What are the Best Jobs for Autistic People?

By: Vanessa Blanchard

I’ve had a lot of jobs in the last 20 years.  Some were great, others awful, but all of them burned me out.  Figuring out why I couldn’t hold a job helped me learn I’m autistic.  The majority of autistic adults are un or underemployed, largely because the demands of traditional jobs erase autistic needs.  So, are there jobs for autistic people?

I think yes, but the key to stable employment for autistic adults is to let meeting their needs become part of the job.  We often thrive in environments without hierarchies that foster authenticity.

My worst jobs were ones where hierarchies mattered greatly.  I’m always thrust to the bottom of social structures like this.  That’s what being “othered” is about. These are the jobs where needing accommodations is both a betrayal and a sign that you’re a liar.  

The worst job I’ve ever had was in real estate.  I wanted to talk about houses all day. Instead, I had to mask constantly and chase people’s approval.  Office work requires constant interruptions and phones make me anxious. I quickly found myself being manipulated and bullied within the office.

There were parts of that job I loved very much, but I couldn’t make it 4 months before I was fired.  The disappointment and embarrassment nearly broke me. It took me months to recover and I had to pay for therapy out of pocket just to last as long as I did.

My best job was the opposite.  I designed crochet patterns and sold them on Etsy.  This job let me organize my day around my needs. I could stim freely.  There were tasks that were good for bad sensory days, hyperfocus, or no focus, far fewer social and sensory demands, and new projects meant novelty within a routine.  Breaks were allowed because stillness brings innovation and clarity, which is integral for an art business.

I kept that job for several years before I decided to move on.  During that time, my mental health improved immensely. Building an expression, stitch by stitch is a tangible transmutation.  Finishing a thing is my favorite way to gain confidence.

I firmly believe that there could be a diverse range of  jobs out there for autistic adults that won’t chew them up and spit them out.  It will require innovation and perhaps a union so that we’re protected from discrimination, but it’s 100% possible for many more of us to have the independence and sense of purpose that employment offers.