Career
Am I doing this right?
At one point in time, I had to be Australia's most highly qualified baggage porter, wandering around the hotel I worked at with a finance and economics degree in my back pocket wondering what the hell I was doing - knowing full well that my short stint in the corporate sector had failed miserably and I was now on the career scrap heap for eternity.
Welcome to being autistic and negotiating employment and the workplace!
After an early career setback, I felt comfortable back in uniform (hiding) and granting the wishes of every guest that came my way and honing my skills as a people pleaser with laser sharp performance. I knew where I fit in, earning minimum wage and being grateful every day that I actually had a job.
Channelling my inner Dennis Waitley, I did manage to find an upside. One which involved seeing shift work as a chance to give me space to work and rest in a way that worked for my neurotype. There is something wonderful about having Tuesdays off - first of all cheep Tuesdays at the movies and Brunetti's in Carlton for the best iced coffee on the planet without having to battle all and sundry for a table and the bookshop is also much quieter and roaming the shelves without being elbowed every few seconds was my version of a perfect day.
So while I wasn't able to utilise the skills I had developed at university and paid for, I was taking care of myself and my needs in the only way I knew how.
Was this necessarily fair?
Many years later I would discover financial counselling and the wonderful world of community services where my employer treated me with the same way as we do our clients we provide a service to - with empathy, understanding and support.
So as an (wannabe) romance novelist - this is my career happily ever after!
Sorry... the unemployment rate is what?
The Australian census of 2018 reported that the unemployment rate for autistic individuals in Australia is 34%. That's with a participation rate of around 40%. So with only 40% of the autistic population in Australia actively engaged in working or seeking work, and 34% of those are unemployed, that puts autistic people in the highest category of unemployed disabled people in Australia. It's three times higher than the general disabled population an 10 times higher than the general population.
That doesn't account for those (like me) who were underemployed (I was working initially as a part timer in the hotel), or working in a job which requires a lower qualification that what the employee actually holds (me too!).
Autistic people are dedicated, quality employees who need support through the interview process (questions in advance please!!), supported connection to the new team early on (mentors please!), and sensory needs accommodated for (just ask and we will tell you what we need thanks).