What kinds of jobs can people with Asperger Syndrome do?

Question

What kinds of jobs can people with Asperger Syndrome do?

Answer 1

Every person with aspergers is different, so to ask what kind of job they can do is like asking what kind of job any person could do. Their talents vary just as neurotypical people do.

I have one friend who works for a meteorological agency predicting storms, one who draws and paints, one who works in a factory, one who works in a lab, and another who just delivers pizzas. I know several who work with computers, some program, another one does security.

Answer 2

Silly question, it's like asking what kind of jobs can any person do. Asperger's is different in almost every person, collectively they are working in all areas, anything that you can find employment in. People with Asperger's are more often than not an expert in their field of interest, that could be anything and you'll even find many college professors with Asperger Syndrome. The problem seems to be when people think that having Asperger Syndrome means that they are not capable of self sufficiency, and the label its self becomes disabling. What ever their passion / obsession is, is a good place to start, one boy i know when he was little was obsessed with toilets, he's now a plumber. My daughter was passionate about 3D sculpture and is now a pastry chef, my brother was equally passionate about bicycles and works in design and construction. Pick a career and you'll find a very talented and self sufficient Asperger person.

Janice

Answer 3

The computer technition/webmaster for the state agency my mother works for has Asperger's Syndrome, and he does his job very, very well.

Answer 4

When I find a job I can hold, I'll let you know!

Answer 5

it really depends on the actula person.  i have aspergers and i had one job this past summer working in the office of a sleepaway camp.    but it really depends on the person no two people with aspergers are completlely alike .  also it depends on ones personality.  it depends on a lot of things

Answer 6

They can do just about any job a neurotypical can do only better.  The problem is that they can't get past the job interview and get hired.

Answer 7

The type of job they can do depends entirely on their ability to adapt to the social environments. People with severe Asperger's are limited to sheltered workshops because they can act out and become either highly disruptive or dangerous.

Asperger's people tend to work in their field of intense interest, which is one of the hallmark's of Asperger's. Many Asperger's children are intensely interested in a certain subject. I am working with a child who is completely interested in the solar system and wants to be an astronomer. He is five years old and knows the details of every planet and the sun.

Often Asperger's people want to avoid socialization as much as possible because they know that novel situations are hard for them to understand. They like jobs where they can get into a routine and deal with a limited number of people. Many take research jobs or computer technology jobs.

There are a few Asperger's people who do like to socialize, but are considered "odd" by the people they work with. They haven't the foggiest notion that people think they are different.

We have an Asperger's teacher in our school district who is somewhat effective as a teacher. Her problem is that she will focus on a particular child's behavior and ignore the behavior of the rest of the kids. I often am called in to "break" the spell so to speak, and work on a behavior plan with her. I know I am going to have to be very precise with all of my interventions and will endure intense questioning, but it is just part of her. She is inflexible and rule bound. Since she teaches special ed, her interpretation of the rules far exceeds what is necessary.

In addition, she tends to repeat herself and she drives people crazy by doing this. Every time she see me she says, "Oh, here is my friend Cathy. Cathy is a friend of Judy and anyone who is a friend of Judy is a Friend of mine. You know I love you, don't you?" And then she proceeds to say it six times. I don't mind it because I know she is Asperger's and can't help it, but she is not popular with the staff.

So as you can see, Asperger's people are employed across the spectrum, but have a hard time if too much socialization is required.