never gona work if i can help it!

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Well who's going to put food on the table?

Maybe, you should look for a job you enjoy, or create your own company. Or if you don't want a cubicle job, start farming and hunting (not in surplus, just enough to feed yourself) to get some food. Look for any of your hobbies/aspie obsessions that you have and find a way to make them profitable and useful.

Amen. If they ever took my government money away I would kill myself. At the moment I'm living conveniently because of it, but I'm bored and understimulated.

I live on the system too, I had surgery for $30 000 and I have a luxury wardrobe for around $60 000. I'm proud of myself and my lifestyle. I found a way to survive, or maybe I was just lucky. I don't care if other have to work to feed me, I hate society too much. Only thing I care about is keeping myself healthy and beautiful as well as maintaining a sealed off world where I can exist peacefully. I would be destroyed if I had to be out in society doing normal work.

The one who judged that I would probably never be able to keep a normal job and life was one of the leading AS-specialists in my country. Despite the fact that I'm on the very top of the high functioning AS scale and even have the ability to camouflage it when needed, she knew that I would always be in too much conflict with society to be able to function as a part of it. This was when I was 15.
The AS diagnosis caused me mostly harm, but recieving these money based on my diagnosis and documented inability to work for others and function in society, most likely saved my life.

I'm not against people who are on the system, but is really maddening when people are living a lavish lifestyle on my money. Welfare is so you don't starve. Why do you deserve what I have to work for (and more) without doing the work I do?

I'm willing to donate a little to keep people alive, but "If you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day: if you teach a man how to fish, he can eat forever".

This is what is wrong with the wold today. If I was living off someone else's money, I'd at least thank them. Don't bite the hand that feeds.


Oh, so your too good to get a job? Your not the only one who doesn't like having a job. But we do it anyways, to keep ourselves alive. What makes you so special that you get a freebie? You stated that you can work, but you don't want to.

If I was given the perfect job under the perfect circumstances, I could work. If I was offered an individual education/training in something I'm good at, and then given a job, I could work. However, I can't have a normal job I have to find the same way others find work and I can't function in a normal workplace.

The kind of jobs I could do are closed off to me because I don't have the competence or experience and no one would be willing to invest in me to give me that competence (which I can't get on my own through the normal education system since I can't handle school). So that only leaves being on welfare.

I can sympathize. I'd like the "perfect job" myself, but (1) I really don't know what would be "perfect" for me, and (2) since I can handle school, I have lots of education and that really doesn't open doors for you. With AS, interviewing is a challenge and you could have all the skills but not be who they want to hire....back to Step 1.

Still, I would rather bag groceries than go on welfare. I got food stamps once, and the process I went through to get a total of $30 in assistance was so demeaning I decided I would never go through that again.

I cannot imagine actually wanting to be on welfare. For me, being that dependent on the government for my money would be horrible. It feels like being a child forever. I would much rather have a job of some sort, even if it was just sorting out trollies at the supermarket or working in a stock room. Day to day work may be horrible, but it adds so much structure to things, and there is definately something satisfying about knowing I've earned my money.

There are different types of welfare. At least where I live. There's the social support which is where you have to go to regular meetings and humiliate yourself, as well as keeping track of everything the money is spent on etc... Then there's the kind of money I get which is a permanent sick pay for life where I never have to go to any meetings or meet anyone. I'm just a name in a database to these people and the payments are done automatically every month, I can spend it the way I like and as long as I have a diagnosis and have once been deemed in need they can't change that decision without going to court.

Very few people understand how difficult it is for me to be in the work industry with my anxiety and depression problems. As much as I feel I could probably use disability because of my social anxiety issues, my parents will NEVER let me do this...damn their pride. They think my AS is a bunch of crap anyway.



My last job...while it got me to work a little bit on my social skills was a stress and anxiety nightmare. It was a sales job so I had to talk more than I could really handle while at the time do multiple prep stuff...no matter how much more experience I gained in balancing everything I was still slow on the mark and very stressed and wanted to shoot myself. It's the kind of job I wouldn't recommend for any Aspie anyway. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did in that job before getting fired. Four months is pretty long for any aspie to handle that kind of sales job.

It seems there needs to be a third alternative, an accommodated job, typically part time with more latitude and less stress than a typical full time job. In the Aspie world, the first alternative, full time work, is feasible for only the mildest AS cases, or if one is lucky enough to enjoy their work, have an understanding boss, easy commute etc. The second alternative, disability, going on the dole, should be reserved for the most severe cases.

The part time job would allow one with moderate Aspergers to still be productive, and earn an income. They should be in positions that their state would be an asset, rather than having to deal with office politics, and stressful demands. The pay, of course, would be less, but many if not most, have less expenses than most NTs. This way they are not sponging of the gov't, parents, nor wanting to commit suicide because of the rat race. There should be some program to bring this form of job sharing about, and it would be a win-win situation.

speaking of:

#

http://www.loyola.edu/campuslife/health ... index.html
the Loyola doc has a word link for contact info etc.



Bender Consulting Services is currently hiring bright, enthusiastic individuals with disabilities to work with the Federal government in the Washington, DC Metro area, Philadelphia, PA, Harrisburg, PA and other areas across the United States. Click here for more information.


I did speak with the contact. I mentioned I had a hidden disability. she mentioned some mood disorders. you'd have to ask her about AS specifically as she did not mention that as an example if I remember correctly.
I had 1 interview. have not gotten a 2nd. anyway I didn't have to provide documentati on. perhaps when you get hired? She did say some employers would require something but check with her on that.

Oh, this old topic has been dug up has it? I'd like to state that I'm not content with the manner in which I expressed my views back in '08. My language was overly emotive and I consider it detrimental to discussion. I'm more at peace now than I was then. I shall attempt to address points that were directed at me, as well as those that were not.

Specious, because a lot of jobs tend to be very repetitive. Getting a job in order to avoid doing the same thing every day is like standing in the middle of the road to avoid getting hit by traffic. Foolish.

Unless you meant one day, as in one day per week. But still, I'd rather repeat a pleasant task than exchange it for an unpleasant one. To me, work tends to equal unpleasant.



As far as I'm concerned, it's a moot point. I'm incapable of enjoying the company of other people, even if I LIKE those people. I can't hold conversations with people, my mind blanks up in the presence of others. I'm spontaneously dehumanized, I become passive, silent and distant. It doesn't get much better with time either. Even in high school, being in a small class of students who I had known for 5 years or more, I couldn't even put my hand up when I knew the answer to a question because to draw attention to myself like that was so uncomfortable. So even when I do meet new people, I don't enjoy being with them and I can't form a connection with them. I can give single sentence answers to questions in a one on one situation, but that's about it. Yeah, I've tried counselling, but it's hopeless. Accepted techniques seem illogical to me and in practice I demonstrate them to be so. Other people do report success with these techniques, so I guess they work for some people, but not I.



I know what I like and I know what I don't. There's unlikely to be any suprises in this department.



I hear this a lot. It is not fact. Whilst I do make the concession that I haven't worked for very long in my life, I still maintain that at NO point while subjected to the work environment was I graced with an elevated sense of confidence. I did not feel good about myself at all. The experience was dismal. Nor did it make me independent, in fact I was unable to show any initiative at all in work situations, let alone beyond. I was pushed from person to person, until someone thought they could make use of me. I was a tool and a poorly designed one at that.



Now you're sounding like an M People record. That's not good. There is no human inside myself. If there was, then what would I be? Some kind of external casing? Who is this human anyway and why are they such a slave driver? I'm not working for them.

There is no human inside me, the human IS me and he doesn't want to work for himself.



Once again, this is an oft expressed nugget of advice. And once again, I disagree with it. It may work for many, but not for I. I was made to 'volunteer' at a thrift shop once. For money. So it was a somewhat unorthodox situation, perhaps at odds with the very essense of volunteering. Nevertheless, I was in a position to help the needy, albeit indirectly. It was excrutiatingly dull and unfulfilling. I imagine helping the old or the disabled would be equally dull, but with the added encumbrance of having to deal with unsavoury types. That's not to insult every old or disabled person. After all, I'm disabled to a point. A building full of mentally disabled people would quite likely include those who are unable to remain quiet and have frequent loud outbursts or inherently irritating and distracting tics. But in a building full of old people, is it not an inevitability that you will meet some who are caked in their own effluence? I do not seek fulfillment from being repulsed. If I did, I'd live in a public restroom. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. Volunteering is icky.

I even attempted volunteering at a place where old computers are refurbished and sent to third world countries, or something. But that did nothing for me either. The fact that the owner of this place drove around in a sports car narked me too. There's a reason why he lets people 'volunteer' for him. It's not because he wants to give opportunities to people who are struggling to fit into the world of work. It's because he doesn't have to pay them and so he gets more money for himself. He was all like, "ok, so that's what we do, now you can spend a few hours in the corner quietly sorting parts" yeah, like that's gonna help me. I was outta there pretty fast.



I find the idea of running a company stressful. If the idea is stressful to me, I dread to think what it would be like to actually be doing that. Most companies require people skills to run, or at the very least, communication skills of some sort. I do not have these.



The image of me as a huntsman is tragically comical. Need I say more?



Not as simple as you make it sound. My obsessions are narrowly focused and transient and thus useless. Though I do make music as a hobby, but I am however, hopeless. It sure beats doing nothing and I do learn new things now and then, but I've no talent and it's been a considerable struggle to reach a 'sub-standard' quality. I'm aiming for 'mediocrity' right now. If I ever manage to get to 'remarkable' or 'impressive', maybe I could consider it as a career, although I don't like the idea of charging money for my music. But maybe if I ever made anything decent, my opinion might change. Who knows? I have some other hobbies/interests too, but I'm equally inept at them.



I don't wish to sound like a hypocrit, but this does sound wasteful to me. I don't know how long you saved for those things, but it does sound a little excessive. But then I never cared much for clothes. I only have one pair of shoes, that's plenty for me.



I AM a child, despite what my age may suggest and my attempts to change this have been fruitless. I am not independent. The reason I WANT welfare is not because it is inherently desirable but because the alternatives are unsuitable. It's a bit like bathing really. I don't bathe because I want to bathe, I bathe because I don't want to be dirty.



I differ in that I do not like structure. Structure is a prison. A life of structured work is like being in a prison full of people who I feel intimidated by and feel uncomfortable to be aorund. Whereas my current lifestlye, (being stuck in my room all day) is a prison too, but it is a solitary and calming environment. At least, relative to the outside world. I prefer it.



I do not share this feeling. Besides, existence is a trial in itself and for bearing that I feel I have earned something.

Well, I'm tired after typing all that, I'm off to bed. Ciao.

Clothes and my own appearence are the only things I really care about in the physical life. Without it I would be empty. Even though I also have a rich spiritual life I think you need at least one wordly interest too. If I could be happy with just one pair of shoes and have an interest which wasn't that expensive I would probably feel I was set for life and that not much could really improve. As it is now, all I want is true economical independence so I can focus completely on my interests which are clothes/things/decorating myself/my home, health products, beauty, healthy fresh food etc and just spend my life shopping infinitely.

I agree that existence in itself is a trial. This is a conclusion many intelligent people seem reach sooner or later when living a reclusive life.

I used to lie to myself to feel better because deep down I didn't really accept my failures and my situation. To me there was a great deal of pride involved since I always kept a high profile growing up and rather than not raising my hand, I never let anyone else speak and if someone disagreed I would point out how much better I was. I really had to soul search myself in order to accept my situation and limitations.

Bright? Enthusiastic? Sorry but no way in hell would I qualify for this if that is what they're looking for. Enthusiasm in my case is something that can only be faked, and I can only fake enthusiam for about half a minute. And given my average grades in school I dont consider myself very bright.

I feel like I should waste my time the way I want as long as I can get away with it. There isnt a financial reason for me to get a job so how can I do a good job if I truely subconsciously don't care. Plus my meds aren't really right yet and I haven't convinced my psychiatrist that I have AS yet.

do you believe in eating? Some people with AS really are not able to work but if you can, it's your own responsibility. Your family is not legally required to care for you after 18, they could kick you out legally and then it's up to welfare. Are you in the US? Which state? Not all states provide disability for people with ASD's.
I am royally stressed after working all day and sometimes meltdown in the privacy of my home. But I HAVE to work if I'm able because it's my responsibility to provide for myself if I can. I finally found a way to work from home and that cuts down on alot of socializing. My mother didn't enjoy working in factories to put food in my mouth either but sometimes life is about surviving and not having a good time.