Aspergers for Hire

Today I (Ethan Stranger) will be trying to help my Community in finding new ways for people with Autism or Asperger’s to apply for jobs or perhaps starting a business for yourself. Finding a Job for a person with Autism or Asperger can be difficult due to many different factors. For example, getting used to long and scheduled hours, handling social interactions with coworkers and bosses & the fact that several workplaces can turn down an Asperger candidate for they think that being part of the spectrum makes them ineligible to work anywhere at anytime, which is both sad and unfair. So allow me (Ethan Stranger) to share with y'all my opinion related to working as a neurodiverse employee and what we can do to make this inequality slowly go away in the future. I will be sharing my past work-related experiences (though this came at a time before I learned of my own Aspergers) and also what my goal is regarding work in general.

I remember most of my early work was simply community service for my Church (during my High School Years) also around this time, I attempted to apply for a job at a local store, but they turned me down for somebody else. Eventually I decided to wait until the end of my High School Years to apply for work - especially since this was a very stressful time of my life for me and I wasn't in full control of my emotions, also, I remember that I was a part of the band & having a job during those days would’ve made me even more frustrated & exhausted.

As some of you know, following my High School graduation, my parents & I took a 2 year stay in Nepal - which ended up being an enriching experience for me as a young adult. While over there, I volunteered at an Animal Shelter (known as the “KAT: CENTRE”) for a little while until Winter of 2015, I finally got, with help from my dad, my 1st ever paying job (and I worked there until the end of January 2016). I would get new job offers from this workplace & worked there for a total of 3 more times. However my time at KAT can be for another post...

Upon returning to the states, I was hoping that my experience from volunteering at the KAT: CENTRE would land me a position at this local animal shelter that was just across from my High School. While I did their interview, they turned me down & hired somebody else. Soon my parents had me applying for stores (all of whom turned me down), it wasn’t until (with help from a cousin of mine) I finally landed me a seasonal gig at this travelling costume place called “Spirit Halloween'' and just in time too (for I was attending a local Community College at the time & needed the money). 

However I’ve always had trouble handling stress and anxiety and I felt overwhelmed between working and going to the Community College (it’s important to mention that I’ve also struggled with learning in the past, now I know why and will be sharing it with you in a later post). I also remember that at the time I had just returned from Nepal and I felt that I needed some time to adjust to life back in the States, time management has also been a struggle for me in the past. In the end, I decided to keep my 1st ever American Paying Job, so in the end I chose work over study. 

By Early November, my gig at Spirit Halloween had come to an end & I was once again in dire need of work, luckily I remember my Dad helped me fill out an application to my Mom’s old workplace from the bus department, so thanks to a few co-workers (who were her friends) they managed to help me get a Job as a Crossing Guard at an Elementary School (after completing some heavy paperwork) & I remained on that position from Late 2017-Mid 2019 (and I really enjoyed it, mainly because I’ve bonded with both the kids & their parents, as well as several of my crossguard partners). 

 

The last known work I’ve ever done was back in Lima (both between the summer of 2018 & 2019), since then, I’ve been out of a Job since (in part due to the Coronavirus pandemic & also because I feel unsure of my future in general). While I do wanna get back out there, once the pandemic ends, I do fear about returning to work in general because I’m worried what could happen if my bosses or other workers just don’t understand my condition and end up misinterpreting my intentions or my words. Also, I can't help but fear that or that I might fail in the end.

As an Asperger person who does want to experience being part of the workforce and as someone that enjoys the comic book world, it’s a dream of mine to, someday, at least try to work in something related to media. However, I’ve learned, in the hard way, that not everything comes easy & that sometimes, many times to be honest,  things don't go according to your plan, and you might feel unprepared. In the end, we’re all struggling to fill in the gaps on what to do with our lives. It's a tricky road aint it?

While I know there are jobs that are best/better suited for Asperger People (like myself), I was able to hold my own against jobs that would’ve made other employees frustrated or overwhelming - I was in those types of situations, but I didn’t quit, it’s just either the seasonal job offer had ended or I’ve decided to move in attempt to risk trying new life opportunities out there in the big world. 

So remember, if you're an Asperger (or have any disability) person that struggles in finding a line of work or have been fired because of your condition, never give up in finding a job, there are lots of opportunities for people like us. We just need to be careful about the people we trust & even if the job you find isn’t your dream job, don’t fret about it, as I said there are always other opportunities. 

So, as you might be guessing, my next step will be overcoming my fears and begin the search for a job, any job, because that will help me get closer to what I really want. What will you guys and gals will be doing along the way? 

Ethan Stranger Signs off!