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BEING / AUTISM IN THE WORKPLACE
3 Struggles I’ve Faced with Autism in the Workplace
The second struggle nearly drove me out of 2 jobs.
Whoever said that socialization from public school prepared you for real life must of had a head full of cotton balls.
Socialization is especially ineffective for autistic individuals.
I grew up autistic in the public education system. Despite having trouble making friends there, I was always book smart. However, when I entered the workforce, I was in for a rude awakening.
In the workplace, my competency with social norms and non-verbal cues was put to the test. I often failed. I had to learn lessons that school never taught me.
Below are 3 reasons why my autism has interfered with my work experience:
1. Rigidity
School assignments made sense. There were guidelines and a rubric. Unfortunately, for most jobs out there, it isn’t that simple.
This is especially true for start-ups.
For my second job out of seven, I was hired to do to online resale to start a side business for my cousin’s boss. I posted items online for resale each day. Then, after work, I dropped off sold items at the post…
