Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable?

September 2, 2009

:

This is GREAT and it looks good on your resume for doing volunteer work as U are giving back to the community and networking at the same time. Many companies love this. I hope it pays off for U.

September 2, 2009

Hi

Sounds like you have a great strategy, well done!

I too, have had a number of jobs since coming to Scotland, as the old school network means that I have to work harder, and the marketplace for someone 'not in the know' is to have short term, impermanent jobs. Its a treadmill. I've just been made redundant because I stood up to a bullying boss.

I'm applying for anything and everything, but, when I explain in my CV that I have had a series of short term posts, I've explained its due to geographical factors (I've moved three times), the tendency for short funded projects, and the developing of myself as a person.

If you have good references, or good reasons, no employer should doubt you for having had a series of short term jobs. Its becoming the norm.

In the meantime, good luck with your endeavours and well done for working out such a good approach. Once people get to know you, its a stepping stone for better things.

all the best,

Judy B, trudging the jobless trail......

Subject: Re: Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable?To: aspires-relationships Date: Wednesday, 2 September, 2009, 3:39 AM

Hi Judy.....Thanks much. I have been with the same employer since the end of October 2008, although it's been in the fast food industry. I have become rather creative during my job search by going the "back door" route. This is getting a potential employer to let me on as a volunteer. It's a risk-free way for the employer to take a look at what I am doing on a volunteer basis. This way, if a position opens up, the potential employer could recommend for me to apply for the position. Also, I can move on to other volunteer opportunities if the current opportunity does not pan out into a possible full-time paid position.It's a win-win situation. Win for them, because they have someone there already who is volunteering for them. Win for me, because I have my foot inside the door already for any potential openings. I thought about the cost-benefit analysis in all of this. The benefits would greatly exceed the costs. That, plus getting my

name out and about to everyone. I am on one Board of Directors, and am about ready to be on a second Board of Directors. One of the reasons I haven't been on here much either is for that alone. Getting my name out in the community. I have a busy schedule in the evenings most times. I am getting back to the basics with exercise and eating right. I will be going to a T'ai Ji (a form of Gigong) class on Thursday night, and look forward to implementing that into my life. My blood pressure was borderline today. However, I am fully convinced that I can drop 5-10 points in two weeks. I respect your opinion about how people with Asperger's are not umemployable, but still feel they can be umemployable (not saying they are totally). Underemployed is a better term to use than unemployed, seeing my current situation. I think it is all about being able to adjust to what the company wants, plus getting the necessary accomodations if needed to be

productive. I have a tendency to "shrink away" (in your words) from others from time to time (especially if a post does not apply to my life, e.g. I have never been a parent in any way, shape, or form). Part of the challenge for me will happen with interviews, when trying to explain why I have not worked at a place longer than a few years. I cringe at the thought of trying to explain my answer in such a way that the interviewer will be able to relate with me somehow.> >> > Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable? - When customers step into the Broughton Street Book Shop in Edinburgh, the rather gangly young man behind the counter hands them a

pamphlet, without making eye contact. The leaflet explains that his name is Rafferty, he is the shop's proprietor and he suffers from both Asperger's syndromeÃ¢â‚¬"a form of autism Ã¢â‚¬"and cerebral palsy. "With the help of my family and friends I have opened this second-hand bookshop and intend to support myself, and give a purpose to my life," it reads. "I don't think I am unemployable. " But it was 's apparent unemployability that led his parents to take the extraordinary step of leasing the shop, appealing online for book donationsÃ¢â‚¬"they received thousands of volumesÃ¢â‚¬"and setting their son up in business. After sending out 70 CVs and applications for IT jobs, inputting data or stock control last year, the 21-year-old failed to get a single interview...> > > > http://www.mb. com.ph/articles/ 218336/who- says-asperger- s-sufferers- are-unemployable>

>>

September 2, 2009

Hi

Sounds like you have a great strategy, well done!

I too, have had a number of jobs since coming to Scotland, as the old school network means that I have to work harder, and the marketplace for someone 'not in the know' is to have short term, impermanent jobs. Its a treadmill. I've just been made redundant because I stood up to a bullying boss.

I'm applying for anything and everything, but, when I explain in my CV that I have had a series of short term posts, I've explained its due to geographical factors (I've moved three times), the tendency for short funded projects, and the developing of myself as a person.

If you have good references, or good reasons, no employer should doubt you for having had a series of short term jobs. Its becoming the norm.

In the meantime, good luck with your endeavours and well done for working out such a good approach. Once people get to know you, its a stepping stone for better things.

all the best,

Judy B, trudging the jobless trail......

Subject: Re: Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable?To: aspires-relationships Date: Wednesday, 2 September, 2009, 3:39 AM

Hi Judy.....Thanks much. I have been with the same employer since the end of October 2008, although it's been in the fast food industry. I have become rather creative during my job search by going the "back door" route. This is getting a potential employer to let me on as a volunteer. It's a risk-free way for the employer to take a look at what I am doing on a volunteer basis. This way, if a position opens up, the potential employer could recommend for me to apply for the position. Also, I can move on to other volunteer opportunities if the current opportunity does not pan out into a possible full-time paid position.It's a win-win situation. Win for them, because they have someone there already who is volunteering for them. Win for me, because I have my foot inside the door already for any potential openings. I thought about the cost-benefit analysis in all of this. The benefits would greatly exceed the costs. That, plus getting my

name out and about to everyone. I am on one Board of Directors, and am about ready to be on a second Board of Directors. One of the reasons I haven't been on here much either is for that alone. Getting my name out in the community. I have a busy schedule in the evenings most times. I am getting back to the basics with exercise and eating right. I will be going to a T'ai Ji (a form of Gigong) class on Thursday night, and look forward to implementing that into my life. My blood pressure was borderline today. However, I am fully convinced that I can drop 5-10 points in two weeks. I respect your opinion about how people with Asperger's are not umemployable, but still feel they can be umemployable (not saying they are totally). Underemployed is a better term to use than unemployed, seeing my current situation. I think it is all about being able to adjust to what the company wants, plus getting the necessary accomodations if needed to be

productive. I have a tendency to "shrink away" (in your words) from others from time to time (especially if a post does not apply to my life, e.g. I have never been a parent in any way, shape, or form). Part of the challenge for me will happen with interviews, when trying to explain why I have not worked at a place longer than a few years. I cringe at the thought of trying to explain my answer in such a way that the interviewer will be able to relate with me somehow.> >> > Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable? - When customers step into the Broughton Street Book Shop in Edinburgh, the rather gangly young man behind the counter hands them a

pamphlet, without making eye contact. The leaflet explains that his name is Rafferty, he is the shop's proprietor and he suffers from both Asperger's syndromeÃ¢â‚¬"a form of autism Ã¢â‚¬"and cerebral palsy. "With the help of my family and friends I have opened this second-hand bookshop and intend to support myself, and give a purpose to my life," it reads. "I don't think I am unemployable. " But it was 's apparent unemployability that led his parents to take the extraordinary step of leasing the shop, appealing online for book donationsÃ¢â‚¬"they received thousands of volumesÃ¢â‚¬"and setting their son up in business. After sending out 70 CVs and applications for IT jobs, inputting data or stock control last year, the 21-year-old failed to get a single interview...> > > > http://www.mb. com.ph/articles/ 218336/who- says-asperger- s-sufferers- are-unemployable>

>>

September 3, 2009

Hi Judy....

Took a while to develop a great strategy, but one which is coming into focus

well. I'm about to join the Board of Directors for an alternative health

organization here in Chattanooga. Found a source where I may be receiving

AS/autism articles on a regular basis. Will be comparing those to other

articles anyone has posted.

Just got done talking with someone who has an autism support group here in town.

She is wanting to know if I would be willing to speak before the group, so

parents can understand what their AS children go through and such (given that I

have had autism since age 4, it's a no-brainer). I may not be " in the know " for

now, but I realize how quickly things change.

Tomorrow will be a key day, as I begin to interview with agencies looking for

volunteers with research backgrounds. Going the backdoor route of working as a

volunteer and using that to turn it into a full-time paid position.

> > >

> > > Who says Asperger's sufferers are unemployable? - When customers step into

the Broughton Street Book Shop in Edinburgh, the rather gangly young man behind

the counter hands them a pamphlet, without making eye contact. The leaflet

explains that his name is Rafferty, he is the shop's proprietor and he

suffers from both Asperger's syndromeÃ¢â‚¬ " a form of autism Ã¢â‚¬ " and cerebral

palsy. " With the help of my family and friends I have opened this second-hand

bookshop and intend to support myself, and give a purpose to my life, " it reads.

" I don't think I am unemployable. " But it was 's apparent unemployability

that led his parents to take the extraordinary step of leasing the shop,

appealing online for book donationsÃ¢â‚¬ " they received thousands of

volumesÃ¢â‚¬ " and setting their son up in business. After sending out 70 CVs and

applications for IT jobs, inputting data or stock control last year, the

21-year-old failed to get a single

> interview...

> > >

> > > http://www.mb. com.ph/articles/ 218336/who- says-asperger- s-sufferers-

are-unemployable

> > >

> >

>

September 3, 2009