{"id":2089,"date":"2021-03-29T16:51:55","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T21:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tameri.com\/wordpress\/autisticme\/?p=2089"},"modified":"2023-11-26T16:27:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T22:27:42","slug":"autism-is-off-putting-first-impressions-lasting-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tameri.com\/autisticme\/2021\/03\/29\/autism-is-off-putting-first-impressions-lasting-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism is Off-Putting: First Impressions, Lasting Discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting a job is difficult when you\u2019re autistic. The data aren\u2019t promising: 85 percent of autistic college-graduates lack full-time employment<\/a> in their desired field.<\/p>\n

The job interview process works against us in ways it might not work against the physically disabled. Sadly, I\u2019ve noted time and time again, we autistics make other people uncomfortable<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I know outgoing, charming, socially skilled disabled individuals thriving in their workplaces. They attend parties, they serve on committees, and they consider many colleagues friends. One of these amazing people told me, as well-intentioned advice, that if you\u2019re happy and enjoy life, of course, you\u2019re going to succeed against the odds.<\/p>\n

Data support this: positive people do in fact receive better evaluations, more promotions, and earn more money over their careers. Personality traits matter in all cultures. This isn\u2019t an issue of economic models or religions or anything else.<\/p>\n

Autistic traits are perceived as negativity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nobody wants to work with the angry, serious, intense, anti-social loner.<\/p>\n

The Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t address the desire employers have for a social fit… and I’m not going to fit in no matter how much I try. And try I do. Over and over.<\/p>\n

Since I started this blog in 2007, its primary focus has been my career or lack thereof.\u00a0I\u2019ve been fixated on why my employment history suggests I\u2019m unlikely to have even an abbreviated career as an employee.<\/p>\n

Yes, I have taught at eight post-secondary institutions. As an adjunct, I\u2019ve worked as long as five years for a university. That\u2019s not bad, but that\u2019s also not a full-time career. As a full-time instructor, I\u2019ve had one-year posts. That\u2019s it. A year here, a year there. Sometimes, with part-time work before or after the full-time contract.<\/p>\n

Problems with employers started during the job interview process.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Analyzing the past, there have been clear signals during job interviews that I would struggle. The statements made by hiring committee members and their leading questions were red flags, which I didn\u2019t always recognize.\u00a0This is a list of things people said that should have (and will now) concern me:<\/p>\n