid well. That's all I ask.

I've been working at my job, for 2 years now and I enjoy it, very much.

...

Last edited by Willard on 01 Sep 2010, 11:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

basically yeah observing society and everything else for how long, I have been starting to believe certain conspiracy theories sadly. Not fully believing but questioning the possibility.

Well if they start trying to kill off us poor masses, well Imma go raid an armory or whatever and kill as many of the deathsquads as possible before I myself die. Ill just count it as defending myself, friends and family. And id have absolutely no reason to feel guilty either. Its either that or obtain nuke codes and start world war 3 for the sole purpose of making the point that the wold has kicked us around for long enough.

I am in my 23rd year as a school teacher---I began immediately after graduating from college. I feel fortunate. I work with high school gifted students---small classes with bright students.

I have worked since I was a teenager. Granted I need career counseling to get things sorted out, but I have had jobs that are very aspie friendly. Library work was excellent for my disposition. There are plenty of jobs that don't involve social skills. Most library acquisitions departments are fairly quiet places where you can work all day without much interaction.

I also did an internship in a textile conservation lab and that is profoundly solitary work that requires some very specific skills.

And then there's academia.

I understand your frustration, but there are many jobs for people like us. Maybe this thread will help you get ideas for other places to look.

The inability of autistics to earn a living is a myth.

While some people honestly need financial help, I bet many more would be working if welfare disappeared.

I never held a job for more than two months. . So I´m going to do a big career change and I´m excited about it. You know you gotta take chances, "luck favours the bold". My parents are mad at me but that is a good sign! LOL.

Also my mom and dad are searching for a way to make that if my father dies I can receive his retirement because of my disability. I don´t know if they will be able to do that tough. Also in my country if you have a disability and can´t work you don´t receive anything from the government.

No one here believes in the Social-Contract everyone has been forced to follow?

I have worked pretty much my whole life.

I feel sorry for anyone trying to find a job in america right now, AS or not. Its dead.

@Francis, yeah, I've been trying to change jobs for two years now with no luck. So right now I'm stuck in a job that's not good for me at all.

@Tadzio - I don't understand. Can you elaborate?

I got fired for having cancer, not autism, but my boss hated my lack of social skills so who knows...

fired for having cancer? If that happened to me, I'd be going to the Human Rights Commission or the Labour board. If an employer did that in Canada, they would have their pants sued off and the government might even help the plaintiff with costs.

You might be doing okay, but some of us aren't faring so well. Don't think that because you can play the game, it is easy for all of us. I don't think you realise how offensive that is going to seem to those who really do struggle.

I have tried to get a job over the past two years, but I haven't succeeded, due to either a lack of bus service at a particular time or the employer doesn't want me due to my diagnosis.

I worked in the school cafeteria during my junior and senior years of high school serving lunch and was paid minimum wage. That is two years of work experience right there.

I managed to get into a summer internship back in June. I was paid $9.00 an hour.

The economy is making it hard for anybody to find work, including NT's. That and the stigmas of autism spectrum people are making it especially hard for anyone on the spectrum to get a job.