Is being underemployed or struggling to get into a career that pays enough to support oneself, common for people on the autism spectrum?

[Aspea]

What do you people here do for work? But overall, is being underemployed or struggling with career, not getting paid enough, common for autism people on the spectrum? I'm open to believe that this is also common for people without autism as well, but i think its a little bit more common for those on the autism spectrum than those who are not right?

For virtually my entire "career" I have been self-employed, but those opportunities melted away and I have not been able to figure out a new opportunity yet, but I do have something in the works right now, so wish me luck!

Working for others has never worked out for me because I could not figure out how to navigate the complexities of the social aspects of any job, and then I lost the desire to. Life's too short.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

As you can see above some times it takes patience, I was in my first crappy position for almost 5 years. built on this,
steadily moved ahead with extra education and experience ended up full circle started on coil coating line retired from coil coating line.

 

[velociraptor]

What do you people here do for work? But overall, is being underemployed or struggling with career, not getting paid enough, common for autism people on the spectrum?

I'm an insurance broker specializing in mid-to-large commercial policies. I'm doing okay. I'm higher-functioning ASD (originally Asperger's) and do well professionally.

 

[Misty Avich]

Work is too stressful for me. I don't blame people who don't want to work. I'm getting crap at work right now and I feel like I'm being picked on for being a cleaner. I hate being a cleaner, it's such a boring menial job yet you get all the pressure to be on your feet all the time. I just want a sitting down job, it's so much easier when you're feeling fatigued from the stress of life, and at least you'd be working whilst sitting down. Whenever I sit down at work it means I'm not working and then I get told off even if there's nothing for me to do. Okay, little 10-minute jobs here and there but that's no good as it just involves me wandering around in the dark and the cold looking for something to do just to keep the management happy, while everyone else gets to sit in the warm and eat and drink. But me, because I'm a cleaner, apparently I "should always be doing something". I wouldn't mind if that rule applied to everyone but it only seems to apply to me.

Maybe I'm useless, stupid, bone idle. I don't know. I should be dead really. I mean, why am I even here? What use am I? I'm a useless, worthless nothing.

 

[FayetheAspie]

@Misty Avich You are NOT worthless. I'm sorry that people are treating you so unfairly at work. Wandering around outside in the dark doesn't sound like a very safe job either. I hope that you will be able to get a job that is better for you soon. You mentioned wishing you could have a job where you sit to work. Is something like data input an option for you?

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

yeah, i don't know if i'm eligible for any type of SSI assistance

 

[Crossbreed]

I do not recall if you said what country you are in.
If you are in the U.S.A. and have a diagnosis and/or were in special education in school, an attorney can help you get on SSI for a small percentage of your initial award; no cost if you lose.
If you have enough work history, they could even get you on SSDI (which is better).