Job Agency specifically for Aspies?

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I wondered, after reading Temple Grandin's book, 'Animals in Translation', if there was a job agency or government department set up specifically to play to Asperger's strengths (eye for detail etc)? I don't mean just a job agency set up to place individuals in any kind of employment available but a strategy aimed at selling what we do best as a group? If there isn't one there should be as ordinary employment agencies (for anybody) tend to throw you into what is available, not what you're capable of or would like to do (During a war the same thing happens - skills are lost to cannon fodder, stick a gun in their hands, roll them out and replace them).

if the companies were smart they would actively seek out as traits...

Hi, This is an excellent topic. I am interested in the types of careers that are angled towards those with autism and asperger's... Sales are a no-no, daily transportation of merchandise is also out, etc... What are occupations of fellow members? How many years is common in holding the same job? Do you have job security? 401K? Benefits? Bonuses? Paid training? Has college made it easiser to obtain the job/career you seek? Is it easier to be self-employed? Any feedbacks will be appreciated, esp. in this uncertain market.......

Actually, I believe a member of ours is trying to build a site along these lines... I'll leave it to him to reveal it if/when he's ready

Sales should really not be out of the question for those with AS considering others may only mildly affect, and the fact that the indiviudal may be very passionate about the product in question.


However, whats wrong with transportation??? Many of us here drive including me. ljbouchard is a bus drive which requires a CDL.

HI, I find driving most stressful, and I believe the highways and freeways are a nightmare to be caught up in... The stress and the way other drivers are makes , for me, one of the least favored priviliges that I have.. For those who master driving skills, I am quite proud of you for doing so..This is my own personal opinion, and I wish I had the confidence and wits to overcome the racing cars in traffic, the white knuckle feel from being on the road, etc.. I simply see occupations inside departments, where research goes on, and general business and math skills are effectively applied, to be preferable choices...Sales is a cutthroat position, where you compete with the next fella to make a sale, and there is alot of overhead pressure to make that sale..I've done sales in the past, did not find it was right for me..just an opinion..If you enjoy the open road making your living, I'm proud of you...Peace...

Heh - I can drive just about everything on the road except for road trains and motorcycles. Funny thing is - I can handle long (multi-day) trips in a car, no problem, but go stir-crazy driving anything larger than a van more than a couple of hours - to the point of having to stop at rest areas and run around screaming and waving my arms and legs around!

I understand that one of the big banks here (Commonwealth) is very impressed with the extraordinary combination of honesty and maths skills you find in some aspies and has a unit of aspie workers.

I always thought absurd honesty was an aspie characteristic but since I've been on the net, a lot of aspies say they can lie and deceive, I don't know if this is just 'bragging' or what, but certainly I am 'honest to a fault', so in a world where it is getting increasingly difficult to find honest people, a honesty is a big selling point for aspie employment.

First off, any agency that would deal with aspies would have to take in their skills and interests as a whole before placing them in an employment position. Nothing can be ruled out because each aspie is different as are their skills and interests.

That said, yes I do drive school bus. That requires a road test and bunch of written tests in addition to the basic driving tests for a car. One of the biggest reasons I do so is because I was interested in driving/traveling since a young age (memorized school bus route at age 6 and up, memorized Buffalo NY transis system at age 7, memorized driving rules at age 9). In fact, at an early age, I wanted to be a bus driver.

That said, I am not the best driver out there but neither is any other driver out there. I did not score a 100 on my roadtest for schoolbus driving (I did get a 93) and in fact almost overloaded during the road test. I however did very well on the pre-trip inspection, basic skills (try to back a 35 foot bus into an alley 45 degrees from the road and get it stopped with the back bumper in a 2 foot box) and written test. In addition, I was given a special needs route. That means I do not have to deal with too many screaming kids (20 - 30 on special needs routes at most vs 70 - 80 on regular routes). I have a very understanding and intelligent paraprofessional (bus aide) who know about me and works with me. I also take part in various events to better my skills.

On the other hand, I know that I have problems in fields like being a cashier and telephone tech support. I know that from experience and as such, avoid those positions.

I will not say that driving is a good idea for all aspies but for those that can drive, it should not be ruled out. That goes for any other employment position. We should let our interests, abilities, and experience be our guides and that is what an employment agency for us will need to do too.

There's one in the UK run by the NAS-Prospects.

I would love to find such a place.

Interesting, I might have to check it out. Thing is, Im not officially diagnosed.

As far as I know, there is no Aspie job agency in the United States as far as I know, and it is a shame. In the United States, recent legislation has sought to consolidate workforce development programs for job seekers into one-stop job centers at the state level. People who are on public assistance (unemployment compensation, welfare) are being encouraged to use the one-stop job centers to provide tools for job hunting (job skills and abilities matches, job applications, cover letters, resumes, and the like). I used a one-stop job center when I was laid off in 2002. However, government programs usually tend to adopt a one-size fits all mentality. People with ASDs need more intervention in job hunting than the normal things offered by one-stop job centers. Contacts with prospective employers in the form of phone calls and the actual interview process is very difficult for the Aspie. In addition, careers that involve substantial to extensive social contact are usually out for Aspies. Even in interviews for jobs that do not involve extensive people contact, ASD candidates still find it difficult to make the case to the prospective employer to hire them. Some ASDs also need intervention to develop the skills necessary to keep down jobs. If somebody out there can get some public and private grant money to form a job agency that caters to people with ASDs, that would be a great start.