25 and trying to fix my life

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Hey I am 25 and I have aspergers I've had one real job in my life from which I got fired at within the first week. I was going to college for art wasn't really sure what else to do then I tried learning how to develop websites that didn't work out I stopped going and derped off in life for a little bit I tried to fix things by going out and applying for jobs everyday but I've had very little success I have gotten lucky enough to get interviews sometimes but I never make it past that because they probably think that I'm to awkward socially I have tattoos which are sort of a hindrance but I can cover them all with long sleeves and look professional no piercings. I then tried having a job agency help me find work but all they were doing was printing out craigslist ads and sending me in to apply i was already doing this myself so that didn't really help aside from them helping me write a better resume and cover letter. I have a few things going for me I have a high school diploma, I have a drivers license and vehicle, I know some stuff about computers but not enough to program or enough to sustain myself, I'm blessed with good looks but I am not female so this won't help me financially. Currently my only source of income is from SSI I want to get off of it and become self sufficient and not have to feel embarrassed anymore and have to lie to people when they ask me what I do. I'm not lazy it's just that no one will give me a chance because I act differently then most people and have terrible job history I'm to the point where I can have normal conversations with strangers sometimes my autism takes over and I'll act awkward and quiet or say the wrong thing I try my best though. My close friends will not even recommend me for a job because they think I will jeopardize them. At this time in my life almost all of my friends have some type of steady job or career and have moved out on their own so now I really feel like a outcast and it's only getting worse the older I become pretty soon no one will want to have anything to do with me. My depression is getting worse and everyday now all I can think about is how I've failed at life and blowing my brains out before life gets any worse for me. Have any of you been in a similar position because of your autism is 25 to old to turn things around and if so what did you do to get out of it and what do you do now? I need some kind of inspiration because my efforts haven't gotten me very far. I live in Los Angeles if there are any organizations near me that are geared toward helping autistic people find work or housing that would help tremendously.

Have you ever tried Vocational Rehabilitation.

You live in a very large area as far as population is concerned. I'm sure there are autism societies in Los Angeles.

http://www.chooseworkttw.net/
The Ticket to Work program may help you meet your goals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/busin ... .html?_r=0

"Vocational Rehabilitation" Oh boy... you said a mouthful KraftieKortie lol. Hopefully they are more progressive then they are where I am at, perhaps various Autism societies or Asperger Support groups as mentioned above would be one of the better routes talk with others whom are maybe in the same boat that you are and could give you more advice best suited for the area your living in.

I can only say this if you go the Vocational Rehabilitation route again unless they are more progressive be prepared to hear a lot of fluff with little results.

I am 34 almost ten years older and I'm trying to get my life back on track after being derailed and I too know EVERYTHING that your feeling. I know this may sound a little cleshay but your still young and probably able to turn things around in a short time.
Just a few suggestions that I can think of: if your looking for housing and are on SSI maybe check with a community mental health center I know that doesn't sound ideal but some mental health centers have community based housing and related day programs which may have a job readiness programs, there's also do I dare say goodwill some locations offers job leads both for the store and other venues, computer classes for free & depending on the market they may also hold a career fare. If you have any more questions feel free to shout out to me.


Good Luck~

I'm slightly older than you, and I'm still trying to figure it out. I finally got my first decent job last year and got fired right before the 6 month mark. Sadly, there aren't really any well-established "autistic job advocacy" organizations or whatever. The few I have seen focus on computer programming .

i'm 27 and never had a career, only have a high school diploma

One job that might be good is to take care of flower gardens--assuming you have a good memory and are good at following instructions. Many of the people who need this sort of work will pay decently to get someone who can actually do what they are told.

Starting with the community mental health resources is a good idea -- they should also be able to point you towards an organization or two that does aptitude/interest testing.

Since you don't know that kind of job you want/are capable of/could bear, skills testing can provide valuable information.

You might also want to try Walgreens (really proactive/supportive of hiring individuals with disabilities) or the U.S. Version of Denmark's Specialisterne (tests and trains people with ASDs to do computer-y work and they pay really well).