Who Says Asperger's Sufferers are Unemployable? (article)

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/57959 ... yable.html

Great find. I hope people read the article and understand that people with AS/ASDs can work and want to work. I'm employed, and it's very important to me to be employed.

Nice. Thanks for posting it.

Cool article. I think 'owner of bookstore that sells books on obscure subjects and gets a few eccentric and mostly quiet visitors' would be my dream job description if I thought I could make any money at it.

I've worked since I left college...but I got fired from several early store jobs for not being chatty enough with customers or not 'making an effort' to get on with colleagues (there were trumped-up other reasons given, but I'm pretty sure what the real reason was). I got bullied in a large office where you either sucked up to the social queen bees or were ostracized. And I was driven to something close to a nervous breakdown by a sudden transfer to a counter position. (Thank God for trade unions.) So, there are issues we face that other people might not, and I think they need to be addressed. But that doesn't mean we can't work, any more than anyone with any other physical or mental difference can't.

I was employed or in business from the day I first had work (I was 10 years old) until the day I retired.

ruveyn

Well I would good luck to him, as long as he can stock books which will sell I am hopeful that he can make a living from running a book shop.

_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

Although I've never been able to do anything beyond low-level administration work, I've only been completely unemployed (neither in a permanent or a temporary job) for a total of one month since I left school.

I'm a very good worker who doesn't suffer from anything.

Most people with AS are very employable, but not often in mainstream social jobs/situations. With a little accommodation, most AS can do quite well. But the social aspects of job hunting can be a hurdle. Though in some professions, like engineers and scientists, you are almost expected to have AS. Good thread, maybe should be in Work & Finding a Job.

I do.
I'm not able to cope with work and no one wants to employ me anyway.

But I'll read the article and come comment on it.

edit: Ok I read it. It's a good article, I'm happy for Brian.

If you read it, his parents did it all for him. Which is typical for someone with AS (whether parents or the government).

The reason why he was successful is because he's runs a small business. It seems like the best way for anyone with High-functioning Autism or an Aspie to support himself is to be self-employed.

they like to use the fact that a lot of people do not have jobs that also has aspergers as a excuse for saying this

it is actually hard for me to get and keep a job because the jobs that actually work with my aspergers need you to have at least 5 years experience and a masters degree and jobs that do not need all this in my area is ones that make me be around a lot of people all the time

i would get the college degree if i can only get the money to pay for it and all i can get is 2000 a year for a student loan

you try going to a 4 year college and only pay 2000 a year - does not happen and the voc rehab program will only train me for the kinds of jobs that also make me be around a lot of people since to be trained and working in less than 2 years does not get you the level of degree places make you have to get a job that does not make you be around a lot of people

I can't hold a job. Even jobs that are supposed to be good for aspies, I cannot due to anxiety or weaknesses in other areas that I'm supposed to be good at.. like visual memory.
Oh well.
It must be nice to have parents that can help you out with things like that though.

Employed... full-time.

But it takes a lot of effort, and I was lucky to find a company that fits my personality and gives me chances. They have a lot of courses I can follow, also on things like personality, leadership and office tactics. Sometimes I feel terrible, but a job makes me independent and that is worth a lot.

I found my job in an advertisement from an agency specialized in finding people, using other channels then the company itself.

I have no degree, barely finished high school, live in a foreign country, have never had enough experience for any job I've applied for, and have changed career paths several times just because I was bored. I'm employed full time and have been for 25 years without any unintentional gaps. My colleagues all have university degrees and yet they consider me an expert in my field. I choose my jobs for what I get from them not just for the salary. It's a good feeling. I'm happy with what I have and it was worth the hard work to get it.

Here are some home truths:

1) You have no choice but to get up and get along in an NT world. There are more of them and no doubt they'll be the ones who hire and fire you if you don't play their game. The world won't get any friendlier towards AS people unless more of us get out there and prove we can be useful. Make sure they value what you do because then they will be more likely to tolerate the odd aspie moment.

2) You don't start at the top unless your parents give you a company to run. If they haven't done so, then you are going to have to roll up your sleeves and work at a few pointless and meaningless jobs to earn the right to be hired for, and prove yourself in, a better position. Even the NTs have to do that. A year or two and you'll be able to move on to something better-- if you've turned up for work every day and have managed not to get fired. If you get fired, learn from it and start over. Some lessons are hard, you don't want to have to repeat them.

3) You will have to work harder to keep your jobs than your NT colleagues. Expect to get told off in your annual reviews for your attitude, choice of words, failure to be a team player, ect... those of you who are employed know this list well. Be prepared to do everything you can to make sure that you don't get fired for any of those things. Never let those comments from your review affect your work. Ask for help, ask a trusted colleague to sense check e-mails before you send them, ask for seggestions on how to deal with difficult clients, customers, managers. Find a coach or mentor within the company to give you an honest view of how you are seen by others.

4) Do not sell yourself short. You don't have to spend you life as a cleaner, or a cook, or stocking shelves because you have AS -- but if that's what it takes to get on the ladder, then do it, just don't think of it as your career. You are more likely to be accepted in the working world if you choose a field that suits your abilities as well as your shortcomings. Many of the AS colleagues I've had prefer back office roles where they have limited contact with cleints or customers. We are all unique and you will eventually find something that feels right. Find another job before you leave one that isn't working out. If you feel your job isn't working out, that's the time to start putting in applications for a new job. Don't push a bad situation or try to hold on too long, it will never end well.

5) Choose whether or not you tell your employers or prospective employers you have AS. There is no golden rule other than make sure you do or do not for a good reason. Never use it as an excuse. Even with AS you are a valuable person with a lot to offer the world, you don't need an excuse for who you are.

And finally:

6) Be realistic. Do you really want to fight for a high paid management position when you know that you won't be very good at managing people? Or would it be better to be happy with less? I chose less, and I spend every day doing interesting work for good money. I could earn more, but I wouldn't be happy. I think I made a good choice. My NT colleagues don't understand and I don't expect them to.