I’ve only been able to attend a few sessions with an autistic adult focused therapist, and it was very helpful. They did a great job of prioritizing what we could tackle from week-to-week and it was instrumental for me getting my first job after college.
Which is the other thing that would be really great, some kind of resource that could help autistic adults with the job application process. Mostly with how to interact with recruiters, how to set expectations, and specialized interview prep.
I’d like some sort of “don’t get fired/quit” support.
I never make it long in jobs, I just can’t do all the things all the time, and burn out super quick (I know these jobs are wrong fits for me, but good fit jobs are really hard to land, and I’m already way too old to not have steady employment history so kinda fucked at this point on those)
I tried to get a regular therapist to help me with strategies, since I can’t find a specialist (from an adhd angle, which I’m also dx with) and it was absolutely unhelpful.
It was a lot of “just do this thing that’s the exact opposite of who you are fundamentally and you’ll be fine!” “What do you mean you can’t tolerate an office environment? Just ask for walking breaks!” (These jobs are rigid af) “what do you mean you are worried you’ll give too many personal details and/or irritate your coworkers with your exhausting over talking?”
Like I can get a job, but at this point I’m old enough to know I can’t hold it for more than a year (I’ve never been fired, but I think it’s because I never last long enough for it to happen), so I’m just going to go back to contracts, it’s the only way I can be employed and not have to worry about screwing it up by being who I am…
I don’t know if they have them in the UK, but I hate those stupid employment tests where they try to determine your personality to see if you fit. They are so anxiety inducing and I have never gotten a callback or job that had one of those. EVER. I hate them for the life of me.
Some official national information repository on rights, resources, therapists with relevant knowledge, etc
Legal protections against autistic behavior being used against you in court, so you don’t have to mask and risk coming off as a psychopath or be open and risk being taken as mentally incapable
Legal requirements for accomodations in the workplace - many jobs assume you can work in an open floor plan next to loud people and can legally fire you if you don’t accept it
Right to have an assistant when dealing with unemployment offices, or disability or sick leave. Right now it’s a system that expects you to understand the laws better than the bureaucrats processing you, perform constant complex paperwork, and will punish you severely if you do wrong. Pushing your executive dysfunction through this nightmare while already on the brink of depression due to unemployment or long term sickness is possible if you are “high functioning” but it does drive people to become depressed to the point of developing chronic shit.
A right to have your opinion matter more than normal in medical situations, due to masking making it harder for the doctor to assess if you are suffering. “Yes I am in quite intense pain I want the painkiller please” to be met with painkillers, not “you aren’t screaming your head off like normal people, so you’re just focusing too much on it - try taking deep breaths”. Or to be allowed anxiety medication without breaking down in a sobbing heap at the doctor’s feet like normal people.
If anyone wants to respond “that’s wrong! this is already accomodated for”, please also state your country so people who live there may be aware.
I’d just like more visibility so that schools (US) and workplaces can be easier to negotiate with autism. The more people who are officially diagnosed or confident they have autism and can speak out loud about it, the more our concerns can be built into the systems for the next generation.
I’m not autistic, do what services would you like to see?
Not op, but I’d like to see therapists that are experienced in helping autistic adults navigate and process living in a neurotypical world.
That and relational stuff.
I’ve only been able to attend a few sessions with an autistic adult focused therapist, and it was very helpful. They did a great job of prioritizing what we could tackle from week-to-week and it was instrumental for me getting my first job after college.
Which is the other thing that would be really great, some kind of resource that could help autistic adults with the job application process. Mostly with how to interact with recruiters, how to set expectations, and specialized interview prep.
I’d like some sort of “don’t get fired/quit” support.
I never make it long in jobs, I just can’t do all the things all the time, and burn out super quick (I know these jobs are wrong fits for me, but good fit jobs are really hard to land, and I’m already way too old to not have steady employment history so kinda fucked at this point on those)
I tried to get a regular therapist to help me with strategies, since I can’t find a specialist (from an adhd angle, which I’m also dx with) and it was absolutely unhelpful.
It was a lot of “just do this thing that’s the exact opposite of who you are fundamentally and you’ll be fine!” “What do you mean you can’t tolerate an office environment? Just ask for walking breaks!” (These jobs are rigid af) “what do you mean you are worried you’ll give too many personal details and/or irritate your coworkers with your exhausting over talking?”
Like I can get a job, but at this point I’m old enough to know I can’t hold it for more than a year (I’ve never been fired, but I think it’s because I never last long enough for it to happen), so I’m just going to go back to contracts, it’s the only way I can be employed and not have to worry about screwing it up by being who I am…
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Have a friend who cannot even get on a waiting list for this type of therapist.
I had to schedule my assessment six months in advance
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There definitely needs to be better support for the whole employment process, the statistics there are pretty bad.
I don’t know if they have them in the UK, but I hate those stupid employment tests where they try to determine your personality to see if you fit. They are so anxiety inducing and I have never gotten a callback or job that had one of those. EVER. I hate them for the life of me.
Also not OP, but some things that would help:
If anyone wants to respond “that’s wrong! this is already accomodated for”, please also state your country so people who live there may be aware.
I’d just like more visibility so that schools (US) and workplaces can be easier to negotiate with autism. The more people who are officially diagnosed or confident they have autism and can speak out loud about it, the more our concerns can be built into the systems for the next generation.