It can be very difficult for autistic adults to stay in work. As high a figure as 80% unable to find long term work has been suggested, and in my 30s I'm beginning to truly understand why.

A thread. Please read and share. /1

Autistic people are often - even usually - able to work as well as anyone else - better in some cases and circumstances. However, many of us don't and many of us can't. Many of us have but cannot any longer. /2

So what's going on? Well, from my own experiences I'd say the issues are:

a) Burnout
b) Gradual loss of respect

I'll go over burnout first. /3

#autism #Employment

Autistic burnout is a specific under-researched condition that appears to strike autistic people sooner or later, probably due to prolonged efforts at masking autistic behaviour. My video here explains more...

/4

If and when autistic burnout hits, it hits like a freight train, tearing through pretty much every aspect of your life. A strange combination of depression and loss of faculty, it's a horrible thing to experience, not least because it's still rarely recognised as a thing /5

Its effect on a job or career can be disastrous. #autistic people at this point may lose their job due to capability or amount of sick leave, or they may simply have to quit as they are literally suddenly unable to work. If this has happened to you, feel free to comment here. /6

But because 'autistic burnout' is very rarely diagnosed, you're unlikely to get proper tailored support, leaving you at the mercy of employment law. You may not even recognise it in yourself. /7

This may be why suicide rates in #autistic adults is so high - this is a point where there can seem to be no solution. This is a terrible, terrible thing and it's a travesty that more effort is not put into understanding this. /8

So burnout itself can destroy your ability to work. But the other thing I hear about very frequently is #autistic people who feel they have gradually lost the respect of their peers and colleagues. /9

This can be for a combination of reasons. Burnout is obviously one of them, as you may have a lot of time off which is generally frowned upon in this wonderful ableist society we inhabit, but there are others. /10

Visible public meltdowns can tank a person's standing in the workplace, whether or not the autism diagnosis is known. This is because it is too easily misconstrued as a childish tantrum when, in fact, it's anything but. /11

Lack of ability to socialise can gradually cause a schism with colleagues, a sense you're no 'team player' or you 'don't play well with others'. This can be insidious. /12

The classic autistic 'spiky skill profile' can cause this too - you become known for being excellent at some things but then it becomes app that you're *dreadful* at other skills, which typically causes a loss of respect. /13

All told, there is a lot standing in the way of autistic people holding down work, especially in stressful times like 2020. Awareness and acceptance need to improve. /14

I'd appreciate any support you can give me to keep on with my writing. Thank you http://buymeacoffee.com/UfTVnRY