Autistic and can’t work but would like ideas of how to fill my time?

[furtheringeducation]

Once my youngest goes to school full time in September?

Im thinking about a OU course but is it worth it if it’s just for me and not towards a qualification specifically for a job but just something I enjoy ? Do they ever make you go in person or a it all done from home ?
Im also wondering about some DIY projects as I really enjoy this type of thing and the house does need a lot of work.

I don’t really leave the house much but can get into the garden although I know nothing about gardening at all. I just don’t want to do nothing I’d like to find some things to keep my mind active

Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh used to do a fully distance learning online horticulture course. I did it and the resources were great. If you have a garden too you can put all your theory to the test. I did it and adored it. I'm sure plenty of other places also do online horticulture courses.

Why can't you work? If you are capable of being a mother I'm sure you can find employment too.

Really? That's your level of understanding?

What an awful thing to say to someone with a disability. You don't get to judge someone's ability to work based on fuck all.

I read your OP and it made me feel sad. If you're able to do an OU course, you should be able to do some kind of paid work. It made me feel sad because as a society, we exclude people like you from the world of work.

For some reason, we expect everyone to have social skills, be able to sell themselves at interview and do work as part of a team. Even night shift shelf stackers are employed as Customer Assistants and expected to be multi skilled and work on tills and cover other roles. Work from home jobs still require you to be all singing all dancing at the interview and to actively take part in team meetings and bullshit team building sessions.

I don't understand why we can't have some jobs where people can work alone at home, jobs that people can get without having to sell themselves and display social skills they don't have.

I've gone off on a rant there but in response to your OP, you said you're good at English so could you do some creative writing or factual article writing? Or proof reading or editing? Gardening sounds good. The OU courses are great by the way and don't require you to attend at all if you don't want to.

I'm sorry you're having to find ways to fill your time just because you don't fit in the box of the "perfect" employee.

When I did mine there was a handful of seminars to attend in person but I think they were optional. There was also an exam which I had to sit in person. But that was back in 2008 and way before COVID so I would imagine there were more options for online only now. And if not OU then other providers.

Good luck. What kind of subject are you thinking of studying?

If you're able to do an OU course, you should be able to do some kind of paid work.

There is a word of difference between a paid job and a course you study online at your leisure

Can we maybe stop assuming people can get a job because they can do something not at all related to a job?

It's really condescending that you think you know better.

Some great ideas about learning new things on here . I’ve never heard of vision2learn or futurelearn or learningcurve. Exciting to think you could learn new skills to entertain you or help around the house :)

Might you be entitled to any support for your daughter - to take her out say swimming lessons for example, even if you can’t go? Just wondering.

Just to add not all OU courses have exams and the course details will specify. I deliberately chose mine based on it not having an external exam to sit.

Write a novel.

You don't necessarily need to do a course.

Just sit down and start. Doesn't matter if it's shit at first, you'll get better and imaginary worlds are fun.

Volume of output is the key, particularly at first.

I love the gardening and chickens ideas and hope you get to the DIY projects too.

I just wonder about upholstery or cane weaving projects at home? My grandmother used to do this and was very good at it, she repaired some beautiful things for other people.

She was also a book indexer. I have no idea if this profession still exists or not but compiling an index is skilled work. Obviously it is not a hobby but is (badly) paid work so I won't talk more about it, but she did it 100% from home and in fact refused ever to meet her employers (partly because she was still working at well over 80 years old and thought they would sack her if they knew how old she was; I think also because she was almost certainly neurodiverse herself. It all went perfectly well without meetings anyway.)

I'm autistic. I can definitely not work.

I get words and numbers wrong. I can't remember information. I hade anxiety. I don't like talking to people. Hate going out. It's depressing.

If you've some space in the garden, i'd absolutely recommend growing veg. There's nothing better than eating your own grown food and it tastes so much better than shop bought. You can grow potato's in deep buckets or bags. Spinach is easy and keeps on coming as you cut it. Herbs are great too, especially if you enjoy cooking. I find weeding very therapeutic too, i can spend hours getting lost in the garden.

@Xrays

Out of interest do you claim PIP?
I had the lowest rate for mobility (actually going out not being able to walk) £23.40 a week for 2 years. They've stopped it all now. Even though I have 3 more diagnosis than before.

bloody hell the autism bashing 'well you seem normal to me' on this thread is horrific.

Yes of course you can be a good mother and not be able to work.

Im only able to work because I have been fortunate enough to have / make opportunities to allow me to be in control of the kind of work I do, and when I do it. Even so, its seasonal, and at the end of the season I burn out and take about 3 months to decompress.

I HAVE worked, but each time its taken about 2 years before I have a breakdown.

I have 3 degrees, 2 of them very heavy science ones. Its possible to be highly 'intellegent' and not able to really function well, especially in an increasingly corporate world.

OP, see if the GP can help you with meds, it seems to be a gamechanger for some. And definately learn - autistic women are really great at turning their passions into a business.

Look at distance learning which would compliment a skill you may have ...art/crafts etc or proof reading? Something you are good at and maybe have your own business at home?

Connecting with nature is a wonderful thing for Autism and ADHD. If you receive benefits, you could receive funding to do a horticultural course and then use that to find work in a garden or garden centre. In the meantime, you could work on your own garden and start from there.

In my local area there are quite a few community projects that run activities online.

There are Zoom craft sessions, creative writing sessions, and other creative classes. Most are advertised on Facebook as well as the organisation website.

And there are also some free sewing courses. Online craft groups often run craft alongs and craft swaps which will open up new skills and meeting people online.

I agree. The only time I'm content is when I'm gardening.

I also have children. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 34.

What about starting a blog? It could be about parenting with autism, or living with agoraphobia - something that you know about basically. It would be a nice project researching how to set one up, thinking of the content and you never know, you could even make some money if it became successful.

The OU can be done completely from home.

There are online tutorials that you can attend, but they are optional - and you don't usually get a chance to speak, but can type questions to the tutors. They also do record the tutorials so you can watch them back in your own time and without having to interact with people.

Some modules have exams but this is shown before you sign up. Exams are done in person. They are held at an exam centre but obviously during the exam you can't talk to anyone and beforehand everyone is so nervous the most you'll say is hello and good luck. They can make reasonable adjustments such as doing the exam at home but an invigilator would have to watch you so that may be worse.
The other option is that some modules have an EMA which is a bigger assignment at the end. So you do it the same as all of the other assignments. If you're studying for fun you'll be able to choose your own modules so can decide to just do modules with an EMA if that's better for you.

All modules have forums, which is where you can type messages to the tutors and other students but it's mostly optional. Some modules do have compulsory bits where you need to post a message - but you're managing Mumsnet fine so I doubt this will be a problem! If you really can't do it you'll just lose marks on the assignment (you don't fail or get removed from the course) so that is an option if you really can't do it.

No, Prozac is an SSRI, Venlafaxine is an SNRI which has a wider mode of action and is therefore often more effective. I was put on it due to having resistant depression. I've had no side effects. I'm not on the highest dose, just a moderate one.

bloody hell the autism bashing 'well you seem normal to me' on this thread is horrific.

Vile, isn't it?

I've gone from being almost completely shut down and a nervous wreck to going out and I'm even going to an evening concert at the cathedral next week, which is something I haven't done in over 20 years. I've made friends and am helping her with her garden and home. I have a trip planned for two weeks time with these friends. My home is better cared for and I've been doing crafting. My medication has also stopped me eating constantly and I've lost half a stone in weight.

@furtheringeducation have you considered a hobby such as crochet? Projects can be large or small, and patterns as complex or simple as you like. I find it very relaxing and mindful.

I understand where you are coming from regarding mental health services years ago. I don’t medicate now but I was fed pills when I was younger. It took a long time but I am now able to lead quite a ‘normal’ life in terms of going to the shop etc even though it can be scary and sometimes I still can’t do it. They have a lot more understanding and do have a very different approach now.

That sounds really depressing. For me learning for the sake of it holds no motivation, because I learn to progress my career & earn more money. Maybe focus on something you can do at home which you can turn into your own business & earn your own money?