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

[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).

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

yeah i'm trying to get ahold of my psychologist whom i have known since elementary school, i speak with him like 2 to 3 times a year, i last spoke to him in November, i did bring up this topic, i don't remember everything he said but i do remember he told me that its difficult to get on SSI, he has other clients who struggled to get on it

 

[Outdated]

yeah i'm trying to get ahold of my psychologist whom i have known since elementary school, i speak with him like 2 to 3 times a year, i last spoke to him in November, i did bring up this topic, i don't remember everything he said but i do remember he told me that its difficult to get on SSI, he has other clients who struggled to get on it

It's just as difficult to get a disability pension here (all of us have free health care here so that's not an issue for us) but I breezed through it purely by luck.

I was unemployed and claiming unemployment benefits at the time, part of the rules with that are that we have to be registered with an employment service provider. They make you jump through a rather complex set of hoops in order to keep getting paid.

When I got my formal diagnosis I changed service providers to one that specialised in finding employment for people with disabilities. During my first interview with them I told them straight out that I was autistic and having problems and that I intended to never work again, I just wanted to get on the pension.

They arranged a special interview for me with one of their staff that specialised in disability pension claims, she had previously worked for our social security department for 20 years and knew all the systems inside out. She was also autistic which really helped.

She printed out several copies of all the forms I needed and gave me very specific instructions on exactly how they needed to be filled out in order to get the pension. One of these forms in particular she gave me several copies of, because it needed to be completed and signed by a general practitioner, she told me I'd have to see several GPs before I'd find one that would tick the correct boxes for me and she was right.

When all of that was filled out properly she organised the whole lot in to the correct order for me and she put them all in a big envelope and sent them off for me. Getting the pension was just a 3 month wait after that.

 

[Andrew206]

I’m a kitchen helper who works only part time. I haven’t worked full time since 2018. I’m going back to school to study for an accounting clerk certificate. Hopefully that will help me get a better job.

I moved out of my parents’ house at the end of last year. I’m in a rent assisted apartment. It feels good to be independent!

 

[Rachie]

I don't know but with may be less qualifications and social communication some people will flounder more than others. I have to say I have two brothers. The oldest is younger than me still. My brother M thinks he likely on the spectrum. He is a father with a child today and a job and 44. He is a graduate post. He has in his lifetime had a thing for numbers and routines. He has his own ways. When I was in hospital for anorexia nervosa in 2015 he showed up and said believes he is on the spectrum. His case he is a genuis in maths and Economics. His A levels close one of the best numbers in the country results exams never for the Arts as well but enjoys a bit of theatre here and there to treat me. Gifts me every Christmas. The same foods. Loved him and sensory on it as well. I learnt to try and give time at home. Worked in so many jobs and sometimes posted abroad now in Cambridge with their blessings of a child. Private education at secondary school as well.
Another brother couldn't see really any autistic traits in them.
Another nephew 28 family gathering 2023 Rach I always knew you was autistic me so as well. I raised them felt at times sent them the test to only 13 right what I can but my goodness so much chartertistics but doesn't wish to test no benefit. Child and a partner and works holding his own.
No major breakdowns. Seems got the stick on mine hot at times well.
Then my parents watching them with their own ways but no major breakdowns and this part of their trying to do their own time got to this now time for a feet up may be.
Sensory aids in houses what to say quizzed on my history.
Other sensory profiles but do not to wish never said themselves but I have seen in it them and enjoy to know.
Some still push through life a bit challenged undiagnosed or diagnosed.

As I wrote in another post some autistics may to do voluntary work, or try to establish our special interests to interests to cushion us or whatever is your talent do what you can get crafty for a course. Arts writing whatever you can. Superhighway though with so much in it withs its advantages and disadvantages.

Well done Andrew206 for finding a new job, claps. Keep going.

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

I’m a kitchen helper who works only part time. I haven’t worked full time since 2018. I’m going back to school to study for an accounting clerk certificate. Hopefully that will help me get a better job.

I moved out of my parents’ house at the end of last year. I’m in a rent assisted apartment. It feels good to be independent!

for rent assisted apartment, are you living alone?

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

yeah, sometimes i feel i ruined my life or screwed my life up

 

[Kalinychta]

Don't get me wrong, I don't like to use autism as an excuse all the time, don't like to use it as a crutch, and overall, it's best to not blame it for everything, but my question is, is it normal or just common for people with Autism to be underemployed?

Or to live with their parents, folks, late in life or don't move out of their folks house until later?

Overall, not be financially stable yet or not have a job, career, that pays them well enough to make ends meet?

Just asking because I work at an Amazon warehouse making $20.90 an hour at the moment, and some days of the week, Friday through Sunday, i get paid $22.40 an hour, and I have been stressed and worried about my future lately. I normally work 5 days week. The only jobs, employers i have worked in my life, are at a restaurant, grocery store, and a warehouse. I'm at year number 3 at Amazon, and i previously worked at a grocery store for 4 years. So i'm proud of myself for being able to get and hold onto jobs, even if i have never had a high level corporate professional job, or something in healthcare, office, etc., jobs or careers that require college education, etc.

Because I do still get some financial support from my parents and obviously my folks are not going to be around forever, and that is no doubt a huge source of stress and worry for mine lately.

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?

Yes, it’s most definitely common for autistic people to be underemployed, everything you said here, very much so. It’s also common for us to be high intelligence yet low “achieving” in a professional sense. Is there a community college in your town? You seem like someone who would do well in school.

 

[Shamar]

yeah, sometimes i feel i ruined my life or screwed my life up

Yes, I sometimes feel that way, but I can never figure out just what I did WRONG.

 

[Shamar]

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.

I remember times, like when I was slogging through the jungle in the pouring rain, or up to my hip in snow at minus 40 degrees because my snowshoe slipped sideways, I would think "Why can't I have a nice , warm, comfortable desk job?" Then, after a week or two in the office interpreting data, I would think "THIS IS FREAKING BORING, get me out of here and back into the field!"

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Yes, I sometimes feel that way, but I can never figure out just what I did WRONG.

I thought my life originally was just bad luck which I had to overcome, so I went to work over coming it Another college diploma and a number of certificates later, and job changes a fee periods of unemployment, strikes. felt like I could never get up that hill, Actually enjoyed night school, Ever position change My experience improved, pre painting to post painting, aluminum to steel then plastic, my improved education and experience was more than any body else had. Over time I had become a real expert, Then one day fooling around on the computer joined a Myer Briggs forum, wrote a test on autism, knew nothing about it, found out, 99 % probability yes I was one, Even then did no know what this meant. Knew I had special skills could just solve intractable issues that others just could not, Could just see it. Over time learned about autism, always thought it was about people with learning disabilities, Used my unusual skills to improve my current employers process even out survived other lab employees who had considerable experience and degrees in chemistry, process keep improving as I made suggestions Until I was the only lab guy left. We were so successful a competitor purchased us as we had abilities unmatched in the industry. Few years later I retired, Ten days after my birthday I had a stroke, joined this forum. Here I am. It's not what you did wrong, however what you did right.