80% of people on Autism spectrum are unemployed?

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Maybe don't assume. That claim came from Autism Speaks, as part of their stigmatisation campaign against people on the spectrum, and the methodology was excruciatingly amateur.

I remember reading some study that found 1/3 of young autistic adults in the US were unemployed 5+ years after high school, which was one of the worst employment outcomes in all disability groups in the study. That is still not close to 80% though. I think the 80% figure is quoted too much and quoting it as some kind of prediction for an individual is a bad idea, as it makes it seem like one can't or shouldn't be employed or able to get a job if one is autistic. The 1/3 figure seems much more realistic in a country like US. Certainly that figure needs to be improved, but progress is being made slowly.

SO TRUE!

80% unemployed is much worse than "half-empty"!

If you have succeeded despite being on the spectrum, then GOOD FOR YOU, and I mean that, but please do not discount the severity of this condition and the prejudice against us that makes it impossible for the vast majority of us to get and keep employment.

If someone is paralyzed from the waist down, all the "positive thinking" in the world isn't going to help him walk, and saying stuff like "glass half-full, glass half-empty" become BLAMING THE VICTIM.

I will just point out that "young adults" are more likely to be employed generally, because employers prefer young, energetic, optimistic (naive), low-expectations workers over older people, regardless of their greater maturity, experience, etc. So if 66% of *young* autistic people are employed, that doesn't contradict the statistic that 80% of autistic people are unemployed.

The percentages from studies and large-sample gallup polls indicate that young adults in general are less likely to be employed than older adults like age 30-64.

But does that mean full time employment or part time employment?....I could see more young adults doing part time work than having a full time career for instance which seems it would be more common as you get older and more experienced in the work force. Also adults 30-65 may very well be 'employed' at a higher rate currently, but it doesn't mean older adults are more likely to be hired though I guess it kind of depends on the job to....like my mom was unable to get a waitress position somewhere because it was quite obvious they wanted younger 'attractive' waitresses.

Where did you gather that idea, I was under the impression it was a U.S statistic...do you have a link to the paper on Scandinavian autistic adults?

I'm surprised the statistics for unemployment are so high and it makes me wonder if there are a lot of undiagnosed people with HFA/Asperger's that are in work but hidden from the statistics?

I don't work although I was only recently diagnosed with Asperger's. In a way it is nice to know I am not alone but in another way it is depressing to know so many on the spectrum are unemployed. I would like to work but I'm not sure what at or how; recently I tried some work but it was only 8 hours a week from home and I couldn't cope even with that.

The UK Trades Union Congress published 'Autism in the Workplace research in 2014 that agreed with the figures cited earlier. See here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/ ... -workplace

They have no affiliations with any specific autism charity, and certainly not the US based A$, but the piece was written by the activist Janine Booth. Their statistics were obtained from NAS.

It can be read here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Autism.pdf

Autism, unemployment and under-employment

There are about 332,600 people of working age in the UK with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Only 15 per cent of adults with autism are in full-time employment; only 9 per cent are in part-time employments.

Fifty-one per cent of adults with autism in the UK have spent time with neither a job nor access to benefits, 10 per cent of those having been in this position for a decade or more.

Sixty-one per cent of those out of work say they want to work.

Seventy-nine per cent of those on Incapacity Benefit say they want to work.

Fifty-three per cent of adults with autism said they want help to find work, but only 10 per cent are getting the support.

Twenty-six per cent of graduates with autism are unemployed.

(above stats: National Autistic Society)

Only 11 per cent of carers who have children with autism work full-time, and 70 per cent say the lack of appropriate care facilities stops them working.
(Ambitious About Autism)

ASD people supposedly dominate Silicon Valley, and NASA.

So, 80% seems high.

When you actually study that stereotype, it falls apart. Being a nerd and being autistic aren't the same thing.

Heh

Exchange wine for whiskey, though.

There also appears to be a correlation between age and the likelyhood of someone being diagnosed. Including the possibility of an older person having been (mistakenly) diagnosed with something else.

I suppose if that is ones preference, I personally find red wine to be quite satisfying...have never tried a white or pink wine that I liked. I like whiskey, but only drink hard liquor on rare occasions anymore.