Aspies For Freedom

A rough time, especially if you have trouble with interviews.

I wouldn't question the 85 percent figure, because you'll find that most Aspies who have employment are undiganosed - and it fudges the figures because they don't count. They've found their niche (good for them) and as a result appear to the uninitiated to be NT.

Batman's right - compared the NT struggle for employment and the AS struggle is like comparing apples to oranges. You just can't do it. Of course I have the additional hold back of a government medical officer telling all and sundry I can't work, and when I tried to change the decision I got told effectively by a court decision to accept that I can't work. It's BS, but there's nothing I can do about it because changing the decision means the government has to give me my old job back and they just would not do it because of their unwillingness to allow me what I need to be able to do the job. And it could have been done my way as well with just a few tweaks - not a whole change to the entire job description as they claimed!!

Timelord, was this a government department? I had people tell me that if I couldn't do phones it wouldn't be possible to change the job description and I would have to resign. After I received the diagnosis of Asperger's from the Commonwealth medical office, they changed their tune quite a lot.

I agree with the idea that those of us who cannot just fit in are not second-class citizens. If a system is unjust, why conform blindly? It would be something like telling people to turn a blind eye to slavery or some other serious social injustice, to just "go with the flow" and "not make waves".

It was a government department, Pakrat - but what happend to me was the reverse of what happened to you. They were just being tolerant of me - until they got told of the Aspergers. Then they stopped being tolerant and engineered things so that I would get that CMO report, and they'd have the excuse to sack me. To this day they refuse to acknowledge just how much damage that report did to my workability (as such). Heck when I took the matter to court they got the best lawyers to get it struck out as frivilous, and bankrupt me with their bill ($31,000 AUD!).

I'm one of those people who can't fake NT and is also not willing.

I think the main reason that many autistics are unemployed is becaused of people's intolerance of us. Though there are definitely autistics who genuinely can't work, so many of us can, and it's not to do with our abilities that determines most of us being unemployed.

Give up what?

Say what?

In my opinion, Batman, this thread is NOT all about you.  I don't see the hostility.  People, especially Daisy May, are expressing their opinions.  They're not launching a personal attack towards you.  I think that your inner critic is being triggered and you're externalizing the source.

But at least most NTs aren't dogged most of the time by communication and sensory issues.

Some people with seniority will not get fired because they were hired during times of low unemployment or they had the skills that were in demand.  People complain about their "lack of social skills" but they "can't get rid of them" because of law suits or they would be difficult to replace because of their experience and knowledge.  

Most of the employment in recent years is contract or temporary work.   The interview and trial working process usually eliminates people with autism because it is designed to do that.  If all those older employed people with autism who "just try harder" had to start over, they would likely be unemployed today as well.  

Some people are not counted in the unemployment statistics because they have given up looking for work, get disability pensions or they are employed part-time or unemployed at some menial job that they are overqualified for.

Excuse me, but I take offence to this. It isn't about trying stuff (as in the work). This is about the work place atmosphere - especially socially.

Now - if you are on the Spectrum (as I suspect you are) there has to be a reason why you are doing better than most of us. It has nothing to do with what we can't or won't do. It's to do with what you have found. A niche for yourself. That's good for you.

But to expect the rest of us to have a easy time of it finding our niche is unfair. No two people are the same. I suppose you expect me to try even though I have already and I've been psychologically beaten up for it - AND labelled unemployable by a government medical officer. You can not expect every Aspie to fake NT. We either can't do it - or we won't because it's dishonest.

The general work place experience for Aspies is bad. You are the exception, Michael, not the rule.

Hang on, Timelord - Michael 1 has already apologised for that post (and others).

I think that he has realised that he was trying to convince himself rather than anyone else that he was enjoying his work.

Michael 1 - Kudos to you for your apology and your explanation. I hope that your situation improves.

And, as daisy may wrote, the point of this thread is that Asperger's Syndrome or any other autism spectrum diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean unemployment. Especially if, like me, you give up the idea of a 'career' in the old-fashioned sense and instead look at a series of assorted jobs as an opportunity to learn different skills and get a new take on the world.

The longest job I had, I stuck at for nearly ten years; most of those self-employed.

If I find something I enjoy it is far more important than something that makes me rich.

Oh he did to. Sorry - I saw the one I quoted and went "quote" in an instant without checking.

Nice to see he realised his error, and I note his explanation above as well about other people's feelings. Just as a kind note, Michael, that would probably include other people's experience as well. They co-exist.

I think a bit part of the problem here in the UK is that there is a lot of discrimination among employers - particularly towards non-physical disabilities.

Another problem is that the Government seems convinced that most people on Incapacity Benefit are able to work really so are making it difficult for people who are unable to work due illness or disability (whether temporarily or permanently) to get incapacity benefit or they are forcing us (usually via organisations which are paid commission by the government for each person they force into work) into jobs which may well be totally unsuitable, or which we are not well enough to do and where there is often prejudice and discrimination.

They also often push people into jobs way below their ability level as their attitude is that you should be grateful for what you can get and that as a disabled person if you are ambitions-  even if you are expereinced and have a degree-  you are being naive to expect or even apply for a good job. Chances are you'll end up being paid not much more than minimum wage.

Also, these organisations do nothing about the problem if bullying and discriminatory employers. If you have difficulties they either won't help at all or they will make out that it is your problem and that you should just put up with it.

Additionally, no work whatsoever is being done with organisations to tackle discrimination - they are just pushing disabled people into jobs as though we are the problem and potentially sending us like lambs to the slaughter to potentially prejudiced employers and bullying co-workers.

Some organisations are great - I am fortunate to work for an organisation at the moment which is understanding about my needs - but this is pure luck rather than due to being given any help to find such work and / or to make my employer understand my conditions.