There is more support for low functioning Autistics and for people with conditions like Down Syndrome and physical disabilities. People with high functioning Autism receive little or no support and are forced to figure life out on their own. High functioning Autism is more of a curse than a blessing. In 2013 the loss of Asperger's, people lost their identity of Asperger's and are just high functioning Autistic. High functioning Autistics still have the social/communication skills barriers, behavioural issues, psychological issues that make it difficult to find and keep jobs.

Some people use their disability as a way of getting what they want and work the system like the following scenario:

"I once knew a chap, at the time we were friends, but because of this and a number of other reasons, we’re no longer speaking.

He and I both received diagnoses for Asperger’s (which still existed then) - mine being marginally more severe - but we responded in different ways.

He went into the testing almost determined to get diagnosed with something. I went in wondering what would happen, and whether the results would give me any answers to questions I’ve had about myself since I was a toddler.

He got what he “wanted” - his first act upon receiving the diagnosis was to research how much free stuff and special exemptions he could get himself.

He didn’t want to know what was wrong and find ways to help himself; he wanted something he could use to turn his problems into everybody else’s problems.

He fought for a disabled badge, parking spaces, free laptops, benefits, exam extensions, free transport, special treatment at work, and got them all.

He took his Asperger’s and wielded it against the world, using it as a mallet to bash at anybody who ever expected him to take any kind of responsibility for his life.

He was very open and honest that he was doing this. He openly mocked the system that looked out for him, because he was going to make “the man” work for him.

"But, my Asperger’s!” became a mantra.

He didn’t get another job - he searched for a little while but couldn’t understand why, as a man with no experience and no qualifications, he had to start in an entry level position. He considered himself a genius and thought that he should begin at the top.

After evading “get a job” pressure from me and from other friends, he took out a large student loan because he said he wanted to get a degree in engineering (in actuality, he just wanted to move to Brighton to get drunk and have sex) so off he went, and he attended one class, told his professor that she was an imbecile and that the classes were “beneath him”, and never went back.

He squandered the loan money on beer and kitting out his pathetic rusty Ford Fiesta with a floor-shaking sound system. Then, it was discovered that he never attended University, and the Student Loan Company started proceedings to get the money back - which he’d spent.

“But, my Asperger’s, I have a disability!” he said at the age of 29, and his father paid off all his debt. Now his father is almost bankrupt and his mother is descending into depression. Meanwhile, he sleeps in until midday, watches Star Trek, and yells at his mother when she asks him to contribute some money towards the rent - which he still doesn’t, aged 32. (His mother is still friends with mine, so there is some news throughout - but not direct.)

It was an utter disgrace - and far from being ashamed, or feeling guilty - he was overjoyed - he’d found a way to beat the system, and to get more in exchange for less."

I think that really comes down to the individual. If this has been your experience, then I don't mean to invalidate that and I sincerely hope things improve for you; I'm happy to offer advice or just to listen if that will help.

Personally, as a "high functioning" Autistic, I've found that mine is more a blessing than a curse now that I have learned to live in harmony with it. Yes, it makes social interactions difficult, but I've learned to mitigate this to a degree through practise. On the other hand, as I've detailed a few posts back, a lot of the things that I like about myself and consider my strengths are intrinsically interwoven with my Autism.

I wouldn't be the person I am, a person that at long last I have learned to accept and even like, if I wasn't Autistic.

 My advice if you haven't done so is find a support network, Im sure and since curl works for one  he could tell you about the benefits of this far better than me.

 While reading I could sense that the impact of the abusive behaviour perpetrated by your ex friend, is what drove you to post this and was done in an altruistic   manner. but the truth is greedy narcissistic assholes are in all walks of life and we should be careful to explain that we aren't using those instances to create   stereotypes.

When you have Aspergers, you can not really afford to be fussy about jobs. Most employers regard us as being unemployable. People with Aspergers often end up in low end jobs that are way beneath them or end up on welfare for life. We are unlikely to land our dream job because our communication/social skill handicap limits us in regards to finding and keeping jobs.

Honestly this is just in your head. You already have a negative mind set of people how they will treat you before they deal with you. You need help on dealing with the demons in your dead.

I work in an office with 800+ people and they range from:

Social Butterflies (extravert) = who do nothing all day other than socialise (I call them dead wood)

Narcissists = who take pleasure in giving people shit at work

No abla = Language skills so bad (for the country they live in) that you can't understand them but you put up with them

Yes Man = there to just say yes to their manager, generally a manager with narcissism will hire those types of people

Left Right Left = those that do the same thing day in day out 9 to 5 following company processes to the letter (never go beyond the min limit or think outside the square)

Introvert (some may say ant-social) = this person doesn't mingle, hates socialising, likes to be quiet will only talk to you about work and work only and generally likes to do there job, so they get work done

What are feelings = the person who speaks their mind because they simply rather see something right than see someone feeling good about themselves

Work because I have to work = they hate their job but go anyway as they need a pay check, usually don't do much work.

The relative = someone hired them because they hold a high position in the company and they are there because of it. They dumb and useless generally.

Joker = the one who thinks they are funny but really are not and are annoying at work

Emotional vampire = they always negative and drain your energy when they talk to you

Silo man = this person is worried about letting and teaching others what they know and do so they cannot be replaced with a better model.

Stone age man = thinks women are just a piece of meat for them to gaga over.

Encino Man = been around since the dinosaurs and thinks they knows everything as it is in their head instead of keeping up with the latest information 

Graduate = Latest generation of them think they can change the world, some are arrogant and cocky, think they should earn a 6 figure salary from day one instead of work their way up.

Then you still got your racists, misogynists, relics of a different era where this behaviours was acceptable.

Now the point I am making is if a vast range of these people types can get a long, there is no reason someone with Aspergers cannot fit in somehow into the workforce. In fact some of those people are so annoying they generally get fired first over someone that has poor communication skills but a hard worker.

If you watch Curl's keynote, it clearly shows a positive attitude about his condition and that he tries his best to look on the bright side of life and even a step further improve on things he thinks need improving. If I met him in person, it would not even cross my mind that he has Aspergers. At worst I would think he is introverted and is uncomfortable in social situations. Hell I am socially awkward, I generally sit their quietly in big groups. However one on one, I am more comfortable talking to people and can talk for a while

Man, I cannot believe I missed this thread by the time it was happening irt. Huge, huge Congrats!!! I'm so proud of you, Curl!!!!

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me. :)

Graduating college and becoming unemployable is a sad future that a lot of Autistic people may face if they waste their time studying. There are far too many graduates and not enough jobs.

An Autistic person is socially challenged and is unlikely to form a network that is needed to become employable with a college education. Plenty of the popular low achieving extroverted students with networks get jobs instead of the high achieving Autistic kids at college. Autistic kids at college have to achieve higher results to get a job than people that have good social networks. An Autistic kid barely passing or getting average marks is unlikely to get a job and is wasting his/her time at college. An Autistic kid who is a socially awkward introvert has to achieve high marks to counteract the lack of social network.

Social network is everything when it comes to employment opportunities and high marks are needed by Autistic people to make up for the lack of social/communication skills. Job interviews weed out the social challenged applicants that performed well in academics but struggle to hold a conversation. Most jobs require decent social/communication skills that do not come naturally to Autistic people

The OP has been able to overcome his social challenges and get a job despite the odds being stacked against him. It is hard convincing employers that you are worth employing when you have a disability. An employer will often employ an able person ahead of a disabled person. Employers attitudes will not change unless their are Anti-Discrimination laws that mandate employers must employ a quota of disabled people to comply with the law.