If you have autism and/or ADHD and are happy in your job (if you work) what do you do?

[LegoTherapy]

I'm trying to think of ideas for myself future self.

I have ADHD and am an admin at a university. Enjoy my job as I have a really supportive team who understand what I need and trust me to crack on with things in my own little way.

What are your interests?

My dd works 8 hrs in retail for the cash but also as a freelance artist but that work is hit and miss. However she loves it.

There is no way she could work full time in retail though. The pip changes really concern me.

The govt don't understand autism at all. It's clear. (As well as many other conditions).

I’m an OT. We’re a pretty neurodiverse bunch.

Both, lucky me.

Being self employed was a game changer. I run a charity, basically. Was always a terrible employee but am very good at developing new ideas and keeping volunteers engaged.

Another OT here! The admin/report writing can be a struggle, but I really enjoy the creativity, problem solving and advocating for others.

ASD and I work as a gardener/horticulturalist which suits me well - being in wide open spaces, surrounded by green and living things, away from noise, crowds and able to just be 'me', doing quiet, constructive, nurturing activities, in quiet places, quietly!

@HeBeaverandSheBeaver Lego! It’s my special interest.

@DracunculusVulgaris I love gardening and garden for my parent but I wouldn’t know how to turn that into a job. I don’t drive which doesn’t help but I can’t see that changing. I walk everywhere and use public transport (with headphones due to noise issues).

Learning Disability and Autism Social Worker. It can be very stressful but I do really enjoy it. I'm very straightforward with my communication which doesn't go down well with everyone but is perfect for other autistic people and also a style my colleagues are used to.
Although there is a huge spectrum with people's needs, I can really relate to a lot of the people I work with, such as difficulty with communication and sensory needs and have developed strategies in my own life that I can share with those I work with. Managing my own diary is helpful too as there are times I can struggle to write assessments but also times I am hyperfocused and can get loads of work done.

That gives me hope for my DD thank you. She's just got her uni place and I was wondering how she would fit in.

I have adhd and am a mental health nurse. It can be difficult keeping on top of the admin but I keep my (chaotic) lists and generally manage ok. My managers are understanding of my needing occasional reminders (and I’m not the only one either!)
I work within a specialist service but often work with people who have dual diagnoses of neurodivergent conditions as well and find it helps me relate. Not only that but the work is very varied and that helps keep me interested. Also helps that one of my special interests is “abnormal psychology” - the subject, not calling anyone abnormal btw!

I’m a qualified nurse (adult) but let my registration lapse. I specialised in general
practice. I’m not sure I could go back to that. I lived the job but was no good working in a team and was often ill and burnt out.

ADHD here, and suspected Autism. I work in childcare and love it.

I have both. I work in IT support and out of a small team most of us are ND.

I'm autistic and am in a senior management position in a small business. I've worked in small businesses for most of my.life. I had one stint working for a FTSE 100 massive corp and it led to total burnout within a couple of years. In hindsight I realised that I cannot deal with the politics, multiple layers of authority and the nuances of communication, plus the constant reshuffles. In a small business communication is clearer, there's less/no hierarchy and much less politics. It's so much easier to feel like you know where you stand.

Not myself, but 2 close relatives.

One has washed cars in a dealership, mowed lawns, driven rental cars between branches and had various cleaning jobs. He prefers to work on his own.

The other is a registered nurse, but also did admin roles, pharmacy work and eyelash application course beforehand. I think she likes working with people, but has moved jobs every 6-12mths. I don't feel she has ever felt settled in any job and sadly feels the pressure that she doesn't fit in. She then resigns and find another job.❤

Nanny. Young kids don't judge and I am great at things they enjoy (games and focusing on things other people may find dull).

I am extremely responsible and organised which is handy for the role too. And despite ensuring the children's days are varied and stimulating, I enjoy the routine of meal times, nap times, classes etc that come with children.

I don't do well in team environments, I hated working in a nursery. I never quite got it right when it came to interacting with the other staff, but the parents loved me.

I have both ADHD and autism. I'm a self-employed artist, I used to be in academia. I found academia during lockdown extraordinarily difficult - continual screen time, I became so easily distracted. Working with my hands, teaching my process to others... it's great. Making art slows my brain down, and it makes up for the less ADHD-friendly aspects in terms of small business admin.

I also get to hyper focus for urgent commissions and for art fayres. 😅 Fayres are a bit tough sometimes as I feel especially socially awkward (and sometimes the piped-in music can shred my brain) but I do also like talking to people.

ADHD here. I’m a bookkeeper. My clients give me a bundle of screwed up, scruffy bits of paper, and from chaos, I create order. The numbers don’t argue, they either correct or not. If they balance, great. If they don’t, I need to find out where the error is. My clients are so varied that even though I am doing roughly the same job for each of them, their different requirements and industries mean it’s still interesting. And I’m not especially great at maths - average, but not brilliant. It’s more about being thorough, detail-oriented, and methodical. In times of stress, I can immerse myself in work and can find it quite calming. The fact that the results are fairly immediate is rewarding.

Placemarking for my dd. She is graduating soon and hoping to find a role in computer animation, which is tough even without taking into account her autism.

Keen to hear about creative industries.

I work in an adult mental health team on the social care side. Best thing I’ve ever done

ASD here. I’m a graphic designer for a global company. I love my job and my colleagues are fab. I’ve been here 8.5 years now :)

@PositiveModelling Interesting to read your post. As a self-employed artist, do you have to hustle for work? You mentioned feeling socially awkward - does that make it difficult for you to go out and get work?

Wow there are a lot of OT’s it seems. Another one here with ADHD. I’m in a more generic role and have always been in mental health so didn’t realise OT’s are a ND bunch as am seldom surrounded by them. I was only able to manage a more managerial role when I started meds. The admin side of things has always been the hardest bit.

Suspect im AuDHD. Previous life i was a research scientist. Loved playing in the lab. Couldn't write papers. Now I'm employed by for a charity, as events manager. I organise conferences, webinars, do finance, membership management, marketing, social media, basically jack of all trades. My biggest need is autonomy which my boss gives me 98% of the time.

ASD here. I run a science team at a tech company, I’m very good at it, enjoy it and make six figures. ASD is sometimes a hindrance but I’ve learnt to use the strengths too.