Are you currently or have you ever been in employment?

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I had a job for about half a year and I was actually really good at it. The people liked me a lot, but it took a big toll on me. Either way, it was a good job (and I got paid a lot )

I am employed in a pediatricians' office, and have been for two and three-quarters years now.

It has only recently occurred to me that the reason they were willing to hire me is that, being medically trained healthcare professionals who work with kids all day every day, they recognized my autistic interactions in the interview, labelled them, accepted them and decided to hire me.

You know, being pediatricians and healthcare support staff they would know enough about autism and Asperger's to realize that my lack of neurotypical social skills did not necessarily mean that I couldn't do the job for which I was interviewing.

It is a records, data entry and coding job (diagnostic and procedural coding), so I need not interact with the public often at all. I interact with co-workers only minimally, and most of them also understand autism.

I didn't know at the time I interviewed that I'm probably autistic, but now that I know and I've told a few select people like my supervisor and my direct records partner--I keep wondering how much of the clinical staff figured it out and had me labelled as "probably autistic" long before I took any self-diagnostic tests.

I do know I get treated a little bit differently than most of the staff, though!

Nice Cup Of Tea, we have some common ground, you and I. I am also 40-something, depressed, probably autistic and spent most of the time between 1986 and 2006 unemployed (due to being a stay-at-home mom for the most part). I wish all blessing and fortune to you both on getting yourself your own place, and getting a good job/career in 2015!

Have had part time work in the past, mostly nannying - found it easier to be around kids than in a 'formal' work environment.
Presently am a mother of one and that's enough for me. I have CFS among other things.
Have never had full time work and am unlikely to in the future.

Autism is a big factor in why I've never had a job, but it's not the only one. I have multiple conditions/issues. My complete lack of a sleep schedule is the biggest. There are a couple jobs that you can literally work when you "want", but I lack the skills. I'll never be able to work as long as that's happening.

I got a waitress job for a couple months when I was 17, and then at the age of 20 I tried a job at a woodworking sorta place that made mirrors with wood frames, coat racks and other stuff and apparently could not complete work quick enough. Then I suppose the college work study job I had but that is not really actual employment...and now I am on SSI have been for a while.

Wasn't sure what option to pick not sure if those couple short things really count as having been employed...I guess sort of.

I am currently employed and have been for most of my life since age 15. I won't go into the gory details, I'll just say it has rarely been a fulfilling experience. I've been grinding along for a while but I doubt if I can stand it much longer.

You're smart, NCOT....Maybe you could Uni a try again? I didn't start college until 36, and graduated at 45. You might make a good social worker.

In between getting locked up, knocked up, drugged up and f****d up, yes I have always worked.

I am currently in full time employment.