Does anyone know of any support for AS/ASD people in the UK to help us back into work - or a more general disability scheme that may be useful?

I'm long-term unemployed (3 years, 9 months) and I'm on on Job Seekers Allowance. I have held down multiple jobs and had no gap in employment until this period of unemployment, only now as I've been unemployed for so long no one even considers me for work.

I am an aspie, but can easily pass as an NT, the problem AS causes in employment is that I can't use a phone to arrange interviews and my AS symptoms can show during interviews - although I've only had around 4-5 interviews since becoming unemployed. Otherwise there are no potential problems for employers.

The job centre don't recognise my AS - for the first two years they had me applying for call centre roles, when I finally got them to listen to me about not being able to use a phone they kicked me off JSA saying I was 'mentally incapable of work' due to AS. Whole big hassle with this that showed job centres total inability to deal with any disabled client, let alone AS/ASD clients. Now I'm back on JSA and have a disability advisor, but he's no use what-so-ever and there's still no recognition from them about my disability, let alone support.

I've just finished time with Remploy - all they did was sit me down in front of a PC to job search two hours a week, every week for 13 weeks - they did send me to train for my SIA licence, but didn't pay for this. Two weeks from the end of this scheme my advisor contacted an employer on my behalf without my permission and without even talking to me about this, as a result this reflected badly on me with the employer - so I have no interest in returning to Remploy.

Is there anywhere else I can turn to for help or support?

same with canada. most interested employers only have telephone jobs and prefer to hire people in wheelchairs.  

even if you tell them not to disclose your disability most of the workers do not review files before they contact employers.  it is easy with visible physical disabilities because it is obvious when someone comes to an interview because employers can guess (sometimes wrongly) what accommodations are required and what people are capable of.  

probably you should go back to remploy - just tell them they had no right to talk to employers and disclose your disability.  this is a violation of privacy.

I know it well from Australia as well. We have the same dreadful policies. I have gradually fitted into my own job as an academic over time. And they tried everything (social security) to prevent that. Here, they will just chuck you out to some pointless laboring job way removed from someone skills or desires.

Bloodheart, have you tried Prospects?

Contact Cirtizens' Advice Bureau and consider legal action against the Job Centre. They can't just 'not recognize' Asperger's syndrome, particularly if you're diagnosed (but you still have the same DDA rights without a diagnosis). Also, they shouldn't have removed your JSA. Eas it replaced with Incapacity Benefit? There's a clear breach of the law here.

Speak to them about Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.

If I'm entitled to it, so are you. You sound like you have a lot more difficulties in coping with Asperger's than I do.

But, the Jobcentre are a bunch of ***** and can't be trusted to make the right decision in cases like this. All you can do is fight. As Luke Mauser said, consider taking legal action.

This post was last modified: 02-22-2012 07:39 PM by Suedehead.

I feel for you, my partner is AS and although has held his current position for 13 years, because of his inability to attend "normal" training courses, he is unable to progress.

But, after a lot of help filling in the dreaded application form, he had an interview last November. I put forward that the interviewing panel had to make reasonable adjustments for him, because under the Equality Act 2010 (which replaces the DDA), Asperger's is a recognised "disability".

I was very forthright with them, and pointed them in the direction of the Autism.org website, in particular the reasonable adjustments for interviews which is here

He didn't get the job, which was in effect a promotion, because he had not enough experience outside of his comfort zone (partially due to the lack of further training), also because he's appreciated and much sort after in his area of work.

I also asked for written feedback after the interview, because verbal feedback would not have been particularly helpful.

The interview was held first thing in the morning, he was given the questions in advance so he could process them. The interview panel were told to probe for further information if they felt he was holding back, and to "shut him up" if he started to ramble!

The point is, once you are diagnosed with AS/ASD then you can pretty much make sure you always get an interview for a job.

One other thing I learnt recently, a close friend is unemployed and has been applying for jobs, he had been told that the "Further information" section was irrelevant. It isn't . . . and with AS, really play on the positive qualities. The tenacity, any related OCD (my partner's desk does not look like he works in IT! It's not covered in wires!), the things that make you unique. Employers are wanting somebody that will do the job until the job is done!

This particular close friend has a speech impediment which is worse when under pressure, it took him years to get the job centre to stop telling him to apply for call centre jobs! Honestly, one or two ounces of common sense would go an awful long way!

Best of luck

I was told by an employment counsellor that any accommodations for a person with autism during an interview including asking for questions ahead of time was not available.  

I found the link employment tips for interviewing people with autism or aspergers to be quite good.  thank you.

I find however that asking what I did in the past (or what I would do if.....) is really irrelevant.  Often I was limited in the past to doing what the employer requested and not actually solving the problems myself.  So I concluded that I need to know what answer the interviewer WANTS to hear rather than the truth.  This is really difficult.  

true it is difficult to get past everyone thinking of disabilities as only visible physical terms.  Most of the jobs are call centre related.  Even getting a certificate in "customer service" has done nothing for my employability.

Sorry to hear that, M. In theory, there's benefits (I'm on ESA & minimal DLA) & I was told about 'accomodations'  for work but you probably need some help getting them, which is ridiculous but, again, in theory, there should be some. The NAS should be able to help you fill in forms, for instance & direct you to any local help. I didn't think where I lived was at the forefront of such things, so if the help is here, it should be around most places. Citizens Advice Bureau, even, should be able to help you a bit, especially to find better help?

to go off topic here.  most of the programmes such as trial job placement with a job coach are only for people who are on welfare or unemployment insurance.  Since I am married and my husband has an income over the level, I am not eligible.  The job search assistance offered for me is just some workshops on how to do your cv, write letters, do job search (includes cold calling which I am not good at) and interviews.  They do not give placements which is what I want and really need.  Accommodations are supposed to be given by employers but no one really wants to hire anyone with autism.  Plus is it difficult to even know what accommodations I need.  

Back to the problem.  I told the last job development counsellor that I was terrible at cold calls.  So she did some for me.  We drafted a script for me to read when I called and she told me what to do.  I got one interview, no placement even while offering to work for free for a two month trial.  I suppose that might work for some people but insurance and union issues were apparent with someone working for free and not worked out.

Ah. Don't know what's available, for you, then. It's ridiculous that you can't get help to get work due to your husband's income but I didn't create the system. Doubtless, if I did make one, it'd be far worse, overall! Could try asking NAS, etc, see if they've any ideas? No 'support' for Aspies/ Auties wherever you are?

I have the same problem. Made worse by the fact that I've never managed to actually GET a job, a permanent employment gap since leaving school seems to make one unemployable in and of itself.

In the UK...what support (I.e placement programs) are available? I could actually hold a job for certain, once I've got one...but even getting interviews has got impossible. None in years.

And locally there seem to be no jobs available...I can't travel all that far easily, as both my knee and my hip are screwed, big time screwed. I can walk, with a cane, to the local shop, or the local metro station without too much trouble, but only if I've had most of my daily oxy script in one go.

I don't go into the city center much, partly for that reason, and partly because everybody I know has departed from where they used to be...hell..even the drug dealer formerly ever-present  has gone.

Yeah, the general economics & thus job situation isn't too good. I have had a fair number of 'jobs' but still, for getting into something I'd 'like' is now very difficult, purely due to my age & lack of experience in the field. Don't know if there's more help for you than M, though.

really for any country -- some job placement or training programmes are not advertised by the welfare council and you have to ask.  I know this because some are not well known.  Just keep showing up to counsellors and often they get calls from employers - they are not going to send everyone down but just a few.   Only I cannot afford the transit fare to go over to these places too often. just seems a waste of time.

Its got to the point where I am really not fussy. I will take ANY job available, short of scrubbing toilets for a living. As long as it gives me an income that is better than ESA and DLA, I will take it, if only I can get an interview.

I don't even bother with the job center now. Aside from the fact that some *** by the name of 'creeper', a cage fighter I stand bugger all chance against, goes there, who when last I checked, wants to kill me, in the literal sense, There has been sod all help from them in the several years I've been there. Its just 'check the job list on the computer terminals', and more or less every single one of the jobs listed requires either experience in the field, or qualifications I don't have (I.e degree level etc.)