My Quest for a Job – An Asperger’s Job Story
“For now, my life is a 4-ton cross on my back, and I’m crucified to it.
I am an autistic individual, and I consider myself between PDD-NOS and Aspergers Syndrome – right of the upper reaches of the dreaded spectrum. I with the mysterious disorder have interests that impede me from “proper living,” a normal life which neurotypical individuals (NTs) prefer over my “small world” one. Worst of all, I’m currently suspended from my higher education intuition, Southwest Florida College (SWFC) thanks to my own standard of life I live and am struggling out of.”
This is part of an essay written by Tiffany Alfonso and published on Socyberty. She describes her up and down journey through college – she’s currently suspended because of bad grades – as well as her interests and obsessions and struggles in trying to decide upon just the right career.
Currently she freelance writes for online publications such as Triond, Hubpages and Associated Content. She also takes paid surveys but is seeking something with better pay.
While searching for jobs online recently, she came across our site and the story about J., a young man near her age who is experiencing the same difficulties. She writes “…the inspiration from several stories on the site impelled me to find help in finding employment, even when this economy is presently dismal.
Thanks to this site, I contacted vocational rehabilitation services and scheduled an appointment with them. While I’m at it, I will think of ways to better my studies in SWFC once reinstated this summer.”
We’re happy to know our site has helped Tiffany. We hope others will continue to share their knowledge, tips, experiences and stories, both positive and negative, so more can be helped.
Best of luck to you, Tiffany!
Read her complete essay “Jobs4autism.com: My Story and Insights” here.
To ALL those living on the spectrum (as a mother with an 11 year old son with the gift) never lose sight that you are truly gods gift to everyone. An I know first hand how misunderatood you guys can be. But just remember you are the one that possess the gift that is so wonderful people without it cant grasp it. Its them that truly has the problem.
My daughter has wonderful gifts: avid reader, sharp intellect, excellent writer, creative cartoonist (anthropomorphic characters), is an “animal magnet” and possesses a wickedly funny (i.e., dark) sense of humor. Many adults love her take on life. So how come finding employment will be hard for her? The crushing anxiety over social interactions in the workplace. It is absolutely overwhelming. She will need to find a job that has minimal interaction with people. So that pretty much eliminates typical 9-5 office and most retail/supermarket jobs (no cash registers!). The jobs must involve one of her passions: books & animals. I’m thinking along the lines of: stock area of a bookstore, dog groomer, dog walker, pet sitter. She’ll probably also need a “job coach” to ease anxiety. So parents, do some creative thinking about your son/daughter’s passions & try to come up with some ideas for employment. Maybe they would do best if they have their own business. Best wishes!
A woman with “sharp intellect” has no business being a freakin’ dog walker or grocery stocker. How about an accountant, book editor, freelance writer, or website manager/designer? Much more appropriate. Don’t limit your daughter’s life like that.
Having had this ‘gift’ all my life, I felt compelled to answer you about your letter. Your Daughter sounds quite a bit like myself.I have never been diagnosed, as when I was a child the Doctor kept telling my mom I would ‘grow out of it’. It’s probably a good thing too. They were still locking up children then in mental institutions. So after growing up and dealing with it anyway I could, I decided to become a Dog Groomer. She would probably love it as I did. The only thing is… most places you do have to deal with the customer themselves. Some places do have a Customer Rep that will talk to the Customers but most don’t. I don’t know how well she does with People but this is a fact in that industry.Some of the people aren’t so nice either. I once had a Dog thrown at me from across the room cause another Groomer had taken instructions badly on it and it bit me. The Lady smiled about it! But all in all it was a fun 15 years and I loved dealing with the Dogs all day. So you may want to look around and see the different shops out there and if one will fit her needs and is willing to train her. Oh yes you must be trained to groom. Some shops will train but others want you to have gone to school for it. Anyway hope this helps you.
What about a dog groomer business that takes customers’ orders by email: alot easier to communicate non-face-to-face and asynchronously like that! Not sure if there *are* such things … yet ….
I have six children, three of whom have Aspergers/PDD-NOS — and my hubby is an undiagnosed Aspie. I am fairly certain I have some aspects myself, as my hubby is just like my father and brother! Husband is a graduate of Stanford University — 2 degrees in EE. He has been employed as an engineer w/the same company for over 20 years now. He finds a lot of aspects of his job challenging, as he just doesn’t “get” the social stuff very well. But he is a hard worker, brilliant, and somehow, has managed. I have been home with the kids for 20 years now, and we homeschool. We love it. Three of our boys are very quirky, and our oldest has had great difficulty. He attempted university, but came back home after a semester. He is now going to community college, has just moved into an apartment, and is working PT. He has great difficulty finding and keeping jobs, too, as he also has fibromyalgia, and is in pain a lot of the time. There are a lot of challenges in life, but we just take it one day at a time. Peace to you all — stay positive, and continue to reach out and seek help!
I am an out of work everything nurse…I have ASD=Aspergers. It took 2/3′s of my life to get to this conclusion, but now what? My mind never shuts down..I am up all night and my wife and kids cannot figure it out. My sons have ASD to their own extent. My oldest son is more introverted like my Brother but when he is out of his shell it is great. My youngest is my “Minnie Me” but he still has that innocent disposition. I can do anything..Some psych. doc said I was a ‘Mimic” looking at my resume and it is covered with jobs for which I can do and I do well but they had no challenge and I got board. I am a Nurse but my brain does its own thing in that department. I have several theories on how to heal, not harm. But, who wants to listen to some guy who says “hey, I just figured out how to fix Parkinson’s and it just might do the same for Hunting’s and last night my brain fine tuned it for ALS. Call me. My tact is not always on right but I am very functional to a degree (put that there for my wife). Any advise on getting into being part of research instead of being the research?
I am 24 and have known that I have Asperger’s for 2 years now.In my hometown it is virtually impossible to obtain a diagnosis;although the multiple psychia/psycologists that I have been through in my life seemed content to label me with obsessive compulsive,high-anxiety/social introvert and a number of personality disorders in the mean time.I had come to the finite conclusion that I would enevitably die miserable,not knowing what but only that;something was incredibly wrong with my thought process.When it was first reccomended to me that I may have Asperger’s I was intrigued,this was a conclusion I had yet to hear and seemed more than the banter of a tired public worker doing his/her best not to raise the bar on my account.Now that I am aware of the neurological diferences and some of the research about what Asperger’s entails I have renewed hope that my life might still go somewhere worthwhile.This piece of information was the salvation of my sanity!I find it disturbing that there seems to be this trend of bias in the U.S. when it comes to females’ Asperger’s diagnosis.
I have left my hometown in search of a better life for myself;I don’t really have family because I was a problem child and my step-father asked me to leave my home at age 13 so I barely speak with them although I sometimes talk to my sisters we aren’t particularly close.I have nothing to lose,however,I could really use some constructive critisism!I know behavioral therapy is a good idea but I have no money and am in debt,not out of irresponsibility but hospital bills.Im trying to think like an adult but if it weren’t for the kindness of my best friend’s family I wouldn’t even have a home now.
So,I have laid that bare.If anyone has any ideas for me I would certainly apreciate it.I’m in the Phoenix,AZ metro area if that helps?
Thank You,
I’m so glad there are sites like this now!