so, i'm a disabled anarchist with a first class degree... wtf do i do now?

[fat hamster]

fh - i'm pretty sure i'm not likely to get any DLA (the categories it's given for are "personal care", ie stuff like gadgets/adaptations to help with cooking, cleaning, dressing etc, and mobility/transport needs... none of which apply to me as my disability's not physical,

"Care" isn't just for gadgets and adaptations. I get DLA medium rate (care) because of my mental health, primarily depression and anxiety but also including my inability to organise my life unaided, which is an Aspie thing...the money comes to me on top of my Income Support (which is at the Incapacity Rate), and it's entirely up to me how I spend it. I get about twice as much money now as I did when I was a single parent being constantly hassled to get a Mcjob.

and therefore can't really be compensated for by money

My point was that if you want to work full-time towards your political ideals, and you feel you can't survive on the dole, then a bit more money is exactly what you need!

 

[mk12]

How about working in a care home looking after people with mental and physical diabilities? That's proper Anarchist work, that is.

How much do they pay you for smashing up windows these days? Maybe he could try that?

 

[Japey]

one that i could actually cope with doing, and which would be at least *vaguely* ethically acceptable (ie something that an anarchist would still regard as a genuinely useful thing)...

about the only thing i can think of is library work, ...

the only other thing is a workers' co-op organic food shop

What would your anarchist society look like if people were only prepared to be librarians or work in an organic food store? (and you've normally got to be qualified to be a librarian anyway)

There are tons of other jobs of equal or greater importance. But you've got to have the attitude to find them and get them. Being down about it is the worst way to find something.
If your aspergers condition is going to be a limiting factor, then why not keep quiet about it on your application form, and then when you get invited for an interview, send a short factsheet in to the employer to explain how it affects you??
They can hardly turn around and say, "no, sorry you're disabled. We're cancelling the interview appointment."

 

[fat hamster]

What has your political ideology got to do with it?

He could put a big "A" sticker on the back window of the company car, and he'll be sorted.

How much do they pay you for smashing up windows these days? Maybe he could try that?

What's your fucking problem?

 

[jæd]

What's your fucking problem?

Someone else with a faulty sarcasm detector...

 

[mk12]

Someone else with a faulty sarcasm detector...

 

[fat hamster]

Someone else with a faulty sarcasm detector...

That was sarcasm? Looked like straightforward piss-taking to me.

Did you miss the sarcasm lessons at school? Or do you just take everything literally one line at a time?

Funnily enough, that is exactly what people who have Aspergers tend to do ...


So what's with all the abuse on this thread?

Soulrebel asked a reasonable question. Frankly I'm stunned by the ignorant and overtly anti-Asperger shite posted here:

Oh. And without arguing about whether AS is really a 'disability' or not it's not actually 'disabling' you from performing the vast majority of jobs out there. So I don't think it really enters into this equation.

You have aspergers unlucky ,you are aware of your weaknesses you either let this define you or you get on with life . Sorry if this sounds harsh life is harsh . Aspergers is a hidden disabilty so you can either ignore it in cv or interviews .

and finally this:

If your aspergers condition is going to be a limiting factor, then why not keep quiet about it on your application form, and then when you get invited for an interview, send a short factsheet in to the employer to explain how it affects you??
They can hardly turn around and say, "no, sorry you're disabled. We're cancelling the interview appointment."

Like, he might get an interview, but you think he'll actually get the job that way?

 

[Callie]

SR - do you have any idea of the sort of jobs you'd like to do? To be honest I have no idea of what problems Aspergers is going to cause for you so I apologise if I suggest things that are inappropriate

- If youre interested especially in Library work perhaps you could do a course in Library Studies? I might be misunderstanding what that sort of course would actually entail but there were loads of Library Studies students at my uni - perhaps there is a postgrad course in it that you could do to help you get a Library job?

- Does working in the public service sector appeal at all? There are loads of care jobs you could do working in the NHS perhaps?

 

[Bajie]

Soulie - you want a job which makes a difference to peoples lives? well there are tens of thousands of old people out there who's butts need wipeing, I did it, you can do it too. They are bringing hundreds of eastern europeans over to wipe english butts, I am sure there would be a job for you too.

Or would that be too much like hard work?

 

[Derian]

<snip>
Or would that be too much like hard work?

Why this inference that s/he doesn't want to work hard?

 

[Bajie]

Because there would not this thread otherwise, a job like Health Care Assistant is hard, often thankless work, but it is "ethical" and very, very easy to get into and he (Soulrebel is a guy btw) has ,if I remember rightly, talked on these boards about going into this area of work before, but never has.

 

[Derian]

No doubt a health care assistant's job is hard, and thankless sometimes. In fact I know and am sure it is. But I don't see why (a) someone with Asperger's would necessarily be confident in that type of role (no matter what they have posted in the past when it comes down to it); and (b) why the inference that just because he hasn't gone down the HCA route he is avoiding hard work

 

[WasGeri]

He is limiting his options though if the only jobs he can think of are working in a library or in a wholefood co-operative. It's little wonder the recruitment consultant got a bit exasperated, by the sounds of it.

 

[Bajie]

A) Aspergers is no hinderance to that type of work.

B) Becuase to come up with excuses like "my politics stop me from applying for certain jobs" is an excuse not to work, in my opinon. Sure most people do not want to make armaments for a living or work for the cops, but the fact is we live in a capitalist country and if a person wants to live they need to work, that's what every other fucker with a family or bills to pay and left wing beliefs has to do, so there comes a time to drop the high and mighty beliefs and get a job! like every other poor fucker on the planet.

One thing I cant stand is whineing about the system (man), like most people really want to work for some crap company which gets rich of their labour. And the worst thing is now I am sounding like my dad, god dammit!

Get a hair cut, get a job. Simple as.

 

[WasGeri]

An ex boyfriend of mine had an attitude like that. Apparently I had 'sold out to the man' by getting a mortgage, and drug dealing was a much more ethical way to make a living.

 

[blamblam]

I think the first thing is dump the idea of an "ethical" job.

Then after that it'll probably be relatively easy.

Good luck

 

[blamblam]

An ex boyfriend of mine had an attitude like that. Apparently I had 'sold out to the man' by getting a mortgage, and drug dealing was a much more ethical way to make a living.

I love people like that

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

How about Community Service Volunteering? I think a lot of them are residential, so you'd be able to live OK, it'd let you try something out, get a few skills nd maybe get your foot in the door somewhere, and hopefully would be something you'd see sa useful.

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

Plus he has a first class degree also!

I'm not sure your acedemic acheivments (sorry I am drunk and slightly dyslexic) are really that important when you simply need to put food on the table. I would suggest simply getting a job, and then a better job once you are working if you want to survive.
x

 

[fat hamster]

He is limiting his options though if the only jobs he can think of are working in a library or in a wholefood co-operative.

...but he's trying to expand his options by posting here asking for suggestions.

 

[WasGeri]

...but he's trying to expand his options by posting here asking for suggestions.

He has responded in a positive way to any though.

Although maybe he hasn't seen them yet.

 

[fat hamster]

the fact is we live in a capitalist country and if a person wants to live they need to work, that's what every other fucker with a family or bills to pay and left wing beliefs has to do, so there comes a time to drop the high and mighty beliefs and get a job! like every other poor fucker on the planet.

That's bollocks, Eita.

Lots of people in this country are on the dole or on the sick. For some it's a trap, for others (including many who are disabled by society) it's a gift - the trick becomes learning to live well rather than just survive, and the pay-off is having time to pursue your creative and/or political ambitions.

 

[lostexpectation]

easypeasy

he could be using the anarchism line to delfect from his difficulties with his aspergers and life in general rather then the other way around. I sympathise with him.

 

[butchersapron]

What sort of jobs fit people with aspergers syndrome then? We can maybe narrow them down eh?

 

[fat hamster]

That's a useful question, BA, but do I detect a touch of aggression in the way you're asking it?

 

[Derian]

Agree FH in respect of useful question. Then other useful questions might be around the degree of his Asperger's and how it manifests. Then motivation etc. Acchhh. Too late at night & more input from soulrebel needed.

 

[butchersapron]

That's a useful question, BA, but do I detect a touch of aggression in the way you're asking it?

...but the answers would help nonetheless?

 

[pilchardman]

I think the first thing is dump the idea of an "ethical" job.

Yup. For example, I've worked for NGOs myself, and it doesn't mean they're good bosses to work for. Or that they even do everything they claim they want to.

For example, when I was a WEA tutor, they didn't recognise my union!

 

[fat hamster]

...but the answers would help nonetheless?

For sure.

 

[butterfly child]

I have known three people who have diagnosed AS.

One lives on benefits in a supported living scheme on IoW. He's done catering type jobs in the past, and a bit of office work, and has borderline intelligence.

One lives on his own and works in IT. He has a degree, and works in management. He gets no support.

One lives on his own and I'm not sure what he does He also doesn't get any support. He runs his own website though, which I would link to if I knew the URL

I'm not either of the last two would think there was no job they couldn't do, but the first one likes to stay out all night and sleep all day, so finding a job would be pretty difficult under those circumstances!