How to explain im Autistic

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So I have a few possible job interviews on the horizon and in my state and I am part of its to program that would would pay half my wages if I was hired. I want to explain that much on my interview but Im guessing there might be follow up questions if I mention the program. I really don't want to mention either but I will because I think it will greatly increase my chances of getting hired. I talked to my case worker and he said it would be alright to mention that upright I am on the very high end of the spectrum so I none of the jobs are impossible for me to Do. i Just don't know what to say if the interviewer starts throwing follow up questions at me about my condition.

Very carefully...
And I would recommend giving far more attention to the benefits of hiring you (particularly that the company will only have to pay for half of your work) than to what having a spectrum disorder means to you (this part is, I think, best saved for after you've accepted a position and began work).
You're right to expect some followup questions and the biggest ones might involve identifying some of your weaknesses (this question come up in most interviews, regardless of personal situation). This could mean that they want to get a sense of how self-aware you are, but it could also mean that the company is fishing for what accommodations (if any) you might need or inevitably ask for and if they think you're worth the hassle. They can't technically refuse to hire you based on needing reasonable accommodations, but, if you're still at the interview stage, it'd be very easy for them to just say, "We just don't think you'd be a good fit," and leave it at that. If questions about weaknesses come up, answer honestly, but always frame it in a "this is how I manage these problems on my own" kind of way.
For example: One of my weaknesses is that I have a hard time following verbal, multi-step instructions. I tell interviewers that I have overcome this by taking diligent notes when being given a new assignment. Personally, I don't disclose professionally, but, as I am aware of this problem, I want to be honest about it and show that I've taken responsibility for managing it.

Yes! You are competing against others who also want hired. They need to know why your unique set of skills is better than someone else's.

And, what was said later about how you overcome weaknesses is also crucial. We all have weaknesses, those you compete against also have them. How have you overcome them? For the select people I tell, I talk about my incredible determination, my seeing a job through till it's finished, and so on as a positive of AS.

I explained part of autism to someone this way and it seemed to help. Most people take in things around them selectively - your mind automatically knows that the traffic outside is less important than the telephone ringing, and that what a colleague is saying in the other room might be more important than the traffic or it might not. Those with autism have difficulty knowing which of those items is more important, it isn't automatic. (And the conversation can have its own cues and things which make it way more complex, too, but that's for explaining later.)

Of course, that's only part of it, and that's where it can be very hard to narrow autism down to one aspect. The one I listed is one I like to use because it can get at processing speed, and I can then say that sometimes, Aspies have an intensefocus on things because they force themselves to stick to that one thing rather than let many other thigns enter ina nd complicate it.

It's not a perfect description, and perhaps you're a little different in how Asperger's impacts your mind. But, that is one way I like to share with people, and the eample helps them see what I mean, I think.

i think i will just explain that my weakness is picking up on subtle social cues... that seems the most innocuous....I might not sure how to play up my skills though

That would be hard to troubleshoot without knowing what those skills are, but I think simply telling the interviewer about your skills (when he/she asks for them). It's also important that the skills you name are related to the job you are applying for. I know an awful lot about the Titanic, but I'm not going to list that if I'm applying to work in a job that isn't as a Titanic historian.
General rule is to make sure you give way more skills than deficits... Like BigSnoopy126 said, you are competing against others and you want to let the interviewer know that you're the best candidate!

the place im applying for has hired mentally disabled people before, right now im still sitting on my hands waiting for a call back after just calling them. I submitted my application last week and they didn't call at all. I asked my case worker if it was a good idea to call them this Monday and ask for an interview he said yeah so I did( its his job to help people like me get employed so he should know what's right and wrong). I had a stupid conversation with a secretary who said "we will call the qualified candidates" what qualifications? they ask on the application the last 3 latest jobs and club participation without any space for references. i knew a person who works there and he told me they don't exactly discriminate looking for the cream of the crop candidates. One employee turned out the be fired from her last place for doing something illegal and then tried to date my other number to my friend even though that person was 30+ years his senior.., and then she suddenly quit. I knew one girl who is a "crazy hyper active talker with some job experience but she sometimes really goes off like bottle rocket when talking... the person whom I talked to sounded like some English.Second Language student.. I know im just ranting from frustrations but "WHAT QUALIFICATIONS" all the employees are really nice and know several of them but i feel like im being pushed aside when I KNOW I am no more less qualified than the people they have hired before. This isn't an opinion I can prove this with a computer

Last edited by Mitrovah on 03 Jun 2013, 5:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I just don't know how to say correctly "I can get any job done, but I am a slower learner"

Do this maybe by saying "I am deliberate and thoughtful. Rather than hurry through things I do not enjoy doing, I work through them." Do not say slower learner, just name things that you do that get the job done in the long run.

Even I am still thinking about the disclosure process. I know I have talked about it elsewhere on this forum, but I really do think you need to have a thorough discussion with your caseworker, as he or she will know you quite well in person, and things like work and disclosures cannot be generalized lightly.

If you do not get this job, there is always another job just coming along. Even when it does not feel like it.

This sounds like a wonderful approach

Being a slow learner is not a deficit because it takes more time to have an in depth understanding rather than just a superficial understanding. Once you have an in depth understanding of a subject you can operate at a genius level and come up with new ideas and inventions. If you can showcase your inventions perhaps your Boss will feel that it is a worthy investment of his time to train you.