Mental Health

Finding employment on the autism spectrum*

Natalie Beanland

Reprinted from the Housing as a Human Right issue of Visions Journal, 2022, 17 (2), pp. 27-29

I graduated from college in 2004 and began job-hunting soon afterwards. I went to several specialized employment agencies and programs, desperately trying to find a place that could offer the help I needed as a person living on the autism spectrum. During that time, I did some volunteer work and occasionally had paid work experiences, but I had yet to attain a suitable paid position.

I found job searching difficult, especially the interview process. Answering interview questions (thinking and responding quickly), “marketing” myself (articulating my skills and experience) and disclosing autism were challenges. I usually disclosed when I was asked about my weaknesses. I used this opportunity to demonstrate my ability to work with and overcome obstacles. But disclosing was tricky; I needed to be upfront with employers while selling myself, and if I was not hired, it was impossible to prove whether that was the reason why.

On the upside, my dad helped me create a great disclosure statement for a cover letter that was honest about my autism yet positive, and I found a two-page autism spectrum employer’s guide that was an excellent resource for educating potential employers.¹

In 2006 I worked as a “Christmas casual” for an employer. I mentioned to a co-worker that I was a person with a disability looking for work, and she suggested an agency called Polaris Employment Services. After the position ended in disappointment (I was informed harshly that my performance did not meet expectations and I would not be considered for rehire), I called Polaris, which connected me to PACT Employment Services at Coast Mental Health.² I figured I should at least give them a call, considering how discouraged I felt. Making that call to PACT turned out to be one of the best moves I ever made.

PACT offered me exactly what I needed to finally make a strong entry into the workforce: a four-month paid internship at The Personnel Department (TPD), where I assisted staff with various office tasks. Since TPD happened to be a staffing agency, I signed up for their services after my internship ended.

I was placed temporarily with a great company to assist with cheque processing. While there, I expressed interest in staying on longer. Shortly afterwards, I got a call from the HR manager to come in for a brief interview. She told me she was creating a position for me as an office assistant, and I was hired in October 2007. I worked there on a full-time basis for almost three years, performing general office duties like data entry, correspondence and typing and filing documents. I enjoyed it. The people were very friendly and supportive. I was allowed to progress at my own pace and wasn’t expected to take on more than I could manage. Sadly, I was laid off in June 2010.

I called PACT Employment Services once again but discovered that the internship they had originally set up for me had been a pilot project. So I was referred to another employment program. A couple of months later, the contact I’d had at PACT told me that a part-time filing position had become available in the accounting department at Coast Mental Health. I met with the HR department there and was hired in September 2010.

Meanwhile, I continued my search for a second part-time job in order to have full-time work. I found all aspects of this hard: looking, applications, interviews and networking. Living on the autism spectrum affected not only the search, but my employment options as well. Finding a job that matched my skill level but allowed me to work with and not against my challenges was not simple. I needed an employer who would be accommodating, providing opportunities for advancement without overwhelming me. This often meant applying for jobs that I could handle, even if I seemed overqualified.

Since I excelled at some things and struggled with others, I had to be flexible and find alternatives when necessary. It took over a year after I was laid off to find work, and my employment insurance eventually expired. The job I got, as a customer service representative at a furniture store, turned out to be a bad fit. I struggled to keep up with the demands of customer service—the fast pace, thinking on my feet, multi-tasking, etc. I was let go after my three-month probationary period.

Thankfully, I still had my part-time position with Coast Mental Health. I resumed my search for an additional part-time job—alone, and with the help of an employment counsellor. Several months later, I found a great job as a data entry/filing clerk, which I had for nearly three years until the office closed down.

For the next year and a half I supported myself with a combination of my part-time job at Coast Mental Health, employment insurance, temp work and odd jobs while I kept looking for a second steady part-time job.

In the fall of 2016 I came across a newspaper ad for temporary staff to help with a store opening for Bed Bath & Beyond. I applied and got hired, first temporarily, then permanently as a part-time employee in the receiving department. I have been there ever since, alongside my part-time job at Coast Mental Health.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic did impact my work (I was furloughed temporarily and some duties changed), luckily I did not have to conduct a job search during this time. If I did have to find a new job again, here are some things I would do:

• enlist the support of a job coach³ with a good understanding of the autism spectrum and common strengths/challenges and how they affect employment⁴
• keep in mind that although a coach is there to assist, I would need to rely on myself and do my part
• register with a staffing agency to give myself more options
• ensure proper self-care (eat well, work out, meditate, etc.) to manage stress and prevent burnout

Having steady, full-time employment made it possible for me to achieve personal independence and self-sufficiency, which also boosted my confidence and self-esteem. It allowed me the financial freedom to create a better reality. For instance, I could finally get much-needed dental work. For me, finding vocational opportunities was the result of a combination of luck (the right person and workplace at the right time) and hard work (determination and persistence). I am very grateful for the jobs I have and the support I received to attain them.

* Edited and reprinted with permission from nataliebeanland.com