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

[kyser_soze]

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

I was referring to Maddelene's post, not SRs...

Why the 'aggression'? Because SRs posted a number of times about his problems with life, getting a job and stuff and the same issues seem to keep coming back round in new forms - the guy's got a 1st and I remember threads of his where he was unsure about whether he could finish his degree because of the people on it, his asbergers etc.

There have been several offerings of advice - including my own first post which suggested talking to AS sufferer associations and finding out what other people have been able to do/achieve - and there may possibly be a level of frustration for some posters that SR is conflating his politics with his illness as reasons for not being able to get work.

 

[fat hamster]

Asperger's Syndrome isn't an illness. It's an incurable social disability. And the behaviour you're annoyed at is pretty typical Asperger's behaviour, I'm afraid.

I was referring to Maddelene's post, not SRs...

I realised that. I just thought it was interesting in this context.

 

[kyser_soze]

Aplogies for calling it an illness - altho I'd put money on it that I'd find someone who'd object to it being referred to as a disability as much as you do illness.

 

[fat hamster]

I'd put money on it that I'd find someone who'd object to it being referred to as a disability as much as you do illness.

Interesting point - how best do you think Asperger's should be refered to?

 

[kyser_soze]

Well 'syndrome' springs to mind, but that just sounds...well, sinister don't you think?

TBH I've found with most conversations I have with people who suffer from various debilitating afflictions that it's best to stick with what they prefer during the conversation...OK, fence sitting but it does keep me out of trouble.

 

[fat hamster]

"Condition" is a useful word - I use it to describe my synaesthesia, which is an abnormality but certainly not a disability. (I have also heard people talk of dyspraxia/dyslexia as a gift, because of the concommitant artistic ability.)

I would use the term disability confidently when referring to Asperger's Syndrome though, because there is no doubt that AS people are disabled by the "neurotypical" society around them.

 

[Wyn]

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!

The only person I know with a formal diagnosis of Aspergers lives independently, has a degree, works and is a very supportive and understanding father and husband.

 

[Wyn]

Well 'syndrome' springs to mind, but that just sounds...well, sinister don't you think?

TBH I've found with most conversations I have with people who suffer from various debilitating afflictions that it's best to stick with what they prefer during the conversation...OK, fence sitting but it does keep me out of trouble.

I don’t find syndrome sinister at all and am a bit
I understand that the reason that Aspergers is described as a syndrome is because it covers varying degrees of severity on the Autistic spectrum.

 

[maomao]

I don’t find syndrome sinister at all and am a bit
I understand that the reason that Aspergers is described as a syndrome is because it covers varying degrees of severity on the Autistic spectrum.

No it's called 'syndrome' because it's a recognised set of observable symptoms rather than a disease or illness with known causes.

 

[likesfish]

start your own buisness
get into social work
secuirity guard
IT
courier
editor / proof reader
etc etc
anarchist is and ideal you don't neet to wear black t-shirt what was your degree in ?
try and blagg some free career advice either from your uni or local careers office
also try reading what colors your parachute its usually in the libarary lots of good advice in there

 

[Epona]

As long as you're not dyslexic too, proof-reading is the best suggestion I've seen so far. Back in the days when it was done by hand there were symbols that you wrote in the margins to indicate the type of error, don't know whether in these days of computers you still use them, but if so you'd have to learn them - which I think would likely be a piece of piss - and if you're anything like me you point out every fucking typo or grammatical error in your newspaper anyway

If your fine motor skills are OK and you can type, data entry is great. Being left alone all day to put info from forms into a computer can be a great job.

On the actual 'how do I get them to actually employ me' front, interviews are a huge drawback. See if you can find employers that will give you a work trial instead of an interview - doing a job for a few days and letting them see that you are capable of the work will be so much better than fucking up an interview. Prospective employers should be as willing to do this for you as they ought to be to arrange a signer for a deaf candidate, or braille job description for someone who is visually impaired.

Also when you get a job, make sure that your manager is fully aware of your communication/organisation difficulties - these are the things that are most likely to trip you up when in employment, and a good manager will make sure that information such as tasks to be done are presented to you in the best way - ie. a written list of jobs with deadlines and numbers indicating priority will cut out a lot of the 'but you didn't ask me to do that' confusion that is inevitable.

Try to avoid open plan offices - too much distraction and too bright. This may not be possible, but if you end up somewhere like that, see if you can listen to music through headphones while you work (if doing data entry or proof reading this shouldn't be a problem), or noise-cancelling headphones. Also the 2 jobs I've suggested can often be done from home which you may find ideal - but be sure to check out how it affects things like insurance.

Oh and join a union, they can be invaluable, especially since the likelihood of misunderstandings causing friction between you and your boss will be higher than for most people. It can also help with the feeling of losing your principles and being swallowed by a corporation if you can do something to help organise your workplace

Good luck.

And don't let anyone tell you that you're not capable. Some things are more difficult, but there are jobs out there that you will be able to do, and be able to do well. It's just a case of finding the right job in the right environment - not easy, but definitely possible.

 

[fat hamster]

Excellent advice from Epona, there.

 

[Epona]

Excellent advice from Epona, there.

Cheers fh - at least my 16 years of just about managing to get by in offices (and in some cases not managing it ) may prove to be of some use if I can dispense some useful advice.

Just popping on quickly while I have my lunch to say there was one thing relating to workplace environments to try and avoid if possible which I forgot to mention -

- and that is hot-desking.

2 issues here - the biggie is not knowing where you're going to be sitting when you get to the office, very very stressful if you're moving position every day, also not keen in a large office on wandering round between people working, looking for an empty desk, wondering if I've fucked up and nicked someone's chair while they've gone for a coffee. This could be sorted by having a guaranteed desk every day while still in a hot-desking environment.

That doesn't sort out issue number 2 though, which is when your manager asks you, after you've been there 2 months, to put this form in Colin's tray and you're like 'oh shit, what the fuck does Colin look like?' If you know that Colin is always going to be the one 3 desks to the left of the pot plant, the one with a red 'gonk' from the photocopier company stuck on top of his monitor, it's a bloody lot easier! You'll also be able to learn quicker what people look like if they're always sat in the same place.

Hope I've not put you off trying to get a job now, that's just something else I thought of in terms of work environments that you might not have considered.

Anyway, lunch over, back to my spreadsheets