I see a very challenging future ahead for those of us with ASD's. For whatever reason, ASD's are on the increase. This is already putting a strain on our school systems as they strive to accommodate us. I grew up in the bad old days when there wasn't a whole lot of accommodation and the emphasis was on keeping the child with ASD docile and quiet. To this day, I am great at following directions (once I understand what they are), but I am not so good at the things my employer is now demanding of me, and that is to take more of a leadership position, to be more innovative and creative, to take an active role in problem solving and figuring things out for myself. It is no use to say that I wasn't groomed that way. I either have to rise to the challenge or face the consequences. And in this bad economy I choose not to face the consequences.
For those of you who have grown up being accommodated, I can guarantee you that should you enter the workforce you will get a big shock. The workplace isn't a school. It has a completely different philosophy and that is to provide goods and services at a profit. True, the Americans With Disabilities Act and its equivalent in other countries does require employers to make a certain reasonable level of accommodation, but in my experience, this is mostly limited to cosmetic things, like ramps and Braille lettering. Employees who find that they require more substantial accommodations run the risk of finding themselves unemployed. My state, Michigan, is an "at-will" state which means that basically you can get fired for almost any reason, unless you can prove blatant discrimination which is costly and hard to prove. Most people who challenge the system don't win.
Because employers have to focus on making a profit, they are not as free to do things that schools might be able to do. And it is not always the business owner who is calling the shots. Not only do they have to comply with state and federal regulations, there are sometimes stockholders that have to be accounted for, or banks. I know of at least one company that was told by the bank that they had to reduce its workforce by so many people because they were paying too much out in payroll. And believe me, if anyone has been following the foreclosure crisis, when you get a bank calling the shots, look out!
What this means for those of us with ASD's is this. Because our numbers are increasing, some of us will start hitting a workplace that is absolutely unprepared for us. They don't even know we exist, let along that we are coming. So it is up to us to prepare, if we can.
One thing, and this applies to everyone, is to start developing good study habits and to get an education--a meaningful education. The days in the United States when you could walk out of high school with a diploma (or even drop out) and get a good paying factory job are over. Forever (or at least within your lifetime). I do not know how many times people have come up to me and said, "I read that announcement in the paper that your company is expanding, can you get me a job there." When I ask them what their skills and education are, it turns out that their level of education and/or skills is far, far below what is required for 99% of the jobs at my company! What might get you in the door at McDonald's isn't going to get you in the door where many of the better paying jobs are going to be in the future. It is better to realize that now while you are in school then to find that out when you are middle-aged and looking for work.
I see those of us who have achieved a measure of success in the workplace despite our ASD's as paving the way for those who will come after us. It is our job to be mentors and to show employers that a person who has a ASD is not a liability that will eventually cut into their profits. To those who aren't yet employed and are looking for work, your challenge is to convince those who would hire you that you will be an asset to their company, that you will help and not hurt them.
For those of you who have grown up being accommodated, I can guarantee you that should you enter the workforce you will get a big shock. The workplace isn't a school. It has a completely different philosophy and that is to provide goods and services at a profit. True, the Americans With Disabilities Act and its equivalent in other countries does require employers to make a certain reasonable level of accommodation, but in my experience, this is mostly limited to cosmetic things, like ramps and Braille lettering. Employees who find that they require more substantial accommodations run the risk of finding themselves unemployed. My state, Michigan, is an "at-will" state which means that basically you can get fired for almost any reason, unless you can prove blatant discrimination which is costly and hard to prove. Most people who challenge the system don't win.
Because employers have to focus on making a profit, they are not as free to do things that schools might be able to do. And it is not always the business owner who is calling the shots. Not only do they have to comply with state and federal regulations, there are sometimes stockholders that have to be accounted for, or banks. I know of at least one company that was told by the bank that they had to reduce its workforce by so many people because they were paying too much out in payroll. And believe me, if anyone has been following the foreclosure crisis, when you get a bank calling the shots, look out!
What this means for those of us with ASD's is this. Because our numbers are increasing, some of us will start hitting a workplace that is absolutely unprepared for us. They don't even know we exist, let along that we are coming. So it is up to us to prepare, if we can.
One thing, and this applies to everyone, is to start developing good study habits and to get an education--a meaningful education. The days in the United States when you could walk out of high school with a diploma (or even drop out) and get a good paying factory job are over. Forever (or at least within your lifetime). I do not know how many times people have come up to me and said, "I read that announcement in the paper that your company is expanding, can you get me a job there." When I ask them what their skills and education are, it turns out that their level of education and/or skills is far, far below what is required for 99% of the jobs at my company! What might get you in the door at McDonald's isn't going to get you in the door where many of the better paying jobs are going to be in the future. It is better to realize that now while you are in school then to find that out when you are middle-aged and looking for work.
I see those of us who have achieved a measure of success in the workplace despite our ASD's as paving the way for those who will come after us. It is our job to be mentors and to show employers that a person who has a ASD is not a liability that will eventually cut into their profits. To those who aren't yet employed and are looking for work, your challenge is to convince those who would hire you that you will be an asset to their company, that you will help and not hurt them.
