Now Garry has written a book about the challenges and difficulties he faced growing up, attending college and finding employment so that others can learn from his experience. I Want to Work – an Asperger Story relates Garry’s story, includes a foreword by Dr. Attwood, and offers strategies to help adults on the spectrum find employment.

Topics include:

• Leaving school and finding a career path
• Dealing with disclosure of an Autism Spectrum diagnosis
• Finding employment support
• Training managers to be more aware of Autism in the workplace
• How to overcome bullying and discrimination
• Employers who specifically employ adults on the Autism Spectrum

“My transition into employment was not an easy process.  My first real job was working casually in a Brisbane supermarket but not really being well understood and I was dismissed for no reason.  I know some people work in supermarkets and are able to survive in them but for me, the experience was not much fun.  I experienced some bullying and intimidation while working in them as well as being under ineffective managers.  My first real job was in 1999, just after I graduated from the University of New England.  As I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 1998 by Dr Tony Attwood, I joined a disability employment agency and was successful in being placed into the Queensland Parliamentary Library.  I really enjoyed my time here as I could feel like a human being and was valued in the job I carried out.  I was under a supportive supervisor who knew of my strengths and having worked hard within the Queensland Parliamentary Library, I was offered a further 4 months to work within it.

After I completed my placement at the Queensland Parliamentary Library, I then went through the musical chairs process of finding a disability employment agency which I hoped would assist me in finding employment.  After repeated attempts I find the right one and submitting employment applications, I was to land employment in a state government department.  It was here that I worked for 12 months in a traineeship and I successfully completed a Certificate III in Business and Office Administration.  It was after I completed this qualification that I went to the United Kingdom.  Despite trying to obtain employment, nothing was available so I thought I would make use of the time and go to the United Kingdom.

Upon my return in 2001, from a four week holiday, I was to find the search for employment difficult.  I did not know whether or not I should reveal my diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome to prospective employers.  Added to this, I just was disability employment agency hopping as I just could not find an employment consultant who could assist me in successfully being placed into employment.  I undertook volunteer work, I submitted job application after job application but found my attempts unsuccessful and my time totally wasted.  One of my more successful work experience attempts was working in the library of a Brisbane private school.  It was here that I worked for 12 months as a volunteer. Despite my knowing and the vague promise of me obtaining a position in the middle school library, I was to later find my application unsuccessful. Despite this, I was also contacting the school myself instead of the disability employment consultant.  I then had a breakdown and it took me a few months to join the disability employment agency bandwagon again.  I worked part time after perseverance and finding a helpful employment consultant with a disability service provider.  It was with success that I found then another supportive disability employment consultant who assisted me in obtaining my current position within the University of Queensland Library.  Within this position I mainly shelve and sort library items and ensure they are shelved in accordance with the Library of Congress (American Classification System).  I am also involved in some other library duties where required.”

Garry’s website is full of information, links to resources and advice, including “Strategies in finding employment for adults on the Autism Spectrum”  (Click HERE to read.)

For information on how to purchase his book, click HERE.

My son is 23, graduated from college and has high functioning autism. We’ve been searching with him for a job for over a year. We went to the Department of Rehabilitative Services, which I believe is in every state.

The first one we went to was in a more rural area, because it covered where we lived. They did nothing.

We moved our son in with his brother so he would have an address in another DRS jurisdiction, (a bigger city with a state college close by.) They got our son into a library internship. He starts in a week. He won’t get paid, but he will be starting to train and get used to working full time. If he does well and a job becomes available, he would be given the first opportunity.

DRS (Rehab. Svcs) will work with companies and your son to get him into a position and they will follow his progress, working with him as well as working with the people who hire your son.

I hope this helps a little.
Sincerely,
Janet

thumbnail image from Cave of Knowledge.com

I got a home where Jacob sort of lives in the same house, yet he has his own space. Basically his apartment space is connected to the main house. I figured I could help him to learn a bit on how to be on his own, cook, laundry, everyday things, but with him still being right here. I just figured I would slowly get him independent, yet he still is in him comfortable zone of being at home.

It amazes me at all the programs and how much is was out there for Jacob through adolescent and school age, up until high school and than the resources slowly start to fade. Now it’s like hey hes an adult now so good luck.I mean the resources for how to help our autistic adult children enter into the real world, but to where they can handle it is not there.

I just hope he will find that right job some day, the one he feels comfortable at enough to make it through his day.
Jacob is a remarkable young man, and I can’t tell you how he is as a son; just a true blessing from day one. I don’t know what I would do without him. And yes it has been hard on both of us over the years, and we both have our days, but in the end that’s just what makes our relationship that much stronger and special. Sometimes it’s just hard as a mother when you just can’t fix everything.

(thumbnail photo from Joliet Junior College)

Is there anyone out there who has any information or advice for this mom and her son? Is there anyone else facing a similar dilemma?

(thumbnail image from hubpages.com)

“… I have realized myself that the biggest stumbling block for me to being reinstated in the workforce is not necessarily that I have been home raising my kids for the past 15 years, but the fact that I’m an Aspie (self-diagnosed female).

I’m originally from Europe (Germany) and at the time (2o years ago) I was able to land some nice administrative positions where I was able to just do my job efficiently and seemed to have been appreciated although in retrospect I know that people probably thought I was a little odd. Here in the US though, it seems that the social part is SOOOO important when it comes to landing and keeping a job, especially in this recession climate.

Let’s face it, for us Aspies it’s difficult. We know we are good and efficient but not everyone is comfortable with us not being ‘chatty’ and social at all times.

At the urging of my husband I got a Bachelor’s Degree, too (Business/Marketing Management). He thought that I would land a great job with this degree… my husband does not seem to get that it is especially difficult for Aspies to go out there and ‘play’ the role of a great conversationalist. That’s just not who we are…. I don’t want to pity myself… but let’s be honest, there is only so much you can do to appear normal socially.

I’ve somewhat managed to hide my Aspergers, but I have come to the conclusion that it is really not easy for us Aspies to find jobs out there. I feel that I have to put up a show every time I come in contact with people… so I rehearse, prepare in my mind what recruiters would ask me, fully knowing that Neurotypicals (like my husband) would probably wing this part of the interview…”

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does anyone have any advice or questions for Aspie Lady?

Speak up, and while you’re at it,  share your own experience here.