Can Aspies get jobs...

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I have one ques.

Can Aspies get jobs in the military or be EMT's?

Aspies can get any jobs they are capable of doing. In the United States you may not be discriminated against soley on the basis of a disability. There may be some exceptions in the military.

Either way, couldn't you just not bring it up? It's not as if Aspergers is immediately apparent, especially if you can control your own behavior.

When I was 20 years old, I joined the Royal Navy as a Medical Assistant. I lasted just short of 3 years before being discharged.

I was no good at communicating with others, was way too quiet and had no abmition.

Back then I didn't even know that AS existed.

If I had, I'm sure I could have made a successful career out the Navy if I'd have had help who knows.

There is a thread with information on that topic in the Work forum: http://www.wrongplanet.net/asperger.htm ... ic&t=13964

If that doesn't take you there, the title of the thread is "Anyone currently serving or has served in the military?", and it was started by jaguars_fan.

Aspies AREN'T allowed in the military in the uk but i dont knw wat its like 4 any1 else.

I completed all the paper work to join the National Guard back in the 80's.
The recruiter mentioned that if I lied about anything on the paperwork it
might "catchup" with me. Before I complete the paperwork I was told "
I could be anything I wanted in todays Army". After I completed the paper
work the Commanding officer told me "how about administrative work?".
I told him I had not decide what I wanted to do(I knew it would not be office
work). He got mad and said "all we are hiring for is administrative work so
decide right now". I lied and said okay(with my tail between my legs). Another
soldier then took me to a room with computers and other soldiers. He said this
is where I would work. He said I would have to learn typing, answer the phone
quote some law to the general public stating I could not tell them anything.
When I left I never came back. Which mean yes you can join the military but
you might be forced to do the last job you would dream of doing.

What about joining the engineers corp. Aspies make great engineers and the military offers great structure..
I have a job as a cook. I get overwhelmed alot but I have a lot of calming techniques which help me in the workforce

MrMark is right, people cannot discriminate in the US.

My brother was in the Military and I know they cannot discriminate against any kind of physical, mental or developmental/social impairment but like someone said earlier, you might not be placed in a position that is the most desirable to you.

I do believe that certain positions are difficult for Aspies though, I was fired from one position after one week - I had to call these radio station managers and try to get them to auction off advertising time, but because I sold this in a complete monotone and didn't use the cheesy inflection my coworkers were using to sell, I was told that I "lacked the social skills for this kind of job" so I was pretty much fired at the end of that first week.

It's a shame that I didn't know about my AS at the time, I could have sued them for discrimination, but it was a blessing in disguise, I now work in an administrative job that is basically healthcare research and technical writing and for the most part I only have to talk to people I work with.

Well, maybe he was looking for our support. After reading your remark, maybe he is going to open up his little black box and pull out the shotgun he has inside. Then, he might put the barrel towards his head and pull the trigger. And there you go, another aspie dead. All because of a thought in his head. A thought that was reinforced by things he has read on these forums. And now? Now he is just floor decorum.

I think that when we are speaking to someone else's questions in need, we need to look at all the angles. Yeah, AS may very well not readily be apparent, but that does not mean that this person in question has everything so neatly under control. He could have serious problems with executive functioning, which are producing lots of problems in holding a job. Have you thought about that?

- Ray M -

I don't know about being an EMT, but I think that in terms of the military, they tend to try to disapprove of people with disabilities. I knew a student in school who had to have had some sort of disability, and a pretty severe one to be in a school for students with special needs. He seemed particularly fine to me, and didn't even appear to be aspie. But, whatever, he applied for the US Navy, and he was denied, stating that he wouldn't be able to handle basic training appropriately.

So, I don't know, but in the US, they tend to try to turn people away whom have disabilities. Maybe they have a way to get some of us in, though I don't know for sure.

- Ray M -

My behavioral symptoms have gotten better since I was two. I am now going into Middle School and I am going to start thinking about a job.

Ugh, I hope you're not being serious. First off, I doubt a middle schooler would be packing a shotgun, secondly, why would a single line from a complete stranger over the internet that was absolutely not intended to be discouragement drive someone to suicide? What, so I should carefully analyze and think over every single one of my posts because it might be deeply depressing to someone? Just about everything can be taken in a negative context, hell, even your post could be viewed as an attack on me and my inadequacies and that might drive me to suicide. Have you thought about that?

...Damn, I need more sleep, I'm getting bitchy again.

Although I am not an EMT I had an opportunity to ride along with one for a while during my pre med courses. It was an eye opening experience as well as a great deal of fun. The best way to describe it was long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of stark and udder terror.

Most of the time you just sit around waiting or doing routine transport jobs. Then every once in a while you get a call then your off like a bullet traveling past cars that pulled over and dodging the people that don’t. When you get there you rush in and there is a flurry of activity getting the vitals assessing the patient’s condition then as they call it you “Scope and Run”.

A word to a wise if your thinking of having this job you must have the following qualities or you will burn your self out or worse put someone else’s life in danger.

1) Above all else you must be able to handle stress extremely well
2) Be very observant (when diagnosing and driving)
3) Must have a great bedside manner ( no matter what you need to make them believe they will make it)
4) Sociable ( You need to know how to get information from people quickly even though they might not want to tell you) ( also your with your partner for up to 12 hours at a time better get friendly or you will never develop team work)
5) Physically fit (must be able to run up multiple flights of stairs while carrying heavy equipment and you have to lift your patients into the ambulance the folding legs don’t always work or not all of them have that type of gurney)
6) Good Communications ( you have 30 seconds max to tell the E.R. everything you know about the patient his injury and the treatment you have gave him)
7) Be able to always follow procedure and remember it
8} If you don’t like blood or any other bodily fluids ( skip this profession cleaning out the bus is no fun) I could go into more detail but I hope you get the point

It’s a lot of fun just beware its not easy and the pay sucks but its still a great job if you want it and can handle it. I will add one more thing if I may you need to be able to act quick and with purpose every second counts during the “ Magic Hour”.

I just think that we need to be more sympathetic to people. Yeah, though, I wasn't exactly being 100% serious, but the thought did cross my mind.

- Ray M -