Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 1/2/2009

Question
I was diagnosed with AS at 48.  I always knew that I had a LD and struggled to get through College.  Only problem is that college was no help in the employment market for someone with social skill and LD deficients.  All told I have made five attempts at post secondary schooling accomplished 3 degrees and have had failures at the employment seen. I have trouble finding work and when I do find employment it does not last (Usual they put me on some brain dead do it quickly job that I am not good at.  When I don't do that job well they put me on a even more brain dead job that I do even worse at.) I have been making a living doing mobile auto mechanics at peoples locations to suport myself but I am having to stop doing this work because of back and knee problems.  It seems that I am not unusual.  It seem that studies have showed that college does not help AS's earn more money for the most part.  The problem is that college is not training anyone on how to do a job.  Hay I could do an excellent job for someone if they wanted me to do what I was doing in college but there are no jobs like that out there.  I have also found that the listing of College Degree does not get anyone interested in even talking  to you about a job.  Of course talking to me certainly convinces most people not to hire me for a job.  The only way I have gotten work is when people see that I can do the work or they have a friend tell them that I can do such and such work.  Since college is not teaching actual working skills that people are willing to pay for it is a failure for most AS to attend college. A extreemly expensive one at that.  How come experts like you don't know this?

   I see is all this propaganda  that college will help a AS be successful.  I even see stories show the successful ASer completing a college program.  But wait, its not a success if the ASer still can't make it in employment game. Meanwhile all the statistics are showing that unless the schooling teaches a skill that an ASer can take directly to a job with out further training every thing is a wast.

 What is needed is actual training in skills that people are willing to pay for.  Training that gets the person fully earing money for the employer from the first day on the job with none of the entry level crap of finding out how well this person works with other people.  The training also has to include how to function on a job to keep a job.  Often very hard training to accomplish since so much of this training is stuff that NT would never think there would be a need for training.  This in fact is training that is common  in Europe and the Military.  This training is also far less expensive that the college capt that suffices for training in this country.  Problem is this type of training is impossible to find because everybody is on this college is the answer crap.

Stan

Answer
Hi Stan,

I actually agree with you. College, alone, is not the answer. It is not the answer for everyone.

When you and I were in school (I'm about your age) no one had a handle on what AS and high-functioning autism were all about. I'm pretty sure you received no assistance in learning social skills when you were young enough to absorb them more easily. No one our age did.

For the AS and HFA children of today, it's different. Schools build social skill training into the IEP from the beginning.

Frankly, colleges should be teaching all students a few courses on job success and social skills. It's a general deficit for most young people, in my opinion. I hear your anger and I empathize.

As to your personal situation, I have the following recommendations:

1. Apply for SSI disability on the basis that you are unable to continue the work you now do. It will take time and you may or may not win your claim, but it can help some.

2. Brainstorm some ways to use your multiple degrees and considerable intelligence to start your own business. You already know that working for yourself can be more successful. Consult with the small business administration or SCORE to form a plan. They can be very helpful. Focus on your passions in life. If you love computers, go that way, etc.

3. Realize that the economy is really bad right now and many people are struggling, "normal" or not. Being angry at society, in general, is not in your best interest.

I know it's tough. I wish our culture were more flexible about what is considered "polite" and good behavior, but it isn't.

Best wishes,
Catherine