Disability employment legal rights clarification request - Asperger Syndrome

Errata

OP (apols if this has already been discussed) Do you tell interviewers that you have AS? If you do, are you completely confident that they know what it is? Many people don't.

skater_kat

i have aspergers and i asked for written questions during my interview for my job.
curent employer (charity sector) really good at making reasonable adjustments. having disclosed my ASD i was able to say what difficulties i had in the working envrionment - for example i sit on a desk away from the main action and use noise cancelling headphones. i picked flexi hours and have plenty of sensory breaks. i regularly discuss 'communication issues' with my manager.
i used to get support from access to work in the form of a workplace mentor.

so it can be done - but i guess the hurdle is finding a employer who is willing to take you on knowing that adjustments will probably be needed. in my case i found one.

so maybe you just need to keep trying and take the knock backs. however if you genuinely feel you have been discriminated against perhaps you could call the communinty legal advice service - as you are on JSA you will qualify for free employment law advice and they will be able to fully answer your question about the legal aspects.

however in the mean time just move on to looking for more opportunities. have you tried contacting the prospects team at the national autistic society?

wantsajob

burnoutbabe wrote: »

perhaps thats the issue, you are going for senior jobs where the technical side is probably not as important as management/people skills. Not sure how anyone would get a senior position without any past job history.

So start at the bottom and work up. Thats what most people have to do. You then either head for more management positions or become more techincal (maybe be a contractor if suitable as that avoids the management side of things a lot)

I am looking for absolutely any job. NMW, or whatever. If I was not good enough for the position because it was considered "senior", then why did they offer an interview?! It was not any kind of managerial role. I guess they mean seniority in so far as it was Academically involved, as opposed to being a secretary or cleaning toilets and just being told to get things done. I felt particularly suited to the role having read all the details they provided, otherwise I would not have applied.

t0rt0ise

They offer you an interview because if they are in the guaranteed interview scheme then they have to as long as you meet the essential criteria in the job spec. That's why some people, including me, don't declare a disability. I don't want them giving me an interview unless they really are going to consider employing me.

wantsajob

Emmzi wrote: »

2. Volunteering - you need a longer spell of reliabley turning up to do things on your cv. 8 to 10 weeks will not do it if you have never worked.

Yes, even if you dislike the actual activity. Because until you can prove you will turn up on time, not go sick, and be useful, for extended periods, it is going to be very very difficult for you. In view of what you need to get the volunteering to prove, I would relax your standards.

Have volunteered for longer than 10 weeks, and I spent 4 years at University turning up (yes they kept a register, lol), and only disappeared when I fell seriously ill and needed an urgent operation. I agree with your reasoning though. Unfortunately voluntary work does not pay the bills etc, and invariably even if travel costs are met, there are other associated costs that are not.

Emmzi wrote: »

3. Job hunting is a numbers game. You seem able to communicate to me and I wouldn't neccessarily rule you out for anything customer facing.

Well it is more the method of communication. Were it face-to-face I would say little and appear aloof and reserved.

I think a role involving customer contact would be good. Interacting with new and varied people every day would help build confidence and self-esteem. Again I feel the difficulty is in proving it is something I am capable of. When people meet me they tend to make inaccurate judgements.

Emmzi wrote: »

4. I would also work on summarising your condition in fewer words

It is difficult to describe how my condition affects myself, because people tend to misunderstand and have misconceptions. I would probably suggest the character Reginald Barclay on Star Trek: The Next Generation, provides the closest example I can think of I have seen on TV of someone somewhat like myself. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phGix2R5EWE (part 1 of 5) which in fact proves quite topical as the episode involves his difficulties, in the context of work.

On the last application form I submitted I summarised it as: "[FONT=&quot]I have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an Autistic spectrum condition characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction. Experts on the condition advocate a shift in attitudes from seeing it as a defect to be treated, towards being considered a normal human difference to be recognised and respected as any other human variation."

[/FONT]I was unsure about the last sentence, but included it hoping it would foster some kind of insight or acceptance.

Emmzi wrote: »

So. Are you willing to compromise your current standards for your end goal?

Are employers willing to compromise their standards and employ someone with my difficulties? An issue alluded to in the above video.

Emmzi wrote: »

Good luck!

Thanks, I'm certainly going to need it.

Emmzi

There is nothing in your reply to me which indicates you are going to DO anything different.

Long term volunteering with customers will greatly improve your chances.

You can only change you, you cannot change anyone else.

With tham I will stop making suggestions to try and change you - it is clear from your replies that you do not want to change. All theory, no action.

Errata

On the last application form I submitted I summarised it as: "[FONT=&quot]I have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an Autistic spectrum condition characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction. Experts on the condition advocate a shift in attitudes from seeing it as a defect to be treated, towards being considered a normal human difference to be recognised and respected as any other human variation."

[/FONT]I was unsure about the last sentence, but included it hoping it would foster some kind of insight or acceptance.

As an employer this would be meaningless to me as it does nothing to help me understand what adjustments I would have to make to get the best out of you.

Savvy_Sue

wantsajob wrote: »

On the last application form I submitted I summarised it as: "[FONT=&quot]I have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an Autistic spectrum condition characterised by significant difficulties in social interaction. Experts on the condition advocate a shift in attitudes from seeing it as a defect to be treated, towards being considered a normal human difference to be recognised and respected as any other human variation."[/FONT]

I was unsure about the last sentence, but included it hoping it would foster some kind of insight or acceptance.

Too many long words! Also putting the onus onto the employer too early, and too general. Because the employer is not going to be an expert on the condition, just being told to make a shift in their attitude doesn't help any. From what, to what?

Errata wrote: »

As an employer this would be meaningless to me as it does nothing to help me understand what adjustments I would have to make to get the best out of you.

Exactly.

How about:

"[FONT=&quot]I have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an Autistic spectrum condition. [STRIKE] characterised by significant [/STRIKE] In my case I have some difficulties with social interaction. On first meeting me I may seem aloof, and I may need time to formulate answers to questions in an interview situation. I respond best to unamibuous questions and instructions. [STRIKE]Experts on the condition advocate a shift in attitudes from seeing it as a defect to be treated, towards being considered a normal human difference to be recognised and respected as any other human variation[/STRIKE]."[/FONT]

starchild1972

My cousin is aspie, he works full time. He was only diagnosed a few years ago after his parents died yet he is in his 50's (many moons ago diagnosed as mentally unstable, misdiagnosis I may add). He looked at jobs and decided that as his soical skills were pants he would work as a street cleaner.
Not the best job in the world but as he said, he doesn't have to interact much.
His council says he is the best cleaner they have ever had.
He wanted to work in an office but once he realised that meant a lot of interacting he knew that apart from it being difficult and frustrating for him, it would also be very difficult and frustrating for work colleagues and for his employer. He is classic perfectionist, if something isn't right he redoes it 100 times. Toilets in his town are sparkling and have won awards! He knew that although this would be handy in a lot of jobs, he can't work to deadlines. They mean sod all to him.

wantsajob

t0rt0ise wrote: »

They offer you an interview because if they are in the guaranteed interview scheme then they have to as long as you meet the essential criteria in the job spec. That's why some people, including me, don't declare a disability. I don't want them giving me an interview unless they really are going to consider employing me.

What is the point in a guaranteed interview scheme then? Why don't they hang up a "disabled people need not apply" sign, instead of a silly 2 ticks symbol that doesn't actually mean anything. Would be far more helpful.

Not declaring a disability is not an option for me. I do so bad in interviews that interviewers will think negative thoughts regardless. I really need to hope I come across an interviewer who recognises that I have difficulties (rather than considering them to be negative qualities that are my fault and under my control), and that I do have some ability.