I hate how there's little to no help for autistic adults to find or keep a job. I've worked in fast food and retail for 6 years, and I'm sick of it. Not because I'm lazy or do a bad job, but because it's overwhelming being around people (both customers and co-workers) constantly, yelling at you and telling you what to do. I really wish I didn't have to work another day in my life, but I have to pay the bills. I'm glad this video was made since I know I'm not the only one with these problems
because buisnesses want robots and submissive people. Autistic people in the eyes of these businesses are only viewed as a token way of scoring government tax reductions than caring. Most businesses won't hire the autistic as they view us as "liabilities" and having to make accommodations. Meaning you have to hide your autism until they ask. Only way one can thrive is if they hide their autism or get lucky with some groups. Otherwise, without those, Autistic people are viewed as unhirables/unemployables
I have literally just quit my current job, in retail, at a greetings card shop, because of the environment, and how my illness has affected me there, and also because I have realised retail may not be the best environment for my Autistic self and my senses. - I need something different
The biggest frustration and most depressing being on the spectrum. Having aspergers/On higher of the spectrum. The verbal side of aspergers is fine. A interview is about being Nero typicial. You have to promote the best things about yourself. And image what a employer might want you to say to get the job. So that involves lying. And having good theory of mind. And there is given a good eye contact a stranger. Even with masking the interview. How can majority of people on the spectrum going to be able to get into the head of the employer. In that employable me video. It says that a lot with aspergers people don't get by the interview stage.
Add in also unconscious bias by the interviewer and/or the company entirely, Keep blaming yourself you'll stay depressed. I have stopped crying, I have no more tears to shed, It's not aspergers or autism that's the problem. Unconscious bias, long spread ignorance and hate is the real problem. I am pushing for minority status protections and to hold employers and Rehab agencies accountable for when things go wrong. The only way to deal with these greedy and entitled Neurotypical- run entities is to make them face "hard time" whether it be civil and/or criminal. YOU as a taxpayer are paying for these and that goes for EVERYONE.
this is it really, after lots of trying you start to figure out what the block is and it really is quite an intrinsic part of how they are judging people for interviews and in general at work... The theory of mind, and especially the kind of empathy of being able to put yourself in other peoples situation / or having a "social imagination" to be able visualize exactly what the employer means by what they are saying and give a good answer to interview questions compared to other people being interviewed without Asperger's or who might find it completely natural to share the same world view of whoever they are talking to, even if they end up kind of acting and pretending to have the world view of whoever the employer is looking for, whereas we would tend to be completely honest about our perspective of things and have a very hard time lying or knowing how to take on a social role *specifically* tailored to be appropriate for that application and company rather than just doing our best to seem generally socially "appropriate" I also find the initial applications hard, because it is very difficult to imagine what a work environment is going to be like or to prepare for an interview from the role description because that involves a kind of "hypothetical" thinking, which is *also* a part of having a good social imagination and being able to flexibly bend your mind to the different point of view and overall bigger picture. *imagine you have this job and work with these people in this place and these are the things you will do each day and this is what the overall goal will be ... now even though you're autistic can you build a strong idea in your head of exactly how the employer in that imagined situation might want you to behave, dress, what skills you should have, what specific and more general topics you should care about or have past experience with, can you imagine the type of people you will be working with or what they will care about and do at work or what they will expect of a colleague or the type of person they hope gets hired or can you imagine what the building will be like or the interview room or the place where you work, can you imagine what people talk about together or where they go at lunch time or the kinds of past experience they have???* -- I struggle to a lot because it involves exactly the kinds of mental process people on the spectrum struggle with and what is at the root of a lot of the challenges we have. It seems like small things or quite general but the degree to which you can or can't predict social scenarios is going to hold us back a lot! Really import to keep in mind and try and find ways to work around it, usually by working much harder than others have to in preparation unfortunately
William Wright Well done, you expanded on my point about the interviews. And made it better. Someone said, why do companies what to make employer on the spectrum be all rounders. I feel like a lot of great mathematician and scientist who probably would have been said to be on the spectrum today. Mathematicians like Alan Turing Scientist like Einstein, Newton, This people work for themselves, and everyone else work under this people in there vision. (Steve Jobs another at Apple) now it seem that their aspergers/autism made this people single minded and assertive to get all the other the employers to believe in their philosophy. One thing is very bad thing to do is tell a aspie he's/she wrong. So the point being today empolyment is. If your on the spectrum it ok to not be a team player and not do the small talk. The most important thing is focus, eye for detail in work, the gift of autism is being able focus on small detail and notice errors. Unlike a NT would see the big picture and make errors. It is more about the productivity of someone in the spectrum. One hyper focus aspie can do the work of 5 NT estimation. I get it, it's a shame the whole world of employers don't.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I believe that the overwhelming majority of all “high-functioning” Autistic job applicants need to be able to “skip” the job interview process, because our minds simply do not comport to most conventional occupations and most of the elements that come with them. There need to be jobs specifically for high-functioning Autistic people where the employer understands that the person’s disability “precludes them” from having a regular job interview.
I have Autism and ADHD, plus having low and medium stress tolerance which is a factor in Autism and ADHD, I am having a lot of trouble finding what kind of job I want to have. I was looking at Web Design, but I found out that it involves coding and programming, which I find that too abstract and daunting for me to handle. In reality, I have no idea what do with my life, and I’m still trying to find a job that I can enjoy and to not be so daunting and stress-inducing.
Try making yourself self-employed. And my reason why I said that is that you are your boss. You get to be flexible on your hours, you write your own work, and make yourself to make opportunities for everyone, especially with neurodivergent people and others who are underemployed/unemployed who has little chance for employment.
AI has opened up web development, coding and other areas of IT that were previously not available unless a person was very good at writing code. There are now lots of no code or low code ways to do this kind of work.
Nowadays employers/companies talk about diversity and inclusivity, but don't know anything about autism. I just got turned down from a job. At the interview I told them about my autism but they didn't seem interested, didn't ask me questions about this. I believe job interviews are outdated, unless you are going for a salesman job, autistic people are mostly not good at selling themselves. Now my week is ruined because I'm just going to be thinking about this lost opportunity.
I hate interviews, they're supposed to test how good you'd be at the job but actually they test how good you are at talking about how good you'd be at the job, unless you're going for something in marketing or similar, really they're actually testing you for a very different set of skills. I managed to get a job through the compulsory work experience you had to do after x number of months out of work and they (the company) ended up creating a position because I was actually pretty good. I've never actually passed an interview - ever, it's just too difficult to think up a really good answer in the way they want to hear it to a question I've just heard in maybe ten seconds while people are staring at me, plus I don't really talk in great depth about myself in real life. Of course, apparently in the interests of fairness, you have to interview in order to move positions within the company so now I'm a thirty year old postgrad in an entry level job. Success is really just a matter of perception though and I guess sticking it out in a pretty busy office for several years is something of an achievement and I have improved on the social-interactions-that-serve-no-real-purpose thing over time as a result. You asked for something helpful, can't tell if this is helpful or not, hope it's at least interesting.
Job interviews are a test in which you have to demonstrate that, though you have not worn a suit in years, you were able to splash out and get one that fits, and are able to wear it nonchalantly enough to make it look like you are comfortable doing so, when all the time you are pissed off that you spent all that money and will never wear the suit again unless there are a succession of weddings and funerals coming up before you put on weight and it won't fit any more.
I'm pretty flexible but I like be given timely notice and what tasks need to be completed so I can get a fair shake and adapt to the new routine. I am disgusted when neurotypical folks make excuses and try to make the situation about them and throw "US" under the bus. Job coachs etc! I am pushing for oversight and possible PROSECUTION for employers and agencies here in the US who just hire folks like us for the tax break but don't wish to comply with ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) at all..(and use undue harm to deny or interfere with the safety and mental health of the employee.). Medicare for all could allow this!! Wake Up just a policy not turning our country socialist!
My wife does this to me and I finally had to say something... After almost 15 years together. Realized I have ASD. Called and set up an appt to talk about it with a doctor.
Yes, I tend to find that I can absolutely smash the job and could do it better than most other people, but it's little things like last minute changes to tasks and having to talk to colleagues that I don't do well with. And in situations like interviews or telephone conversations I stammer and talk fast so people struggle to understand me.
Hi Dan, I am a dad of an ASD daughter who has a number of comorbid conditions. It took ten years for the diagnosis to come to light and a decade of being called poor parents by nhs doctors, who have since retracted their perspectives. I have been told that should I be assessed it is likely that it would yield a positive result, figuratively speaking. I have always found it very difficult to remain in one job. The longest job I’ve had is six years (much longer than the exampl,es in this video), I have had around three years off on sick with stress, depression and anxiety on and off . I am now employed part time (still on a trial) with an online private school. I teach students from all over the world from home and I love it!!!most of the students can’t access mainstream education because of a variety of reasons, many are on the spectrum. Just thought I’d share.
The longest I managed was 3 years I’ve been forced to work for nothing for 25 years now refuse to do so. I’ve wanted to be a professional actress since I was 3.
Microsoft employ loads of ASD people, they love them because they sit at their computers and work all day without doing the office socialising and talking as they are so focussed on what they are doing.
I think it is hilarious when people would call me lazy for not working. I would always walk 1 hour to get into town or walk to school instead of wasting money on taxis or buses so the laziness isn't the issue. What they don't understand is I have so many other issues and worries about the workplace that are haunting me, before I can even think about the laziness, that isn't even a main worry, that is miles away, I have bigger concerns than that. Laziness just isn't part of it. I'm more worried about interacting with all these people and following my instructions correctly without coming across as odd or awkward. I don't have time to worry about the laziness factor.
I was a power controller of a metro line back then when I had my first job, I once was an intern at another company, but after 6 months, the overwhelming nature and the reliance on good theory ultimately be my downfall as I was forced to resign. Currently, as I'm writing this, I'm on a traineeship programme which also lasted for 6 months as a bicycle mechanic, but I hope that I will eventually get a job and learn how to live independently despite my setbacks due to the symptopns of the specturm.
I can't thank you enough for making this video! It set off sooo many alarm bells in my head it's unreal! I have a real issue with jobs. I'm a 29 year old woman with aspergers and my family is always on my back for me to get a job! And don't get me wrong, I do want to make money...but in the jobs I've had previously, the job life really scares! When the guy said he'd either be in meltdown or sleep, that was me working in a cafe in the summer at high peak tourism time and my boss kept asking me to work more and more days! Everyone liked me because I have a very agreeable social façade. But boy does it take it's toll on me. Even when I woke up, I was always so anxious about timing, being nice, looking presentable, doing people's orders right and so on and so on...I've had other bosses want me to work more and more because they like my façade and I can't say no because I hate letting people down! But it runs me down so much that I give myself the flu...or tonsillitis. I'm mostly a creative person but I struggle with social stuff and leaving my home/safespace. Is there ANY advice you could give me?? You're the only person I've found online that has said so much that I can relate to! Thankyou for that!
my first job when i was 17 (and didn't know i was autistic yet) was working in my church's nursery and I really only got hired bc i'd known my boss my whole life. i was actually the most responsible teenage employee they had bc I was really good at following the policies (ie don't be on your phone, change diapers when needed, follow the routine of certain activities/tasks at the same time every week) which were well suited to my skills and support needs but it was incredibly exhausting bc their were so many children screaming and crying but mostly bc my coworkers (all other high school girls) were just socializing and making me do all the work. it was much better when i was assigned to the toddlers and infants than to the three year olds since i could understand what they needed/wanted and it was way less sensory stimulation in there. trying to find and interview for real full time employment now is daunting
I have found it very difficult to hold down a job. My first job was as an order picker at an Amazon Warehouse. I couldn't deal with my Anxiety on a daily basis. The warehouse was huge and I found myself a couple times every day having an anxiety attack, just trying to deal with being so far from home, working around hundreds of strangers, and being expected to be as fast as a machine. After that, a couple years later I was able to get a job doing Inventory at different stores, and that job ended pretty quick when I ended having a bad anxiety attack and broke my Wizard Scanner when I got really upset. It was an accident, but I understand why I was let go.
Really great video gents! I'm currently employed though I definitely think I'm really lucky to be in the position that I am. Because first proper job I had was being an admin apprentice in local government. It was really good for it in one way because it's emailing etc. However the customer service side of things I really hated. I guess what I do now is have a script in my mind about what I'm going to say or what to do now. Definitely feel that being honest with your employer is important though for me with my new employer I haven't disclosed just due to the environment. I just don't feel ready to talk about it openly but that's fine as long as you have a plan of what you are going to do. I hope that this helps in someway.
I've always hated starting a job, because it takes me so long to get the hang of what they're asking of me. That and dealing with my coworkers and them getting frustrated with me. But once i get the hang of it, i become really good at it where i end up mentoring my coworkers. I've never been diagnosed with espergers or autism but i can relate to a lot of what you say in your videos for sure.
Most of us are undiagnosed due to how impossible the health services make it. There are several jobs I've done where I excel in the position, but then my quirks get the better of me & that ends that & I have to start again it's very frustrating
I've been trying to figure out what to do for the past 12 years and I still can't imagine myself doing anything for money. I had a few jobs before barely but the social and scheduling aspects were just intolerable especially the one that I didn't find out when I got off work until 5 minutes before I got off every day. I find it too daunting since I don't even want money in the first place but this society that other people like for some reason is where I am a prisoner, so what can I do? Just keep rotting? I don't see how I could force my brain to choose increased misery (from a baseline that is already constant misery) nearly every day just to try to stay alive longer so I can keep living in a way that goes against every fiber of my being. Can only talk to strangers online about it who are more discouraging because it costs money to talk to professionals, not that they could magically change the structure of human society anyway. So... Soooo..... SOooooooo....... The same wall, going on 13 years of the same wall banging head into the same wall. what will be next? more wall?????? I can't believe that there is really nothing I can do, but after nearly 13 years of being stuck on the exact same issue.... it seems crazy for me not to believe it.
I tolerated a customer service job for 3 years before finally flaking out. I'd turn off my phone, and just sit there after every call. I'd also "go to the bathroom" a LOT and just sit there. I finally drove off one day. Literally. On the way to work, I skipped my exit and continued down the highway for another 2 hours to Baltimore. I never went back. I actually left 2 jobs like that. How different my life would've been if we'd known about ASD back then. 😕
I’ve recently got a new job as a support worker, I’m autistic and got diagnosed at 17. I’m currently 20. Jobs have been a nightmare but honestly working in care/ the company I work for I’ve never received so much support and I think that’s because I work with people with autism as well. They’ve recently just put me on Occy health therapy which was a lovely delight since it’s a way for them to understand more about me. The jobs are out there it’s just being patient 😭
Hi Dan and Connar Thank you for sharing your experiences about work and autism. I am a female who has Asperger syndrome and I work in retail in a department store. The store I work in most of my colleagues support me. I am lucky that I am happy with my job and that work has helped my confidence and sometimes colleagues ask me for advice. I do like my routine. But have learned to cope in change of routine. With masking my feelings. I found this video helpful. Shows we all different in the way we try to cope with work settings.
I'm a certified teacher (I chose this career pre diagnosis while masking) but am working on a writing career so I can educate others about being autistic. In the meantime, I'm waiting tables, which is overstimulating.
As someone who had finished my studies in Diploma for 2 years, and after I graduated, I stull struggle to find a suitable job for me, but sometimes, my internalized ableist thoughts are still haunting me till this day.
Question. Do impatient people make you freeze or completely lose your focus or have a sort of panic attack? This has been a problem for me in the past. Now I only work one afternoon a week as a cashier at a used clothes store and I'm doing good. I find that ever since I got sick because of my last jobs I am more sensitive and have to be very attentive to take extra good care of myself by listening and respecting more how I feel and finding solutions to how to do what I want without becoming overwhelmed. I'm in a learning process.
Gina's Totally Bodacious Universe yes I cant compute if someone is coming at me fast with a lot of anxious energy. I freeze. I need time to process one thing at a time
I have a quick question if your willing to answer, of you work an afternoon each week, how do you pay for stuff like rent/bills and other living necessities? Is it like government payments like disability or do you live with someone else who helps? Asking for advice if you have it for myself who needs to move out to my own place for my own wellbeing.
Delegation - I think it’s important to recognise what you’re not good at, and delegate those tasks to someone who can do those things for you ... together you can make work a successful experience.
Thank you for this so much. I'm currently in a retail job which is absolute hell. Trying to get a different job but with no skills... hoping I can push my self employment to actually support myself on but I have no idea how to actually make money -_-
Thanks for this. For someone who has Asperges, and struggles with difficulties from it at work, it was nice to see this topic being covered. As of the past few months, I have seriously considered an at home job. I just can't seem to find any real, good sources on the internet to get started
I honestly think that many, if not most people on Autism Spectrum really need to be on SSDI. The reason that this idea doesn’t get more support from politicians is because of “how many” Autistic people there are who “need” to be on SSDI. I believe that our society has set the bar “way too low” in determining which Autistic people have to work, and why they have to work. I think that the 80/20 Rule apples here, where only about 20 percent of all Autistic people CAN work in most conventional workplaces, while 80 percent cannot work in these settings.
It turns out I worked really hard to end up as a vocational therapist because I didn't know I was autistic then and I had to be on overdrive mode to keep up with everyone else. It took some luck, yes. I was way in over my head with this job because there would be instances of people shouting at me and handling interpersonal conflict, let alone passive aggressiveness, is especially daunting and conducive to experiencing overload. It I s weird how I got into this career without flopping in the beginning. I guess I did a good job of masking but, over time, my autism caught up with the job which led me to have the need to be off work. I am still looking for what works with me but I have an employer that is searching with me as they wish to accommodate me.
It is all about trying what works and what won’t work. Now you know that, that job role won’t work for you. Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I started my training in May for Airport Security but I only did 2 days. I got overloaded with the dangers of x-rays and made me pass out when learning about them (mainly radiation). I don't know if it's got to do with my condition or the weather as it was warm in May when it happened. I was always waiting and looking for a video employment related. Thanks so much for your time and effort making it Dan
Could you make a video talking about ADHD and aspergers together. How does it actually work with one another? How can you spot it and so on. I am diagnosed with ADHD but I recognise quite a few symptoms of aspergers in myself. I would really appreciate this because I have always felt like there was something more. Note that answers from others with both ADHD and aspergers are greatly appreciated.
I have both but Aspergers diagnosed first although it is often the other way around and very common for autistic people to get adhd diagnosis before looking into other stuff when there are still some issues because adhd usually has effective treatment options. Meds have helped me but there is the definite aspect of struggling to relate to others which can cause problems or feeling like a weirdo. I was told with my adhd assesment that they can often disguise each other because there are different kinds of stereotypes associated with each (so you might be more socially withdrawn than average person with adhd or you might be more extroverted than average person with autism or aspergers) there is a strong overlap tho so could help you to look into
@@Hobgoblin13O I do definitely find it hard to relate to other people and I am more socially withdrawn. I have an obsession with studying people trying to figure out what they do and why. The why is almost never answered as people get mad at me for asking but I have learned to mimic them and then I just throw a bit of my personality into the mix. Thank you for your answer.
This here is the thing that stresses me out since I'm an adult, and I'm 30 now. Early on I figured that being employed is definitely not for me and I can't see it work out in the future either. So I tried to work self-employed, and I still do. Even when I work from home it's super hard to get into that zone where I can actually function. Most of the time it's just too much. The smallest thing like "I need a new rain coat", will direct all my energy away from me working to solving this problem. And of course there is always something else that needs attention. I tried to schedule time in the evening to solve problems. Result was that I couldn't solve the problem in the given time frame and I sat there problem solving until night, and ended up completely burned out. Anyone got tips for me?
I'm self employed too! 🙋 & I share those same +/- .... I don't think I could work for someone else though--also same struggles there as shared. I also Door Dash. Its just enough "peopling" and I can start/stop as needed. I had a store I ran 100% alone for 5 years but it didn't work out. Organization is ALWAYS an issue and yet I can do it for friends & feel better when things are clean& organized. I'm "so good" at so much but feel like I FAIL at everything I try. 🙈 And YES the 'too much' issues too... Im a single mom of kids also onnthe spectrum, have 2 businesses, and restoring a 10bdrm historic home all on my own etc etc ... 😬
I really enjoyed this video. It had many insights as to why I had trouble working and why I haven't worked for many years. I don't think it makes me feel less anxious about thinking about getting a job, but at least I am not alone in how I feel. I just wish I could overcome the social anxiety. I have a few job skills that are useful, but the social anxiety stops me dead in my tracks. It's too overwhelming.
As you guys spoke of job disasters i was saying "Heck Yeah" as i have had those issues or recognised i would. I currently am only just managing to cope with the part time catelogue delivering job i have. Its poor pay and i dread starting Monday morning work from the time i put that last catelogue bundle in a letter box on Wednesday afternoon.
Yes indeed, it is an interesting experience. But I found part time job to be manageable when I worked in my last office job. Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I work in a very large warehouse with very bright fluorescent lights. The lights are the worst part, can give me burn out, but I'm an adult who needs to pay the bills. Just get good at focusing what's going on in your head and block out what's going on around you. The autism winning bothers me more than the sensory issues, I'd rather burn out than quit.
Good video guys, I need this kind of advice. The ads I get drive me crazy though, weight loss again, I never search for anything like that and I'm underweight. To the wrong person that can be so damaging. Sometimes it feels like the ad targetting just goes: female -> weight loss!
I used to code medical records(putting numbers into the computer that correlate with diseases and conditions. I did that for nearly 10 years.. It was a pile of work and a deadline. I was allowed to listen to the radio through headphones. They have since changed the number system... Coding Medical records was a good job. I also made dentures.. also a cool job..a bit repetitious..but every case..although the mouth was larger or smaller..was the same with wax-ups and the little teeth that were added. I liked that job, but the boss I had frowned upon women having children as they would be absent with kid problems. (it is illegal to fire someone for those reasons now...but not in 1982.
Two big problem for me has been the social aspect with coworkers (because I'm just sitting there at like lunch wondering what I should do or say) and the unpredictability of dealing with customers. That alone leaves me tired and miserable. One thing I do like though is waiting in which you work in a team to deliver pretty much the same food to everyone (I'm sure there's a name for it... I forgot). It's great in the way that generally I don't have to deal with customers/guests much and I'm mainly focusing on bringing food to tables. I always know exactly what I have to do and once the job starts there's no time for awkward socialisation
The funny part for me is I can tolerate and handle dealing with people and talking to them as an autistic person. I used to be that way with not wanting to talk to people or not knowing how. I am thankful I was taught and learned how to deal with it. I got better at it as I got older and learned things from teachers and my parents. I cannot explain how I got over it. It just happened to me overtime.
Oh interesting :)!! We are all very similar, it’s seasons! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I'm on the spectrum too and had a hard time with keeping a job, 4 out of 8 of the jobs I was fired from simply becuz I couldnt adapt quick enough to take on multiple tasks or couldnt or didnt know how to do the job and rather than them taking time with me they'd fire me. I'm currently at a job that's very routine-like and is easy for me to handle which makes everything so much easier.
Lack of employment is a big problem among visually impaired also. We also can have trouble socializing because of not seeing facial expressions, etc. I think on a personal level, the two populations would have many life experiences in common.
I’m trying to become a self employee content creator because the current job I recently got is way too overwhelming for me. I’ve had two shutdowns and it hasn’t even been a full month yet. I’m not being trained properly either which has me more frustrated. I’m really pushing and pushing for content creating now and it’s tiring but much more fun because it allows me to be creative
I've only really had one job, i lasted 4 days, I sort of fired myself. I'm not diagnosed with anything yet. My job was simply transcribe interview footage. I'm a relatively fast typer, i spend all days on computers and so just by that it sounded great. However, I COULD NOT CONCENTRATE. I would type 10min or so get bored, and get distracted in every way possible. this would go on for hours, each day, I would just be mentally exhausted from still trying so hard to focus and I couldnt take it. I also wished I had a friend there someone to talk to because I'm actually quite a social person, I just dont know how to be social, I tried but it didnt work out. Shortly after I felt like I was losing my mental health. I decided to say that I lived too far and the travel was quite difficult for me. I basically fired myself :' )
I'm a high functioning aspie and have a job. I work as a temporary radiology technologist and set my own schedule. Most places I go to I do fine at. I dont do much socializing (because it wears me out), and have a set task with each patient. However, sometimes either the people I work with are incompetent or the schedule gets crazy chaotic busy and I have episodes or meltdowns. I basically shut down. In the past few years these episodes have become more frequent and so I'm trying to move out of the healthcare field and do writing full time. But it's slow going. I need days for recharge and currently I do t get that. Mental health days should be a thing like sick leave. But they're not in the US.
I just refused a job because of the location, it was totally isolated in a desolate area of the harbor and the manager couldn't understand, because to him the building was full of people with a lot of social control, but I didn't see that at all. When I don't see shops, or people in the streets, I get an anxiety attack. No matter how many people are "INSIDE" the buildings... I need them to be outside, when I am there. That's what you get from being brought up in city centers. :)
I want a job more badly than anything I’m trying to get something in retail i hate using my parents and being money. I want to support myself .for more because of the views of my family everyones sees me as some super disabled person whos gonna be living of his parents for his entire life And that depresses me because it couldn’t be more untrue I want to work I don’t think i can make my own job but that doesn’t change anything i want to work Idk I’m differenti don’t-get over loaded as much but i do sometimes and just get like anxiety overload but I usually just make myself do things
Hi, thanks for your video on this, Dan. I appreciate this very much. This is helpful to learn what works for us all differently when it comes to us getting foot in the door to doing the actual work we're doing. I've found it difficult to try and find the right words especially when l am in interviews and l feel like I clam up to a point. I liked one of the jobs as he understood me that yes little to do tasks and having a list by me to tick off through the day, getting it done that way. I was okay with trying to talk to the person yet sometimes when it peaked that stressed me and get me in meltdown trying to deal with clients and more. Yes, most jobs I seem are all wanting us to be fast. I like to have a routine and know what my day is going to be like. Communication as well between me and the employer is important to me and I'm sure it is like that with others.
I like your insights in this video. Im trying to look and find something that might help me help my bf to motivate his self to look and find a job that he likes and he’s good with even though he also have Asd. Thanks for the tips.
What I've found about myself is that when I have a set task that I know the structure of and I'm left to it, im a veritable machine at work and people are really impressed at how much and how quickly I get done. But the moment I finish the task, if I dont have some new task already lined up I cannot fathom what to do next and people get really annoyed at how much detail I need before I am confident enough to change directions
Great video, Dan and Connor; this video was really helpful as I’m currently looking for work again. I’ll always struggle with self-employment but I feel a part time job is something that I could work at. I’ll see how everything goes but I’m hoping to get something by Christmas; fingers crossed🤞 but if not, then we’ll see how everything goes. 🙂🦋✨
..employers aren't accommodating even in 2022! Also indeed jobs require all these tests now and don't accommodate Autism at all.. it's been very hard to find work.. and I worked for a prison for awhile before being bullied out.. yet I have alot of experience.. diagnosed late in life also..
I currently work at Oriellys 🤗 I used to work at a Dodge dealership, bus company, janitor for a school district, unloading brand new vehicles off of train cars, landscaping, and a food distributor...🤗 The reason I've been to different jobs, is because I'm trying to find what I'm good at.
So yes, i feel like im pretty good at what i do but i cant with social things and understanding people and staying at some places i wish i had the courage to build my own web design and marketing brand and work for myself as you guys
@@Dancestar1981 My teacher when I was 15 so mean she called me lazy I didnt understand the work I have a learning disabilty Teacher was very wrong Now my plan now is start working on getting my GED
I have High functioning autism and im 17 i heard that most people with autism are unemployed or some get fired from their jobs because of their autism Im scared that i will be like one of them..Like i keep thinking about it Also think that i will have no future...
Hey there, i'll recommend teaching 1 on 1, the only challenge i have is remembering that i have an very good audiomemory, so i have to repeat what i say.
Even harder for Aspie women who long to be actresses in Australia but everyone else keeps forcing them into fields that don’t work or won’t give us the opportunities we need
I need to decide wethet to get a diagnosis, i know it will benefit me but idk if having a label will make employers not want to employ me. I have a job i rlly want to do but i dont want them to turn me down because ive been diagnosed.
I love this video as I began working in retail stores at the age of 20…and I’m 36 years old now and wanting to sell my artwork as a side job!!^_^ I am an self taught artist and started drawing at the age of 7… Retail Associate x Autism…Do Not Work Together as I have come to find out about my Autismand mental health issues as well as my anxieties and social disorders… Since my school years as a budding artist, it was suggested to me to use my artistic skills as a career, yet the art field is highly competitive and I rather enjoy making my own art rather be competitive… For me as an autistic, I also love books to which I may find that working in less social and quiet environments such as a library; might help me… We shall see!!^_^ Great video guys!>^_^b
I just got my Masters of science in forensic science this past May and have been to a couple of jobs interviews and am working on my interview skills and I feel like I do good at the interview and hear nothing back happened couple times now it's so frustrating and the lab setting is perfect for me with Asperger's syndrome cause it is very rule structure and organized
I always write it in my application, because then ones who take me further to the interview are aware, they will question me about my autism and I'll tell them how I can be the most honest, best and hardworking employee if they provide me the help I need. I've found this to be the most successful way, because 1: the workplaces who aren't ready to deal with autism won't waste my time and take me to the interview, and there will be no nasty surprises and 2: the ones who do, are genuinely interested in me as a person and what I can bring to the company. I was super anxious the first time I decided to do it this way, but I quickly learned the upside of being honest from the beginning and not having to lie about anything at all. Honesty is one thing employers value so much, as it's super rare to find and they'd be able to work on internal problems. Also, you should be proud of who you are and you shouldn't hide being different! ^^
I can give the advice to work in a job combined with your special interests, for example I really like medical facts about the human body and I‘m working in the medical practice as a nurse/assistent
So true! I love anything to do with human pathology, genetics, birth defects...and finally at 35 became a Histology Tech. It's the perfect fit, especially because I don't have to actually work with patients and I can mostly keep to myself.
I find myself unemployed constantly. Living in the Southeastern US, people are not friendly to autistic people. However, anywhere else in the US, if you're not going to cater to the idiotic politics, you're not going to get help. I was in the professional field when I was younger, and excelling in prehospital emergency medicine, until I caught a DUI and blew it all. Ever since I've just been job hopping. It's impossible to find a job where you can actually make any money and not be treated like dog crap.
My best friend is an aspie and he has found it so hard to get a job. He has been unemployed for nearly 3 months. He has so much anxiety and stress trying to make ends meet that it comes out durring interviews then he doesnt get the job. He finds change very difficult, but i suggested he move in with me so the stress of bills and rent would not factor into his anxiety while he continue to look for a job. Any info on how to help him would be great, he has a tough time getting up out of bed in the morning cause he feels like such a failure...
"So you're not just procrastinating and playing Pokemon all day." I fucking love you. This is exactly why I am worried about being self-employed (but oh gods, working in an office though...!) Small talk. Argh! Keyboards, phones, uncomfortable clothes MANAGERS!!
I'd like your thought on starting work as soon as you're of work age. Here in the United States you can start working for companies as early as 14yrs old with part time hours. My daughter is high functioning with adhd and social anxiety. She's 13 years old and doesn't understand the concept on money and how hard you have to work for it. I've tried allowance and she doesn't care she rather not workfor it then to go through the hard work. She socialize at school with 1 or 2 people. I encourage her to try to hang with friends from school out of school but she doesn't ask for their number. She likes to stay home and do nothing .. My question is would 14 be to early to start her in the working field to be made to socialize and feel the work ethic to earn a hard working dollar?
I’m in year 13 and have HFASD and I have a personal statement to write it’s due in next week and I haven’t started it because I sit down to start but I get to overwhelmed with the task and I don’t know how to sell/ express my strengths I’m terrified about Uni my top choice is 4.5hrs away from were I live and I’m mainly terrified for the social and job side.... we are practising interviews and it ends with me haven’t a panic attack every time because I cannot do things like shake hands eye contact greet people or generally speak I take A level PE in which I have to do a 30min speaking test.... my teacher says I’m the best at the evaluation required and have the best script but I just can’t physically speak cause of my anxiety... pls any advice would be much appreciated
Uhm, sorry for saying this, but maybe a TL:DR version of this video would be nice? I have the good ol' ADHD/Asperger combodeal and it's incredibly hard to focus on the things I am watching this video for when I keep phasing out when the guy on the right goes on a bit of a tangent. I know that his background story fits in with the bigger picture, but this phasing in and out because I don't know what bit is tangential and which bit is to make a point is making it so that I watched this video mainly focusing on the body language interaction between you two and not the point you're trying to make. Short bits of "Here's the small story" that you need to understand "This point" are preferred.
10:51 - My reaction is the same as yours. That struggle between "Let the guy do his story" and "Hnngg y u sidetrack the big picture with personal stories".
I'm gonna soon be working for the government to get signatures to sign about rent control & this n that. and my future boss doesn't really know what Autism is... I even got offended when he said why would you be all for autism and I said because I have a son with autism and I understand it, so sometimes comments that people make in person: they don't mean to offend me😒 but I feel insulted. Lol funny but true. Idk how ppl deal with grumpy ppl every day, its just life I guess. I work from home and have time sheets that get sent out. but this gov. Job will help me out a lot... So I just told myself try not to get down when ppl have their ignorant comments. I feel like yeah they are just words but if ur boss is saying well be passionate about something else, its just easier to say "We don't have to talk about it, we all have our differences and ended at that."😁
I did electronics in school as a chosen subject. It is very good!! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Usually electricians deal with electricity and cables at high-voltage (dangerous). They also work at heights and in all weather conditions. There are also electricians, that work at houses, that build electrical grid in a building, that also requires strength, endurance and good work with hands (coordination), it's also a dirty job with dust and cables. Every job has their negatives and positives. And the negatives get you.
Hope you liked the video - leave a comment if you have any tips :)!
Left an essay-style comment. Please read an respond. Little to no support Network.
I hate how there's little to no help for autistic adults to find or keep a job. I've worked in fast food and retail for 6 years, and I'm sick of it. Not because I'm lazy or do a bad job, but because it's overwhelming being around people (both customers and co-workers) constantly, yelling at you and telling you what to do. I really wish I didn't have to work another day in my life, but I have to pay the bills. I'm glad this video was made since I know I'm not the only one with these problems
because buisnesses want robots and submissive people. Autistic people in the eyes of these businesses are only viewed as a token way of scoring government tax reductions than caring. Most businesses won't hire the autistic as they view us as "liabilities" and having to make accommodations. Meaning you have to hide your autism until they ask. Only way one can thrive is if they hide their autism or get lucky with some groups. Otherwise, without those, Autistic people are viewed as unhirables/unemployables
I have literally just quit my current job, in retail, at a greetings card shop, because of the environment, and how my illness has affected me there, and also because I have realised retail may not be the best environment for my Autistic self and my senses. - I need something different
Very true!
I had to quit my fast food job because it caused a massive shutdown and I developed Long Covid, yayy
The biggest frustration and most depressing being on the spectrum.
Having aspergers/On higher of the spectrum.
The verbal side of aspergers is fine.
A interview is about being Nero typicial.
You have to promote the best things about yourself.
And image what a employer might want you to say to get the job.
So that involves lying.
And having good theory of mind.
And there is given a good eye contact a stranger.
Even with masking the interview.
How can majority of people on the spectrum going to be able to get into the head of the employer.
In that employable me video.
It says that a lot with aspergers people don't get by the interview stage.
Add in also unconscious bias by the interviewer and/or the company entirely, Keep blaming yourself you'll stay depressed. I have stopped crying, I have no more tears to shed, It's not aspergers or autism that's the problem. Unconscious bias, long spread ignorance and hate is the real problem. I am pushing for minority status protections and to hold employers and Rehab agencies accountable for when things go wrong. The only way to deal with these greedy and entitled Neurotypical- run entities is to make them face "hard time" whether it be civil and/or criminal. YOU as a taxpayer are paying for these and that goes for EVERYONE.
this is it really, after lots of trying you start to figure out what the block is and it really is quite an intrinsic part of how they are judging people for interviews and in general at work...
The theory of mind,
and especially the kind of empathy of being able to put yourself in other peoples situation / or having a "social imagination"
to be able visualize exactly what the employer means by what they are saying and give a good answer to interview questions compared to other people being interviewed without Asperger's or who might find it completely natural to share the same world view of whoever they are talking to, even if they end up kind of acting and pretending to have the world view of whoever the employer is looking for, whereas we would tend to be completely honest about our perspective of things and have a very hard time lying or knowing how to take on a social role *specifically* tailored to be appropriate for that application and company rather than just doing our best to seem generally socially "appropriate"
I also find the initial applications hard, because it is very difficult to imagine what a work environment is going to be like or to prepare for an interview from the role description because that involves a kind of "hypothetical" thinking, which is *also* a part of having a good social imagination and being able to flexibly bend your mind to the different point of view and overall bigger picture.
*imagine you have this job and work with these people in this place and these are the things you will do each day and this is what the overall goal will be ... now even though you're autistic can you build a strong idea in your head of exactly how the employer in that imagined situation might want you to behave, dress, what skills you should have, what specific and more general topics you should care about or have past experience with, can you imagine the type of people you will be working with or what they will care about and do at work or what they will expect of a colleague or the type of person they hope gets hired or can you imagine what the building will be like or the interview room or the place where you work, can you imagine what people talk about together or where they go at lunch time or the kinds of past experience they have???*
-- I struggle to a lot because it involves exactly the kinds of mental process people on the spectrum struggle with and what is at the root of a lot of the challenges we have. It seems like small things or quite general but the degree to which you can or can't predict social scenarios is going to hold us back a lot! Really import to keep in mind and try and find ways to work around it, usually by working much harder than others have to in preparation unfortunately
William Wright Well done, you expanded on my point about the interviews. And made it better.
Someone said, why do companies what to make employer on the spectrum be all rounders.
I feel like a lot of great mathematician and scientist who probably would have been said to be on the spectrum today.
Mathematicians like Alan Turing
Scientist like Einstein, Newton,
This people work for themselves, and everyone else work under this people in there vision. (Steve Jobs another at Apple) now it seem that their aspergers/autism made this people single minded and assertive to get all the other the employers to believe in their philosophy.
One thing is very bad thing to do is tell a aspie he's/she wrong.
So the point being today empolyment is.
If your on the spectrum it ok to not be a team player and not do the small talk.
The most important thing is focus, eye for detail in work, the gift of autism is being able focus on small detail and notice errors.
Unlike a NT would see the big picture and make errors.
It is more about the productivity of someone in the spectrum.
One hyper focus aspie can do the work of 5 NT estimation.
I get it, it's a shame the whole world of employers don't.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I believe that the overwhelming majority of all “high-functioning” Autistic job applicants need to be able to “skip” the job interview process, because our minds simply do not comport to most conventional occupations and most of the elements that come with them. There need to be jobs specifically for high-functioning Autistic people where the employer understands that the person’s disability “precludes them” from having a regular job interview.
Faxx😊
I have Autism and ADHD, plus having low and medium stress tolerance which is a factor in Autism and ADHD, I am having a lot of trouble finding what kind of job I want to have. I was looking at Web Design, but I found out that it involves coding and programming, which I find that too abstract and daunting for me to handle. In reality, I have no idea what do with my life, and I’m still trying to find a job that I can enjoy and to not be so daunting and stress-inducing.
Try making yourself self-employed. And my reason why I said that is that you are your boss. You get to be flexible on your hours, you write your own work, and make yourself to make opportunities for everyone, especially with neurodivergent people and others who are underemployed/unemployed who has little chance for employment.
ur saying it like its an easy thing lmao@@RTMonitor
AI has opened up web development, coding and other areas of IT that were previously not available unless a person was very good at writing code. There are now lots of no code or low code ways to do this kind of work.
Nowadays employers/companies talk about diversity and inclusivity, but don't know anything about autism. I just got turned down from a job. At the interview I told them about my autism but they didn't seem interested, didn't ask me questions about this. I believe job interviews are outdated, unless you are going for a salesman job, autistic people are mostly not good at selling themselves. Now my week is ruined because I'm just going to be thinking about this lost opportunity.
I hate interviews, they're supposed to test how good you'd be at the job but actually they test how good you are at talking about how good you'd be at the job, unless you're going for something in marketing or similar, really they're actually testing you for a very different set of skills.
I managed to get a job through the compulsory work experience you had to do after x number of months out of work and they (the company) ended up creating a position because I was actually pretty good. I've never actually passed an interview - ever, it's just too difficult to think up a really good answer in the way they want to hear it to a question I've just heard in maybe ten seconds while people are staring at me, plus I don't really talk in great depth about myself in real life. Of course, apparently in the interests of fairness, you have to interview in order to move positions within the company so now I'm a thirty year old postgrad in an entry level job. Success is really just a matter of perception though and I guess sticking it out in a pretty busy office for several years is something of an achievement and I have improved on the social-interactions-that-serve-no-real-purpose thing over time as a result. You asked for something helpful, can't tell if this is helpful or not, hope it's at least interesting.
Job interviews are a test in which you have to demonstrate that, though you have not worn a suit in years, you were able to splash out and get one that fits, and are able to wear it nonchalantly enough to make it look like you are comfortable doing so, when all the time you are pissed off that you spent all that money and will never wear the suit again unless there are a succession of weddings and funerals coming up before you put on weight and it won't fit any more.
OMG changing tasks before I'm done the one I'm on is just.... NOPE
I'm pretty flexible but I like be given timely notice and what tasks need to be completed so I can get a fair shake and adapt to the new routine. I am disgusted when neurotypical folks make excuses and try to make the situation about them and throw "US" under the bus. Job coachs etc! I am pushing for oversight and possible PROSECUTION for employers and agencies here in the US who just hire folks like us for the tax break but don't wish to comply with ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) at all..(and use undue harm to deny or interfere with the safety and mental health of the employee.). Medicare for all could allow this!! Wake Up just a policy not turning our country socialist!
Hahaha glad im not the only one!!!😅
Yeah I hate that.
My wife does this to me and I finally had to say something... After almost 15 years together. Realized I have ASD. Called and set up an appt to talk about it with a doctor.
Yes, I tend to find that I can absolutely smash the job and could do it better than most other people, but it's little things like last minute changes to tasks and having to talk to colleagues that I don't do well with. And in situations like interviews or telephone conversations I stammer and talk fast so people struggle to understand me.
Hi Dan, I am a dad of an ASD daughter who has a number of comorbid conditions. It took ten years for the diagnosis to come to light and a decade of being called poor parents by nhs doctors, who have since retracted their perspectives. I have been told that should I be assessed it is likely that it would yield a positive result, figuratively speaking.
I have always found it very difficult to remain in one job. The longest job I’ve had is six years (much longer than the exampl,es in this video), I have had around three years off on sick with stress, depression and anxiety on and off .
I am now employed part time (still on a trial) with an online private school. I teach students from all over the world from home and I love it!!!most of the students can’t access mainstream education because of a variety of reasons, many are on the spectrum.
Just thought I’d share.
The longest I managed was 3 years I’ve been forced to work for nothing for 25 years now refuse to do so. I’ve wanted to be a professional actress since I was 3.
Unfortunately I cannot work but if I could I would spend it all day organizing shop shelves or doing something artistic
Microsoft employ loads of ASD people, they love them because they sit at their computers and work all day without doing the office socialising and talking as they are so focussed on what they are doing.
I think it is hilarious when people would call me lazy for not working. I would always walk 1 hour to get into town or walk to school instead of wasting money on taxis or buses so the laziness isn't the issue. What they don't understand is I have so many other issues and worries about the workplace that are haunting me, before I can even think about the laziness, that isn't even a main worry, that is miles away, I have bigger concerns than that. Laziness just isn't part of it. I'm more worried about interacting with all these people and following my instructions correctly without coming across as odd or awkward. I don't have time to worry about the laziness factor.
I was a power controller of a metro line back then when I had my first job, I once was an intern at another company, but after 6 months, the overwhelming nature and the reliance on good theory ultimately be my downfall as I was forced to resign. Currently, as I'm writing this, I'm on a traineeship programme which also lasted for 6 months as a bicycle mechanic, but I hope that I will eventually get a job and learn how to live independently despite my setbacks due to the symptopns of the specturm.
I can't thank you enough for making this video! It set off sooo many alarm bells in my head it's unreal!
I have a real issue with jobs. I'm a 29 year old woman with aspergers and my family is always on my back for me to get a job! And don't get me wrong, I do want to make money...but in the jobs I've had previously, the job life really scares! When the guy said he'd either be in meltdown or sleep, that was me working in a cafe in the summer at high peak tourism time and my boss kept asking me to work more and more days! Everyone liked me because I have a very agreeable social façade. But boy does it take it's toll on me. Even when I woke up, I was always so anxious about timing, being nice, looking presentable, doing people's orders right and so on and so on...I've had other bosses want me to work more and more because they like my façade and I can't say no because I hate letting people down! But it runs me down so much that I give myself the flu...or tonsillitis. I'm mostly a creative person but I struggle with social stuff and leaving my home/safespace. Is there ANY advice you could give me?? You're the only person I've found online that has said so much that I can relate to! Thankyou for that!
I am swdish so have full Time disability 😊
my first job when i was 17 (and didn't know i was autistic yet) was working in my church's nursery and I really only got hired bc i'd known my boss my whole life. i was actually the most responsible teenage employee they had bc I was really good at following the policies (ie don't be on your phone, change diapers when needed, follow the routine of certain activities/tasks at the same time every week) which were well suited to my skills and support needs but it was incredibly exhausting bc their were so many children screaming and crying but mostly bc my coworkers (all other high school girls) were just socializing and making me do all the work. it was much better when i was assigned to the toddlers and infants than to the three year olds since i could understand what they needed/wanted and it was way less sensory stimulation in there. trying to find and interview for real full time employment now is daunting
I have found it very difficult to hold down a job. My first job was as an order picker at an Amazon Warehouse. I couldn't deal with my Anxiety on a daily basis. The warehouse was huge and I found myself a couple times every day having an anxiety attack, just trying to deal with being so far from home, working around hundreds of strangers, and being expected to be as fast as a machine. After that, a couple years later I was able to get a job doing Inventory at different stores, and that job ended pretty quick when I ended having a bad anxiety attack and broke my Wizard Scanner when I got really upset. It was an accident, but I understand why I was let go.
Yeah I hear you there!! Thank you so much for the comment! Make sure you are subscribed and have the notifications turned on :).
Really great video gents!
I'm currently employed though I definitely think I'm really lucky to be in the position that I am. Because first proper job I had was being an admin apprentice in local government. It was really good for it in one way because it's emailing etc. However the customer service side of things I really hated. I guess what I do now is have a script in my mind about what I'm going to say or what to do now.
Definitely feel that being honest with your employer is important though for me with my new employer I haven't disclosed just due to the environment. I just don't feel ready to talk about it openly but that's fine as long as you have a plan of what you are going to do.
I hope that this helps in someway.
You lucky
If only i could get a job
I've always hated starting a job, because it takes me so long to get the hang of what they're asking of me. That and dealing with my coworkers and them getting frustrated with me. But once i get the hang of it, i become really good at it where i end up mentoring my coworkers. I've never been diagnosed with espergers or autism but i can relate to a lot of what you say in your videos for sure.
Most of us are undiagnosed due to how impossible the health services make it.
There are several jobs I've done where I excel in the position, but then my quirks get the better of me & that ends that & I have to start again it's very frustrating
I relate so much to this!
I graduated college with honors and have been unemployed ever since. I have mild autism and I have had 1 interview and no job offers over 4 years
I've been trying to figure out what to do for the past 12 years and I still can't imagine myself doing anything for money. I had a few jobs before barely but the social and scheduling aspects were just intolerable especially the one that I didn't find out when I got off work until 5 minutes before I got off every day. I find it too daunting since I don't even want money in the first place but this society that other people like for some reason is where I am a prisoner, so what can I do? Just keep rotting? I don't see how I could force my brain to choose increased misery (from a baseline that is already constant misery) nearly every day just to try to stay alive longer so I can keep living in a way that goes against every fiber of my being. Can only talk to strangers online about it who are more discouraging because it costs money to talk to professionals, not that they could magically change the structure of human society anyway. So... Soooo..... SOooooooo....... The same wall, going on 13 years of the same wall banging head into the same wall. what will be next? more wall?????? I can't believe that there is really nothing I can do, but after nearly 13 years of being stuck on the exact same issue.... it seems crazy for me not to believe it.
Same😊
I tolerated a customer service job for 3 years before finally flaking out. I'd turn off my phone, and just sit there after every call. I'd also "go to the bathroom" a LOT and just sit there. I finally drove off one day. Literally. On the way to work, I skipped my exit and continued down the highway for another 2 hours to Baltimore. I never went back. I actually left 2 jobs like that.
How different my life would've been if we'd known about ASD back then.
😕
I’ve recently got a new job as a support worker, I’m autistic and got diagnosed at 17. I’m currently 20. Jobs have been a nightmare but honestly working in care/ the company I work for I’ve never received so much support and I think that’s because I work with people with autism as well. They’ve recently just put me on Occy health therapy which was a lovely delight since it’s a way for them to understand more about me. The jobs are out there it’s just being patient 😭
Hi Dan and Connar
Thank you for sharing your experiences about work and autism.
I am a female who has Asperger syndrome and I work in retail in a department store. The store I work in most of my colleagues support me.
I am lucky that I am happy with my job and that work has helped my confidence and sometimes colleagues ask me for advice.
I do like my routine. But have learned to cope in change of routine. With masking my feelings.
I found this video helpful.
Shows we all different in the way we try to cope with work settings.
I'm a certified teacher (I chose this career pre diagnosis while masking) but am working on a writing career so I can educate others about being autistic. In the meantime, I'm waiting tables, which is overstimulating.
As someone who had finished my studies in Diploma for 2 years, and after I graduated, I stull struggle to find a suitable job for me, but sometimes, my internalized ableist thoughts are still haunting me till this day.
Question. Do impatient people make you freeze or completely lose your focus or have a sort of panic attack?
This has been a problem for me in the past. Now I only work one afternoon a week as a cashier at a used clothes store and I'm doing good. I find that ever since I got sick because of my last jobs I am more sensitive and have to be very attentive to take extra good care of myself by listening and respecting more how I feel and finding solutions to how to do what I want without becoming overwhelmed. I'm in a learning process.
Gina's Totally Bodacious Universe yes I cant compute if someone is coming at me fast with a lot of anxious energy. I freeze. I need time to process one thing at a time
Yes!
I have a quick question if your willing to answer, of you work an afternoon each week, how do you pay for stuff like rent/bills and other living necessities? Is it like government payments like disability or do you live with someone else who helps? Asking for advice if you have it for myself who needs to move out to my own place for my own wellbeing.
Delegation - I think it’s important to recognise what you’re not good at, and delegate those tasks to someone who can do those things for you ... together you can make work a successful experience.
Thank you for this so much. I'm currently in a retail job which is absolute hell. Trying to get a different job but with no skills... hoping I can push my self employment to actually support myself on but I have no idea how to actually make money -_-
Thanks for this. For someone who has Asperges, and struggles with difficulties from it at work, it was nice to see this topic being covered.
As of the past few months, I have seriously considered an at home job. I just can't seem to find any real, good sources on the internet to get started
Tiger Monkey keep your eye out for online tutoring jobs?
FIFTEEN Q Thank you for the info. I will
Try belay solutions and flex jobs. They're two companies focusing on remote work jobs.
Katie Thank you for the recommendations. I'll check those out
I honestly think that many, if not most people on Autism Spectrum really need to be on SSDI. The reason that this idea doesn’t get more support from politicians is because of “how many” Autistic people there are who “need” to be on SSDI. I believe that our society has set the bar “way too low” in determining which Autistic people have to work, and why they have to work. I think that the 80/20 Rule apples here, where only about 20 percent of all Autistic people CAN work in most conventional workplaces, while 80 percent cannot work in these settings.
Even on it you can’t get to be in the field you want to be in
It turns out I worked really hard to end up as a vocational therapist because I didn't know I was autistic then and I had to be on overdrive mode to keep up with everyone else. It took some luck, yes. I was way in over my head with this job because there would be instances of people shouting at me and handling interpersonal conflict, let alone passive aggressiveness, is especially daunting and conducive to experiencing overload. It I s weird how I got into this career without flopping in the beginning. I guess I did a good job of masking but, over time, my autism caught up with the job which led me to have the need to be off work. I am still looking for what works with me but I have an employer that is searching with me as they wish to accommodate me.
It is all about trying what works and what won’t work. Now you know that, that job role won’t work for you. Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I started my training in May for Airport Security but I only did 2 days. I got overloaded with the dangers of x-rays and made me pass out when learning about them (mainly radiation). I don't know if it's got to do with my condition or the weather as it was warm in May when it happened.
I was always waiting and looking for a video employment related. Thanks so much for your time and effort making it Dan
Could you make a video talking about ADHD and aspergers together. How does it actually work with one another? How can you spot it and so on.
I am diagnosed with ADHD but I recognise quite a few symptoms of aspergers in myself. I would really appreciate this because I have always felt like there was something more.
Note that answers from others with both ADHD and aspergers are greatly appreciated.
I have both but Aspergers diagnosed first although it is often the other way around and very common for autistic people to get adhd diagnosis before looking into other stuff when there are still some issues because adhd usually has effective treatment options. Meds have helped me but there is the definite aspect of struggling to relate to others which can cause problems or feeling like a weirdo. I was told with my adhd assesment that they can often disguise each other because there are different kinds of stereotypes associated with each (so you might be more socially withdrawn than average person with adhd or you might be more extroverted than average person with autism or aspergers) there is a strong overlap tho so could help you to look into
@@Hobgoblin13O I do definitely find it hard to relate to other people and I am more socially withdrawn.
I have an obsession with studying people trying to figure out what they do and why. The why is almost never answered as people get mad at me for asking but I have learned to mimic them and then I just throw a bit of my personality into the mix. Thank you for your answer.
This here is the thing that stresses me out since I'm an adult, and I'm 30 now. Early on I figured that being employed is definitely not for me and I can't see it work out in the future either. So I tried to work self-employed, and I still do. Even when I work from home it's super hard to get into that zone where I can actually function. Most of the time it's just too much. The smallest thing like "I need a new rain coat", will direct all my energy away from me working to solving this problem. And of course there is always something else that needs attention. I tried to schedule time in the evening to solve problems. Result was that I couldn't solve the problem in the given time frame and I sat there problem solving until night, and ended up completely burned out. Anyone got tips for me?
Do something to take ypur mind of😊
I'm self employed too! 🙋 & I share those same +/- .... I don't think I could work for someone else though--also same struggles there as shared.
I also Door Dash. Its just enough "peopling" and I can start/stop as needed.
I had a store I ran 100% alone for 5 years but it didn't work out. Organization is ALWAYS an issue and yet I can do it for friends & feel better when things are clean& organized.
I'm "so good" at so much but feel like I FAIL at everything I try. 🙈
And YES the 'too much' issues too... Im a single mom of kids also onnthe spectrum, have 2 businesses, and restoring a 10bdrm historic home all on my own etc etc ... 😬
I really enjoyed this video. It had many insights as to why I had trouble working and why I haven't worked for many years. I don't think it makes me feel less anxious about thinking about getting a job, but at least I am not alone in how I feel. I just wish I could overcome the social anxiety. I have a few job skills that are useful, but the social anxiety stops me dead in my tracks. It's too overwhelming.
I understand 😊
As you guys spoke of job disasters i was saying "Heck Yeah" as i have had those issues or recognised i would. I currently am only just managing to cope with the part time catelogue delivering job i have. Its poor pay and i dread starting Monday morning work from the time i put that last catelogue bundle in a letter box on Wednesday afternoon.
Yes indeed, it is an interesting experience. But I found part time job to be manageable when I worked in my last office job. Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I work in a very large warehouse with very bright fluorescent lights. The lights are the worst part, can give me burn out, but I'm an adult who needs to pay the bills. Just get good at focusing what's going on in your head and block out what's going on around you. The autism winning bothers me more than the sensory issues, I'd rather burn out than quit.
Have you ever tried to walk to work with sunglasses? I find them quit helpful in my workplace against those bright fluorescent lights.
Good video guys, I need this kind of advice. The ads I get drive me crazy though, weight loss again, I never search for anything like that and I'm underweight. To the wrong person that can be so damaging. Sometimes it feels like the ad targetting just goes: female -> weight loss!
Haha then I got an ad for working as a phone sales person, that would be my absolute nightmare! :D
I agree. I am sick of seeing the Exante guy in front of practically every video i watch, it drives me crazy
I used to code medical records(putting numbers into the computer that correlate with diseases and conditions. I did that for nearly 10 years.. It was a pile of work and a deadline. I was allowed to listen to the radio through headphones. They have since changed the number system... Coding Medical records was a good job. I also made dentures.. also a cool job..a bit repetitious..but every case..although the mouth was larger or smaller..was the same with wax-ups and the little teeth that were added. I liked that job, but the boss I had frowned upon women having children as they would be absent with kid problems. (it is illegal to fire someone for those reasons now...but not in 1982.
Two big problem for me has been the social aspect with coworkers (because I'm just sitting there at like lunch wondering what I should do or say) and the unpredictability of dealing with customers. That alone leaves me tired and miserable. One thing I do like though is waiting in which you work in a team to deliver pretty much the same food to everyone (I'm sure there's a name for it... I forgot). It's great in the way that generally I don't have to deal with customers/guests much and I'm mainly focusing on bringing food to tables. I always know exactly what I have to do and once the job starts there's no time for awkward socialisation
OMG YES I NEEDED THIS VIDEO SO BADLY T-T
The funny part for me is I can tolerate and handle dealing with people and talking to them as an autistic person. I used to be that way with not wanting to talk to people or not knowing how. I am thankful I was taught and learned how to deal with it. I got better at it as I got older and learned things from teachers and my parents. I cannot explain how I got over it. It just happened to me overtime.
This is exactly the video I've been looking for. You've basically described every experience I've ever had at work.
Oh interesting :)!! We are all very similar, it’s seasons! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I'm on the spectrum too and had a hard time with keeping a job, 4 out of 8 of the jobs I was fired from simply becuz I couldnt adapt quick enough to take on multiple tasks or couldnt or didnt know how to do the job and rather than them taking time with me they'd fire me. I'm currently at a job that's very routine-like and is easy for me to handle which makes everything so much easier.
Lack of employment is a big problem among visually impaired also. We also can have trouble socializing because of not seeing facial expressions, etc. I think on a personal level, the two populations would have many life experiences in common.
Best option is to be self employed.
Nor is it more financially rewarding.
Yeah you need good skills for that to begin with.
@@ileryon4019 and sometimes licenses, that cost money which you need a job to get
I’m trying to become a self employee content creator because the current job I recently got is way too overwhelming for me. I’ve had two shutdowns and it hasn’t even been a full month yet. I’m not being trained properly either which has me more frustrated. I’m really pushing and pushing for content creating now and it’s tiring but much more fun because it allows me to be creative
I've only really had one job, i lasted 4 days, I sort of fired myself.
I'm not diagnosed with anything yet.
My job was simply transcribe interview footage. I'm a relatively fast typer, i spend all days on computers and so just by that it sounded great.
However, I COULD NOT CONCENTRATE. I would type 10min or so get bored, and get distracted in every way possible. this would go on for hours, each day, I would just be mentally exhausted from still trying so hard to focus and I couldnt take it. I also wished I had a friend there someone to talk to because I'm actually quite a social person, I just dont know how to be social, I tried but it didnt work out.
Shortly after I felt like I was losing my mental health. I decided to say that I lived too far and the travel was quite difficult for me. I basically fired myself :' )
I'm a high functioning aspie and have a job. I work as a temporary radiology technologist and set my own schedule. Most places I go to I do fine at. I dont do much socializing (because it wears me out), and have a set task with each patient. However, sometimes either the people I work with are incompetent or the schedule gets crazy chaotic busy and I have episodes or meltdowns. I basically shut down. In the past few years these episodes have become more frequent and so I'm trying to move out of the healthcare field and do writing full time. But it's slow going. I need days for recharge and currently I do t get that. Mental health days should be a thing like sick leave. But they're not in the US.
I just refused a job because of the location, it was totally isolated in a desolate area of the harbor and the manager couldn't understand, because to him the building was full of people with a lot of social control, but I didn't see that at all. When I don't see shops, or people in the streets, I get an anxiety attack. No matter how many people are "INSIDE" the buildings... I need them to be outside, when I am there. That's what you get from being brought up in city centers. :)
Brave of you boy, I was born with Aspergers and Autism...
I want a job more badly than anything I’m trying to get something in retail i hate using my parents and being money. I want to support myself .for more because of the views of my family everyones sees me as some super disabled person whos gonna be living of his parents for his entire life
And that depresses me because it couldn’t be more untrue
I want to work I don’t think i can make my own job but that doesn’t change anything i want to work
Idk I’m differenti don’t-get over loaded as much but i do sometimes and just get like anxiety overload but I usually just make myself do things
Hi, thanks for your video on this, Dan. I appreciate this very much. This is helpful to learn what works for us all differently when it comes to us getting foot in the door to doing the actual work we're doing.
I've found it difficult to try and find the right words especially when l am in interviews and l feel like I clam up to a point.
I liked one of the jobs as he understood me that yes little to do tasks and having a list by me to tick off through the day, getting it done that way. I was okay with trying to talk to the person yet sometimes when it peaked that stressed me and get me in meltdown trying to deal with clients and more. Yes, most jobs I seem are all wanting us to be fast. I like to have a routine and know what my day is going to be like. Communication as well between me and the employer is important to me and I'm sure it is like that with others.
You too are great together - more please!
Thank you. It's inspiring to see how successful you both are! ✌🏻️
Yay!! Thank you!! Thank you so much for the comment! Make sure you are subscribed and have the notifications turned on :).
I like your insights in this video. Im trying to look and find something that might help me help my bf to motivate his self to look and find a job that he likes and he’s good with even though he also have Asd. Thanks for the tips.
What I've found about myself is that when I have a set task that I know the structure of and I'm left to it, im a veritable machine at work and people are really impressed at how much and how quickly I get done. But the moment I finish the task, if I dont have some new task already lined up I cannot fathom what to do next and people get really annoyed at how much detail I need before I am confident enough to change directions
Great video, Dan and Connor; this video was really helpful as I’m currently looking for work again. I’ll always struggle with self-employment but I feel a part time job is something that I could work at. I’ll see how everything goes but I’m hoping to get something by Christmas; fingers crossed🤞 but if not, then we’ll see how everything goes. 🙂🦋✨
..employers aren't accommodating even in 2022! Also indeed jobs require all these tests now and don't accommodate Autism at all.. it's been very hard to find work.. and I worked for a prison for awhile before being bullied out.. yet I have alot of experience.. diagnosed late in life also..
I’m sorry about your predicament Oena.
@@PraveenSrJ01 such is life I guess.. keep on, keeping on..
I currently work at Oriellys 🤗 I used to work at a Dodge dealership, bus company, janitor for a school district, unloading brand new vehicles off of train cars, landscaping, and a food distributor...🤗 The reason I've been to different jobs, is because I'm trying to find what I'm good at.
So yes, i feel like im pretty good at what i do but i cant with social things and understanding people and staying at some places i wish i had the courage to build my own web design and marketing brand and work for myself as you guys
I've never listed out my work anxieties in terms of my ASD. That's a great idea. I'm interested to see the outcome...
Not all people are Lazy I have a learning disabily I been same job for 30 years
That’s right. Wow 30 years congratulations! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Hate that NTs label us as lazy we are not
@@Dancestar1981 My teacher when I was 15 so mean she called me lazy I didnt understand the work I have a learning disabilty Teacher was very wrong Now my plan now is start working on getting my GED
I have High functioning autism and im 17 i heard that most people with autism are unemployed or some get fired from their jobs because of their autism Im scared that i will be like one of them..Like i keep thinking about it Also think that i will have no future...
I'm pretty crap at loads except a few particular things 😂 find an employer who values your personality, not easy to do but it does help x
Hey there, i'll recommend teaching 1 on 1, the only challenge i have is remembering that i have an very good audiomemory, so i have to repeat what i say.
Even harder for Aspie women who long to be actresses in Australia but everyone else keeps forcing them into fields that don’t work or won’t give us the opportunities we need
I need to decide wethet to get a diagnosis, i know it will benefit me but idk if having a label will make employers not want to employ me. I have a job i rlly want to do but i dont want them to turn me down because ive been diagnosed.
I love this video as I began working in retail stores at the age of 20…and I’m 36 years old now and wanting to sell my artwork as a side job!!^_^ I am an self taught artist and started drawing at the age of 7… Retail Associate x Autism…Do Not Work Together as I have come to find out about my Autismand mental health issues as well as my anxieties and social disorders… Since my school years as a budding artist, it was suggested to me to use my artistic skills as a career, yet the art field is highly competitive and I rather enjoy making my own art rather be competitive… For me as an autistic, I also love books to which I may find that working in less social and quiet environments such as a library; might help me… We shall see!!^_^ Great video guys!>^_^b
If you're at Docklands, why not come to UEL. Literally right round the water 🤷♂️
I just got my Masters of science in forensic science this past May and have been to a couple of jobs interviews and am working on my interview skills and I feel like I do good at the interview and hear nothing back happened couple times now it's so frustrating and the lab setting is perfect for me with Asperger's syndrome cause it is very rule structure and organized
I work at a non-profit organization called People First Industries in Durant, Oklahoma, we provide employment for those with disabilities.
Revisiting this as I now work full-time & finding it difficult
Would you say that you should tell the possible employer that you have autism in the interview or wait until you get hired?
I would just mention it once you are hired. Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
I always write it in my application, because then ones who take me further to the interview are aware, they will question me about my autism and I'll tell them how I can be the most honest, best and hardworking employee if they provide me the help I need.
I've found this to be the most successful way, because 1: the workplaces who aren't ready to deal with autism won't waste my time and take me to the interview, and there will be no nasty surprises and 2: the ones who do, are genuinely interested in me as a person and what I can bring to the company.
I was super anxious the first time I decided to do it this way, but I quickly learned the upside of being honest from the beginning and not having to lie about anything at all.
Honesty is one thing employers value so much, as it's super rare to find and they'd be able to work on internal problems.
Also, you should be proud of who you are and you shouldn't hide being different! ^^
Sometimes damned if you damned if you don’t I’ve found
Dont mention it at all
I can give the advice to work in a job combined with your special interests, for example I really like medical facts about the human body and I‘m working in the medical practice as a nurse/assistent
So true! I love anything to do with human pathology, genetics, birth defects...and finally at 35 became a Histology Tech. It's the perfect fit, especially because I don't have to actually work with patients and I can mostly keep to myself.
TEN DAYS? I couldn't go past maybe 3 before snapping/quitting. That sounded like a nightmare with all the keyboard tapping...
Josh G. I actually have no clue how I didn’t snap sooner
I find myself unemployed constantly. Living in the Southeastern US, people are not friendly to autistic people. However, anywhere else in the US, if you're not going to cater to the idiotic politics, you're not going to get help. I was in the professional field when I was younger, and excelling in prehospital emergency medicine, until I caught a DUI and blew it all. Ever since I've just been job hopping. It's impossible to find a job where you can actually make any money and not be treated like dog crap.
My best friend is an aspie and he has found it so hard to get a job. He has been unemployed for nearly 3 months. He has so much anxiety and stress trying to make ends meet that it comes out durring interviews then he doesnt get the job. He finds change very difficult, but i suggested he move in with me so the stress of bills and rent would not factor into his anxiety while he continue to look for a job. Any info on how to help him would be great, he has a tough time getting up out of bed in the morning cause he feels like such a failure...
"So you're not just procrastinating and playing Pokemon all day."
I fucking love you. This is exactly why I am worried about being self-employed (but oh gods, working in an office though...!)
Small talk. Argh! Keyboards, phones, uncomfortable clothes MANAGERS!!
I'd like your thought on starting work as soon as you're of work age. Here in the United States you can start working for companies as early as 14yrs old with part time hours. My daughter is high functioning with adhd and social anxiety. She's 13 years old and doesn't understand the concept on money and how hard you have to work for it. I've tried allowance and she doesn't care she rather not workfor it then to go through the hard work. She socialize at school with 1 or 2 people. I encourage her to try to hang with friends from school out of school but she doesn't ask for their number. She likes to stay home and do nothing .. My question is would 14 be to early to start her in the working field to be made to socialize and feel the work ethic to earn a hard working dollar?
Do another one thus is good
The thing I'm worried the most about in my life. Finally a solution?
I have autism and I wanna become an airline pilot.
Could you do a video about going to school and being om the spectrum?
Here in the US, if you're on SSI, you cannot work more than 14 hours and do only part time.
Thank you thank you thank you.
It’s me lol
Connor Ward just subbed to you ha ha lol
I’m in year 13 and have HFASD and I have a personal statement to write it’s due in next week and I haven’t started it because I sit down to start but I get to overwhelmed with the task and I don’t know how to sell/ express my strengths
I’m terrified about Uni my top choice is 4.5hrs away from were I live and I’m mainly terrified for the social and job side....
we are practising interviews and it ends with me haven’t a panic attack every time because I cannot do things like shake hands eye contact greet people or generally speak
I take A level PE in which I have to do a 30min speaking test.... my teacher says I’m the best at the evaluation required and have the best script but I just can’t physically speak cause of my anxiety...
pls any advice would be much appreciated
I struggle to remain employed due to my mouth misunderstanding, Charges of harrasment(employer not law) upsetting guest
I say being a Data Analyst is a great pick.
Uhm, sorry for saying this, but maybe a TL:DR version of this video would be nice? I have the good ol' ADHD/Asperger combodeal and it's incredibly hard to focus on the things I am watching this video for when I keep phasing out when the guy on the right goes on a bit of a tangent. I know that his background story fits in with the bigger picture, but this phasing in and out because I don't know what bit is tangential and which bit is to make a point is making it so that I watched this video mainly focusing on the body language interaction between you two and not the point you're trying to make.
Short bits of "Here's the small story" that you need to understand "This point" are preferred.
10:51 - My reaction is the same as yours. That struggle between "Let the guy do his story" and "Hnngg y u sidetrack the big picture with personal stories".
Thanks for the feedback!!
I want to be an EMT but because of my autism people think and keep telling me I can’t..
Never listen to the noise!! Go out there and do it! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
What is the building that Conner is talking about with all the people in the office?
His work office.
I thought about doing a podcast, is that a good market?
love you bunches dan
🔥
I'm gonna soon be working for the government to get signatures to sign about rent control & this n that. and my future boss doesn't really know what Autism is... I even got offended when he said why would you be all for autism and I said because I have a son with autism and I understand it, so sometimes comments that people make in person: they don't mean to offend me😒 but I feel insulted. Lol funny but true. Idk how ppl deal with grumpy ppl every day, its just life I guess. I work from home and have time sheets that get sent out. but this gov. Job will help me out a lot... So I just told myself try not to get down when ppl have their ignorant comments. I feel like yeah they are just words but if ur boss is saying well be passionate about something else, its just easier to say "We don't have to talk about it, we all have our differences and ended at that."😁
I can't understand tablets and I have autism or anything touch screen. Give me my vcr and dvd and ipod and my record player over this.
I work at a grocery store as a cart pusher
is it good?
Any Aspies here that are electricians? I’ve decided to pursue the trades myself.
I did electronics in school as a chosen subject. It is very good!! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
Usually electricians deal with electricity and cables at high-voltage (dangerous). They also work at heights and in all weather conditions. There are also electricians, that work at houses, that build electrical grid in a building, that also requires strength, endurance and good work with hands (coordination), it's also a dirty job with dust and cables. Every job has their negatives and positives. And the negatives get you.