Life with Aspergers

Masking is one of the most crucial skills that autistic people develop. We learn to mask at an early age simply by copying our peers so that we become less of a target for bullies. In our working lives, we mask to become "one of team", to keep our jobs, to avoid being singled out and to avoid becoming the subject of gossip and speculation. It's no exaggeration to say that for an autistic person, the ability to mask is a life-saver.  It is well established that very young autistics mask quite poorly and that as a general rule, our ability to mask improves as we get older, so that by the time they are adults in the workforce, many autistic people can pass undetected as "normal", most of the time.  What's less established is that as autistic people pass middle-age, they mask less. This doesn't seem to be the loss of an ability so much as a choice, or perhaps simply the result of tiredness. Masking is, after all a very exhausting activity. While masking is v...

Autistic people are an incredibly diverse group, even within the broader neurodivergent community. We are diverse because we do not share all the same strengths and weaknesses, we have vastly different talents and interests. Other factors, such as our upbringing, political factors and our economic status also play key roles in determining our ability to operate within society. This is why a “one-size-fits-all” approach to housing simply doesn't work. In this post, I want to talk about the different types of living arrangements that autistic people may find themselves in and I want to discuss why some arrangements may be better suited to various sub-groups of individuals. There are essentially three major styles of living; Independent Living Supported Living  Group or Residential Care  For many, the ideal path is to first explore independent living, as it offers the most autonomy. However, it's crucial to find the option that best fits an individual's unique needs. It’s also...

We are all targets for scams In today's interconnected world, scams are a constant and evolving threat. A single misstep can compromise personal financial security or leave valuable assets unprotected. It's no longer a matter of 'if' you'll encounter a scam, but 'when'. Everyone, regardless of their age or ability is a potential target for scams and while a lot of anti-scam support has been made available for the general population, there is less that is specifically designed for autistic people.  It's not entirely fair to suggest that autistic people are more at risk given the incredible diversity of talent, capability and perception on the autism spectrum but the spectrum is wide and the general consensus of academic research suggests an intersection of autism characteristics with common scam tactics. Autistic people are generally considered a little more vulnerable.  The aim of this post is to empower all autistic people, regardless of their technical...

In my first post on this subject, I introduced eight steps to financial independence and began working through them, explaining what they were and how some autistic people may experience difficulty with them. That first post covers: Developing the right mindset, Budgeting and tracking expenses, Saving, and Debt management. In my second post , I covered the next two topics: Generating Income and Making Your Money Work for You (i.e., Investments). In this final post, I will cover Building Good Credit and How to Review and Adjust Your Plans for the Future . But first, I want to clarify a point raised by one of my readers . Why Do I think Autistic People are "Bad with Money"? It's a good question, especially since I'm writing a series aimed at helping people do better in this area. The answer is simple: I don't. I have met many autistic people who are absolute wizards with financials , particularly if they have finance as a special interest. Unfortunately, not every...

In my last post , I covered the first four of eight steps to financial independence while looking at the key issues that specifically affect autistic people. This time, I want to cover the next two crucial steps; Generating Income and Making Good Investments .  Step 5 Generating Income The foundation of financial independence is generating income, and for most, this means securing a job. While jobs are generally accessible to young people, gaining a foothold in the workforce can be challenging, often requiring prior experience or qualifications. Don't be discouraged if your first job isn't glamorous – sometimes, it's just about getting a foot in the door. My own first job involved making dog food! The key is to commit fully to your current role while always striving for something better. Autism and Job-Seeking Autistic individuals often face unique hurdles in the job market, particularly during the initial recruitment phase. Many of these issues center around the interview ...