What I do know is that I cannot keep looking to other people to help me succeed, I need to do that on my own, but I can’t do that without some guidance. I have a lot of ideas. I’m incredibly bright. And I’ve tried before, and I’ve been taken advantage of over and over again.

Really all I want is freedom. To not have to be worried that I won’t understand, or that someone won’t make the effort to accommodate me. I want to be able to support myself, and my family.

It’s been really hard for me to figure this out. Even just to find a place where I feel I remotely belong, much less a place. I’m not terrified I’ll be forced out of. It’s time to stop thinking about it and just do something about it. If you have any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to offer them.

I am Canadian by the way if that makes a difference. I have a really varied work background because of this and don’t know where to go from here.

I appreciate your advice

@tiaugn

I'd know where to direct you if in the USA. If you live & work in Canada, I'm not knowledgeable there.

US has the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act signed into law by Pres. George H.W. Bush. Believe diagnosis of Autism may qualify as a "disability" under this Act (I taught Entrepreneurship to HS students, had many with disabilities).

If CA has similar protections, a vocational, technical, career school/college would have that knowledge.

Hope this helps in you search.

@Gladari great suggestions I am Canadian though. You’d be shocked how many businesses have no idea that they need to accommodate for people with disabilities. I was fired from several jobs for request requesting that they provide even the most basic accommodations, and I don’t have the financial assets to pursue legal recourse

@tiaugn

Here we have advocates for that. They help with workplace issues.

I did a google search for "List organizations that advocate for people with disabilities in the workplace" and got 24 different agencies that do just that. Perhaps some are specialized in what aspects they address.

Hope you have some success getting this assistance information where you live.

@Gladari yeah we’re supposed to have that too. I don’t recall if I mentioned in my initial post but previous times I’ve tried that they’ve not been any more helpful than me applying on my own.

@tiaugn

Some may be better than others - my county Senior Center is so much better than the adjacent county! My disables son uses ours instead of the one where he lives.

@tiaugn

I wished that I had some suggestions. I do hope and pray that you find a place where you feel safe and accepted! 🙏💛

@tiaugn Have you tried a book like Getting Shit Done? It might provide you some structure for organizing your steps?

@misslovelymess I haven’t; who’s the author?

@tiaugn Benjamin Wann.

@tiaugn It's actually a series of books.

@misslovelymess I will definitely look that up, thank you for the suggestion

@tiaugn You're welcome. As having my own neuro stuff, I need structure, and this might help you with structuring thoughts and steps. Just a thought.

@tiaugn

Would it be possible to see an OT that specializes in neurodivergent adults?

That might be a good starting point.

I have family members who also are misunderstood it's so so hard.

@KazzyH for sure something I could look into but as of yet I haven’t found any resources like that in my area that really made a difference. The few places I tried made me feel like there was no difference between using them and applying on my own.

@Boyceaz I wish there was some kind of a pattern or algorithm. I could follow to narrow that down but so far it feels like it’s been trial and error

@tiaugn Talk some about your spectrum. What are you good at? What are you not so good at?

@Boyceaz i’m very good with technology and thinking through different levels of abstraction. I have a tendency to lean towards philosophical and religious constructs. My partner thinks I would be good at teaching, but I’m very averse to the traditional system a lot of traditional systems.. I struggle at reading between the lines from a Neurotypical standpoint. I do very well with as little interaction as possible..

@tiaugn So that "as little interaction as possible" is how my friend became a night security guard. It lets him work on writing projects and other creative outlets while getting paid. I'm not sure starting a business is going to allow the minimal interaction unless you can do an online business.

@Boyceaz oddly enough I have a Security license I was just let go for asking for disability accommodations. I have been applying for more positions though. night might be a good option.

@Boyceaz starting my own business, may not eliminate interactions, but it will eliminate The powers above me that make things so difficult and restore some sense of control to my life

@tiaugn and...

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
This program offers financial assistance, prescription drug and vision care benefits, and help finding and keeping a job. To be eligible, you must be 18 or older, have a disability that is likely to last a year or more, and have financial need.
Speech and language therapy
Speech-language therapy can help improve communication skills, such as asking for help, having a conversation, and using a speech output device.

(cont.)

@tiaugn lastly...

Non-government resources
These include Autism BC, Autism Support Network, Canucks Autism Network, Family Support Institute BC, Pacific Autism Family Network, and Autism Community Training (ACT).

Don't know if any of these can help...but there is a lot of info out there. ✌️

@HawkHorton thank you that gives me something to look into. I appreciate your help.