In a bad place....don't expect you can help

foreign_correspondent

Get on with it and believe in yourself - most of my career has involved getting jobs which I was sure were beyond my skills at the time, starting them, feling terrified, getting over it, getting the skills and experience I needed then on to the next one.
I am glad (retrospectively) I was skint early in my career, it absolutely forced me to go for job interviews I would not have had the confidence to go for otherwise, and every time I was a similar role that paid a few quid more an hour I didnt feel in a position not to go for it.
Feel the fear and do it anyway! (as someone once said!)

Of course you can do it, those poor struggling students will be so grateful for your support, you could really make a difference here. Don't let em down.

cazziebo

Sometimes supportive isn't about agreeing with every poster. Sometimes it's about challenging the thinking and I think that's what has happened here.

No one will find you a job but you. If you have been offered a job it's because someone somewhere thinks you can do it. Take it and give it your best shot. If it doesn't work out then at least it's more experience and possibly more contacts. Sometimes just being out there opens new doors.

Good luck

foreign_correspondent

flowers_of_manchester wrote: »

OMG what nice people you all are!!
Is aspergers not a serious disabiity?
Some of the replies on this thread are nothing short of disgraceful and you all should be ashamed.

are you for real? the Op is in a bad place, her living conditions sound terrible, she has a job offer which could get her a better life, and we are awful because we tell her to go for it!

Yell ya what, we would be a ot more bl00dy awful if we said, 'oh thats terrible, well it looks like you are condemned to the life you have, but are miserable in, cos asbergers is insurmountable.'

Yes asbergers is difficult, but very many people have fabulous careers with it. A fair percentage of doctors and consultants are on the autisitic spectrum actually.

Also, I have a long term chronic health condition, which hasnt disabled me yet, (although I very often find life a struggle) but I work three challenging, professional jobs and keep it to myself.

Nicki

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Yes asbergers is difficult, but very many people have fabulous careers with it. A fair percentage of doctors and consultants are on the autisitic spectrum actually.

Really? What is your source for this pearl of wisdom? Your in depth knowledge as to the difficulties faced by those on the autistic spectrum might be more convincing if you even knew how to spell Aspergers!

Aspergers and classical Autism are serious disabilities, and the "attitude" which OP is being criticised for, is most likely a natural anxiety caused by the Aspergers itself. It is no more fair to criticise him/her for that, than it would be to criticise a hearing impaired person for not wanting to take a job in a call centre.

OP, did you disclose the Aspergers when you applied for the job? If so, are there things which the employer could do which might make it easier for you to take the job (adjustments which they would be required to make under the DDA, I mean). For example would it help if you had a mentor, or a TA in the class at least to start off with? Or a short course of instruction (maybe by an existing teacher at the college) on how to teach reading? I suspect that some of the posters are correct when they say that you would actually be capable in educational terms of teaching this class, given your qualifications, but I can see that you need a bit of help to overcome the hurdle of adapting your teaching skills to this different subject, and also in managing the very different needs of the class, and that this is most likely linked to the Aspergers.

Otherwise, have you thought about applying for a post as a teacher in a special school for students on the autistic spectrum? A positive role model for the students would be amazing, as often it is hard for schools like this to organise good work experience for their older students due to the range of abilities and needs (and employers prejudices) which means horizons can be narrowed.

Hope you can get things sorted, whatever you decide to do.

Somerset

I'm with flowers of manchester.

I felt slightly uncomfortable feeling the response the OP got. I also wondered if people has missed the aspergers reference.

The OP sounds genuine, hugely lacking in confidence and very self-critical. Maybe a little academic - not a scrapper. I think he/she is genuinely looking for work but maybe is frightened to step outside his/her comfort zone. I also think this 'comfort zone' is connected to the aspergers.

foreign_correspondent

Nicki wrote: »

Really? What is your source for this pearl of wisdom? Your in depth knowledge as to the difficulties faced by those on the autistic spectrum might be more convincing if you even knew how to spell Aspergers!

I stand corrected on the spelling, no need to get shirty!

I heard the information about medics with autistic spectrum on Radio 4 I believe, although it may have been at a conference. I cannot find the research to substantiate it, but will post it on here if I do.

this article may be helpful, although I cannot vouch for the authors credentials:
http://autism.about.com/od/transitioncollegejobs/p/autismskills.htm

Nicki

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I stand corrected on the spelling, no need to get shirty!

I heard the information about medics with autistic spectrum on Radio 4 I believe, although it may have been at a conference. I cannot find the research to substantiate it, but will post it on here if I do.

this article may be helpful, although I cannot vouch for the authors credentials:
http://autism.about.com/od/transitioncollegejobs/p/autismskills.htm

You might find this link a bit more useful if you have any interest at all in understanding the problems faced by those on the autistic spectrum (including those with aspergers) seeking employment.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=474

As you will see, if you read it, only 2% of those with high functioning autism or Aspergers are in full time employment, and even these face major difficulties in the workforce. With that in mind, I'd be amazed if there were too many of this 2% who were any kind of medical professional much less hospital consultant!

duchy

Returned to the thread and unlike some posters I don't get my info from a snippet on Radio 4 but from a lot of study.
Aspergers is complex and is not a one size fits all disability. Sound bite generalities aren't especially useful or appropriate.
I honestly think you need to get back into employment. It's always easier to find a job from a job but maybe the "see things as black and white" part of your Aspergers is stopping you seeing outside the box a little ?
Do you want to teach -or do you want to teach because you feel that is what you are best qualified to do ?
Have you made a list of all your transferable skills and areas of interest-maybe putting it and people suggesting careers that they see linking with your skills might give some fresh perspective and some ideas of different routes ? Long periods of unemployment do make objectivity harder and maybe we can help by been that fresh pair of eyes ?

dmg24

Nicki, you are making assumptions about the OP's condition that make it sound more severe than it actually is (from the given information).

I have Aspergers - awaiting referal for diagnosis, so the interview was confusing.

The OP has not even been formally diagnosed with Aspergers yet. As they qualified as a teacher in 1994, we can assume that they are at least in their mid thirties. There is no way that their condition can be as severe as you are implying without any kind of diagnosis before now.

If you had a further understanding of ASD and Aspergers, you would find that many with more mild symptoms go on to have excellent careers. Indeed, I know of a solicitors and one barrister who have ASD.

L-Jay

How would you all feel if your child was being taught by someone unqualified and unable (by their own admission) to teach their subject?