Tomorrow, I will celebrate 13 years of being employed at my current employer and while 13 seems like a superstitious number, I am proud of that number as I know I am lucky to be able to reach this milestone.
Category: Employment
MGM Resorts Backs New Autism Job Training Program
One of the nation’s biggest names in casinos is betting on a plan to increase employment opportunities for adults with autism.
Adulting: The Importance of Having Something In Your Life
Having some time off over the past few weeks provided me some time to self-reflect. As my mind often thinks that it would be in a better place if I remain stagnant in my activity, I also realize the importance of having responsibilities in my life as they provide a purpose for doing things to prevent me from being in a sad state of mental health.
Top Companies Seek Workers With Autism
by Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop | May 3, 2022 Justin Pierce, who has autism and works as an account support associate, sits at his desk at EY offices in Chicago in 2019. EY is one of several employers that are advertising job openings on a new career portal targeted at neurodivergent individuals. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago… Continue reading Top Companies Seek Workers With Autism
Reflections: We Change and Grow
As human beings we are often creatures of habit. We cannot often see beyond what we know. Change is often reluctant, being autistic further hinders it. But what if there is a chance to grow and change for the better. We have to sometimes have to lessen our dependence on the things that hold us together because we know it works, there’s a time we have to look beyond what works.
What Feelings are Typical?
Being autistic provides a skewed frame of mind. What may seem like something that is only experienced by the autistic mind may not be understood that what is being felt by an autistic person is also felt by neurotypicals as well.
12-Year Work Anniversary
Today has been 12 years since I walked into the office of my employer. All I knew at that time is that I had a job and who my direct supervisor was. I had no idea what the job exactly involved or what I was exactly doing. What I did know was that it was an opportunity that has evolved into being more educated about mental health and advocacy. It is a job that even to this day I still love .
Go With The Flow
As autistics, it can be hard many times to go with the flow. In a week that has been anything but the norm in many cases, the energy that it can generate can negatively affect downtime by putting us out of commission for some time, thus giving us a skewed outlook of the big picture of how things really are.
Recognition Pays
Continuing on this personal growth journey as it ever evolves personally has made me become a well-rounded person in the effects of the many facets that I represent. Part of that has been the ability to accept who I am overall, not just who I want to be, I am learning that I can be who I want to be while understanding and recognizing the need to properly care for myself in the process.
Why do I keep on doing What I Keep On Doing
This week has been a relaxing week and I am ever thankful for it. I am off work again for a little reprieve for a while due to how my schedule and the holiday observances occur. I only had to miss one day of work to have two weeks off, which was nice. But in the course of this week, one of my mental health workers asked me why continue to be involved in my day program and work?
Adulting: Setting Expectations
Being Autistic and growing up with so many struggles, but eventually the good comes out and you experience the good qualities of what being autistic is known for. Swinging between these two factors can play tricks on your mind, specifically your self-esteem and knowing that life is worth living. Many times it can be so hard to see the good in yourself even though those that support you can see it clearly because they have been through the trenches with you.
NDEAM: Recognize the Needs of ALL, especially Disabled Workers in the Workplace
Contrary to popular belief, Autistic People want to work, fairly and equally. We oftentimes can show our struggles or deficits more than our talents. Also those with marginal, and other barriers to employment face constant roadblocks to be a contribution to society not as a backstage piece, but one who is seen in the community and is recognized for their efforts.
NDEAM: The Benefits of Having an Autistic Employee
Being autistic, I have worked in many capacities at most points since I was 18 years old. At some intervals prior, I was volunteering in my community. My parents instilled being autistic was not an excuse to be a couch potato. I needed to do something in my life, no matter if it was only part-time, I was not to be stagnant in the house or be attracted to the computer full-time.
#NDEAM: How Work Made Me Improve My Social Skills
As we move into the second week of National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month, I am starting to be more grateful for my employment opportunity that was provided to me with no questions asked 11 and a half years ago. At that time, I vaguely knew what the job entailed or what I would be doing, however I knew I could disappoint the party that sought me, therefore I made a commitment to take the job.
#HireAutisticAdults #NDEAM2021: 10 Things To Know
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month this year and to take a break from the exhausting COVID-19 Pandemic, we will be taking Tuesdays to regenerate the #Hire Autistic Adults Series. This week we will have 10 things to know about Employment as it relates to autism.
Adulting: Hearing What You Don’t Want to Hear
Nowadays the comorbidities of being autistic and having other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia is more prevalent than ever. With the blending of these comorbidities when something is communicated, it can cause a trigger to the autistic person in the form of unwanted behavior or anxieties.
Adulting: Change of Support
As many autistic people, I have difficulty experiencing when supports change. I define support as anything that is essential for me to experience my day. The past year has brought several changes of support in many autistics because of burnout of those providing support, I am no exception to the rule from experiencing this issue.
Wellness Wednesday: Regulate If Necessary, To Take Care Of YOU!
With the “new” normal that we are experiencing and the return to what we want to consider a norm by standards, I have somewhat forgotten what working is and the overwhelming demand that is placed on my work now that we are returning to what is considered pre-pandemic levels. It can exhaust me to the point that I don’t realize that it is essential to self-regulate because if not I will dwell myself in a sense of negativity and not want to resume my normal activity.
#HireAutisticAdults: Keep Us Engaged
In recent years, there have been a number of initiatives to hire autistic adults as they age out of high school, because they oftentimes need a solid day of structured activity. This doesn’t mean that they are meaningless people. It’s just that they need to put their creative juices to work.
#HireAutisticAdults: Wanting to Work
Oftentimes when we try to relate autistics with being employed, autistics and employers alike often think it is impossible. I at times think I don’t want to work and like many others think it is easier to become a vegetable. But what good what that do?
Dustin's Dynasty 