Employment discrimination

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Wow. I've seen some really horrific student teachers, who had all the classroom management skills of a skillet, get a chance. Some of those clowns passed.

It's really hard for NTs to find student teaching positions. My DD school is not doing them at all this year, and normally we had 5 student teachers. Reason being, the teachers' pay is now tied to evaluations (classroom observations and state testing scores). All the teachers refused taking on student teachers with the fear, "if I get a bad one", there goes the bonus. So districts that used to take student teachers, are not taking any. There are so few slots, is the department just giving the limit availability to their golden child students?

I can't understand why the department won't let you sink or swim on your own merits. So the department says you are a hopeless case, and no amount of work will change their mind? I think it is BS
that the department is holding your chance for gainful employment hostage.

You have your degree, but no license? Some charter schools (depending on the state) will hire an unlicensed teacher. Is something like doing a tour of duty as a parpro likely to change the department's mind? Long term subbing? (if the school district doesn't require licensing or certification). Is Teach for America an option? Anyway of setting up a student teaching situation on your own?

If you have a lawyer friend, I might just run this past him for grins and giggles. I can see someone not passing the student teacher part. But not even given an opportunity to at least try? Worse case scenario, you flame out after a week, month, school term. Who cares? I believe you should be given the chance.

None of this passes the smell test. The excuse you might not work well with administration (ie a principal) makes no sense. My school district has 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools. That is 16 administrators, 16 chances to find a fit. Not buying it.

Hoping someone grows a brain in your department, and gives you a CHANCE.

One thing i have noticed over the years is that NTs are not accurate interviewers. Unfortunately the quick judging type of personality tends to gravitate towards being managers that interview people. Inclusiveness of everyone is a strength not a weakness, so i hope that you find a job with folks that actually have clear judgment. Quick judging NTs use heuristics rather than analysis to judge potential and current employees, and sadly they don't recognize that lack of accuracy is hurting others.. Guiding the NT to making a better informed decision is a passive process in that you just have to show your skill in a way that lets them evaluate you by watching others reactions to you. Case in point there were some NT's working in human resources that did not relate to me, and thought we had nothing in common. These same HR people are the ones that do the initial interviewing, so if any interviewer feels more comfortable after they get the idea in their own way that the potential employee can help their company, it can help. Once they saw people they consider popular and intelligent going to me for advice on something technical, even if the NT does not understand the subject, they then started to see me as someone they wanted to interact with. I agree with Dr Grandin in that it is best to develop a portfolio of completed projects/skills and eventually someone that is a good manager (because they are task oriented) will hire you. Volunteering helps and if done in the same company where one applies for work, it can often lead to a paying job. I think in the short term, there are businesses that get away with not being inclusive to those of us with disabilities. Yet in the long-term it can lead to high turnover which causes a lot of problems in the business as well. For me, working in an academic environment was the solution. They have the most inclusive environments of all jobs i think. I hope things turn around for you asap.

I loved messing with people when I interviewed them. They bring all their pretentiousness; and they run into me and it's unlike any interview they've ever done.

If a company wants to interview you, but is unwilling to pay for you to come, it's not worth spending the money to go as the odds are small.

You really need to look for jobs in the area you live in. Most employers don't want to interview candidates from other states--- it's harder to set up interview times with people who aren't local, then employers have to wait for you to move, or an employer has had people say they were going to move but never showed. Look local.

Shame that you didn't get the job. And, I would definitely NOT tell potential employers about your Asperger's.

Rule number 1 about finding a job. Never disclose your disability. I ended up without a job for close to 2 years due to the fact that I asked for reasonable accommodation for my Schziophrenia. NEVER. EVER tell them your disability, 9 times out of 10 the don't even know what your disability is or how it effects you, so they figure you'll be hassle to employ.

Similar jobs in my state pay $10 an hour at the most, with no chance at ever being promoted. This job payed $16/hour, with a chance at being promoted. Beyond that, there aren't that many schools that just serve aspie students in this area, and I don't think I would enjoy teaching NT students anywhere near as much.

I am applying for schools that just serve aspie students. In such a situation, I don't want to work at a school that wouldn't hire me if they knew I was on the spectrum.

Just my two cents. If you feel bold take a tape recoreder with you next time and consult a disability discrimination laywer.

Moving and traveling to interviews is expensive. If a company in another state really thinks you're the one they'll want to hire, they'll pay your way to the interview. Otherwise, it's wasting your money 99.9% of the time. That $800+ on travel expenses in the interview could've gone a long way on top of $10/hour. Maybe you could live with friends in some other state free a few months while interviewing at jobs in your desired city.

I wouldn't hire someone who brought a tape recorder to an interview. I would think they're nuts.

You would also have to make sure single-party tape recording is legal in the state/city you're in.

And, if you tried to sue, it could look like entrapment if you bring a tape recorder to try to get discrimination on tape.

I wouldn't waste my time on that. You want to find a job you like, not sue an employer in your given field while job searching in that field. If you sue, that could make news and make your job search even harder.

I don't really have a desired city, just a desired field. The field is just so broad that I might never be the most sought after person, particularly if they have to pay to have me visit. If I am just slightly better, but cost $500 more, that hurts my cause. Though if I have to apply to 1000 jobs to get one... I am screwed no matter what lol (that is what that 99.9% indicates). Well with this new place, they are giving me a preliminary interview over the phone or skype (not sure which yet) so that should help make sure they are serious. Though just so you know, these jobs will likely pay several $1,000 more out of this area, that isn't too bad, it just isn't necessarily immediate.