Everyone is different. I struggled to even find a job that was neurodiverse-friendly. I explain how autism makes it difficult to find a job
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This was written in 2018/2019 originally. In 2020, I bought hosting and transferred my blogging content to wordpress.org and had to republish it. I am currently unemployed due to my autism. I have trouble finding a job that fits my needs and has the settings that I require. I will perform better if the job has no sensory triggers. If the jobs have these sensory triggers, it will be hard to perform the job at 100%. I will be showcasing how it will be hard for me to find and keep a job due to my autism. Many of us struggle to find and hold down a job. Around 80% of adults with autism are unemployed. Why is this? There are several reasons why most of us struggle with getting or keeping jobs.
Reason Why Finding/Holding A Job Will Be Hard
Job hunting is hard for anyone. Twice as hard for autistic folks. Everyone is different so I cannot say as a fact why every person struggles with employment. I would be able to handle self-employment rather than working for someone else.
No Jobs With The Settings I Need To Function
I need a job that doesn't have a lot of people, no noise, where I can work at my own pace, with direct clear instructions, low stress, low anxiety, and no lifting due to my shoulder injury, and arthritis flare-ups. The list can go on. Also, I'm updating this as of 2022. I learned I have IBS so I need unlimited access to a bathroom. No restrictions. Not timed etc.
To add to that, I get flare-ups like 3xs a week so I need a remote job that allows me to work around these things.
These settings are a must
I can't function without these settings. Retail jobs such as fast food and stores get busy at specific times of the day. For fast food especially I wouldn't have unlimited access to the bathroom with no restrictions. One time I was in line at McDonald's and I saw a sign that said no breaks during peak hours aka morning/afternoon/late rush.
With IBS or conditions similar when it hits you need the bathroom right away. You don't have time to find someone to cover for you etc.
It will be overwhelming being around all those people for 4+ hours working a job. It's different when I shop as a customer because I can leave if it's too busy and go somewhere else, I can't walk off the job.
Walmart, for example, is just too busy and fast-paced. Sometimes a person goes over the speaker if an employee is needed.
I would not be able to focus on who is on the speaker and the hundreds of people around me.
I cannot function in fast-paced settings. I cannot function in situations that are stressful or anxiety-raising.
I cannot function in settings that are too cold or too hot. Sometimes I am still cold even if I wear a jacket. I cannot function in settings with bright lights.
My mom can say I can stock shelves but what she doesn't understand is retail changes your schedule a lot and/or position. Inconsistency burns me out. I'd end up quitting or my performance declines and I get fired.
The way I process and learn things can make it hard on a job. I am a visual learner. Just explaining what I have to do will not be remote enough for me to understand the job.
When I was little, this caused my aunt to hit me. I need to see someone do it to understand what is expected of me. Sometimes I can't read between the lines and need direct instructions.
I take things literally. I take my mom's instructions too literally or misunderstand because she left out details and I get criticized for 'not using common sense.' Customer service is out of the question. For instance, If I can't see what the caller's problem is, I can't help them.
Even if I see them in person, if they don't show me what is wrong with whatever they are returning, I can't help them. An example I have to back this is a lady who was interested in buying an abandoned house. She rang the bell to ask about her lock. She was just explaining her lock but not showing me eg showing me a picture on her phone, I had no clue what she was talking about.
It's like she was speaking another language. I had to get my grandma because I just could not understand her lock situation. I would have had a much better understanding if she walked me over to the house and showed me whatever the problem was.
On a job, I may not always have the option to get someone else if I can't help the customer. I cannot filter information if given a lot thus I will forget easily. If it's not short and sweet. I lose interest fast.
My mom had to go all over the Mulberry Bush to explain why she grew tired of the foods my grandma cooked. I lost interest quickly. Had she kept it short and just said she ate the foods a lot when she was a kid, that would have been better.
No Programs That Help People Like Me,
In the summer of 2017, I went through a program that I thought would help me find a job. Meaning they show you how to find a job based on your skills. Or show you how to rule out jobs based on your weaknesses.
The job coach knew nothing about autism, therefore she could not help me. You have to think that the program probably has not gotten a lot of adults with autism or none.
The lady did not understand I had trouble filtering a lot of information, the lady did not understand I needed to go at my own pace, that I needed time to think, time to adjust.
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