Podcast 0109; Season 7, Episode 2; 29 August 2023 How can parents support their disabled children into adulthood? Will our children find meaningful places in society? Sadly, workplaces don’t always accommodate differences. Mark Lyons and his wife Sally are former teachers. With their son Samuel, they operate SammySocksEtc, an online…
Tag: job interviews
Dear 2023, you have already been way too interesting. We’d appreciate a change to “boring” mode for the remainder of your days. And, definitely, no more near-death experiences. We’re disappointed in you, 2023. We’re already looking ahead to 2024. As 2023 began, we thought the year was going to be uneventful.…
“Never publicly discuss your job hunt,” I have been advised by colleagues with the best of intentions. I’d offer the same advice to my students, or any other job seekers. However, other autistics, their families, friends, and allies need to know what it is like for an autistic adult. The…
Getting a job is difficult when you’re autistic. The data aren’t promising: 85 percent of autistic college-graduates lack full-time employment in their desired field. The job interview process works against us in ways it might not work against the physically disabled. Sadly, I’ve noted time and time again, we autistics…
What follows is the letter I wish I could send to prospective employers. Dear Employers: I want to work. I would be a dedicated, reliable employee. Give me an opportunity and I’ll prove my value. Previous cover letters focused on my academic and professional qualifications. However, during interviews it becomes…
I’ve blogged many, many times over the last decade about my employment situation. Most recently, I posted a podcast episode and transcript on the topic of unemployment addressing my low morale and general sense of failure. The problem is, I don’t know how much of a factor my autistic traits are…
Employment history and various job searches demonstrate how difficult it has been for me to locate and retain employment. In September, Slate carried the following article by Sarah Carr, using “Leigh” as an example of the hurdles facing autistic adults. The Tricky Path to Employment Is Trickier When You’re Autistic…
Insecurity is the greatest challenge for me in relationships. I seldom feel confident as a partner, friend, mentor, or coworker. In my marriage, I rarely believe I am as intelligent overall as my wife. I know I am not as emotionally balanced as she is. I know I lack her…
Some books and noted speakers make the case that academia is one of the better career paths for autistic adults capable of completing the required education. I’m unconvinced this is good advice for anyone, much less autistic individuals. Let me begin with the academic job market. Even within STEM fields,…
If I could, I would write full-time. That is what I want, and what I have dreamed of since first grade: to be a professional writer. Teaching seemed like a good way to support writing. But, no luck with that approach. I’m a good teacher. My reviews state this. My course…