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I might be incapable functioning normally in the workforce. What options are available?

P

pelecanus87

Well-Known Member
I live in the US. I've only been "diagnosed" by a psychotherapist (made a thread about that), but let's just assume I'm able to obtain benefits.

What kind of programs/assistance are available?

I'm very anxious about this. I don't want to just sit at home. I'm afraid of what that would do to my psyche.

For the past 5 years, I've worked "real" jobs with decent salaries, but I make a lot of mistakes and can't hold up. My last job, I got bullied by my boss and had a pretty good connection that likely prevented me from being fired. I have a direct family connection at my current job, but my co-workers give me a hard time and I have to put in extra time just to be sufficient. Now I'm trying to learn a trade and have family trying to show me it, but I'm slow to learn and forget everything.

It's getting desperate. But sitting around doing nothing would be just as bad. What can I do?
 
That totally depends on what your good at. Having connections will help you get a job but being competent will help you keep it. Have you reflected on your strengths and weaknesses as a worker and did a job search accordingly? Do you have a degree and if so, in what?
 
I am worried that executive functioning skill problems will undermine whatever job I manage to hopefully land next :-( I don't know anything about the benefits, but I wonder if the psychotherapist could check for any co-existing conditions? Like ADD or anxiety. If that is there, then some medicine might help - actually, I have wondered if a low dose of anti-depressant would help me, I have heard Temple Grandin finds she needs it to function.
 
I don't think we can get much here just for being diagnosed.

I chased my diagnosis because I had gone to school for something I was unable to do. Everywhere just told me my personality was not right for it. And I had the outstanding school loan I stopped paying on. Once they mailed me this paper where there was a section I could have i relinquished if I had a medical condition preventing me from doing the career I went to school for.

But since I'm still capable of cleaning toilets I can't get anything because of asd. Sorry I'm not doing that again I'll work in the bar until I'm way past too old then maybe I can take the old man door guys job since he'll croak by then...

P.s. I don't know if you were asking about what I thought of when I saw assistance, as I was thinking government assistance as in financial and food stamps. You can possibly get free Healthcare though, i still had mine from my first pregnancy so I didn't look into the Medicaid for autism. And some states may be different also I'm in Ohio. I know some states has medical Marijuana for asd, Ohio does not have it in the list. But HIV is on it... >:/
 
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I've been giving this some thought.

How comfortable are you with computers? There's never been a better time to work at home, and this is something that fits us well.

Executive function improves incredibly when our environment is not constantly undermining it.
 
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