Career Move Question

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Is care work something an Aspie can do?

I am currently trapped in a hellishly bad workplace and after several failed attempts to leave I have taken a step back to consider what it is I actually wouldn't mind doing until the day I retire. Care work is something I have always been interested in on and off for a while. Specifically: working with people on the spectrum. I feel that maybe someone who is on it also would lend me a unique view and allow me to better help those that need it.

Is this a good idea? Before I became miserable and stand-offish because of working 45 hour weeks in a terrible retail environment: I was a very happy and caring individual who strived to help any and all who needed it. I was a very different person back then and I imagine that aspect of me is just buried under ice to keep him safe. Can an Aspie become a carer?

Any carers on here?

Honestly I think it would be quite challenging, and mentally exhausting, day after day (although likely quite rewarding at times too).
I know for me personally I would get far too drained trying to deal with that, but maybe it's just my personality type. I think it's worthwhile remembering though that while being on the spectrum would give you a lot of insight and empathy that many others would lack, as it *is* a spectrum I imagine you'd come across people that you couldn't relate to at all despite their dx. And they might even end up resenting you telling them that *this* worked for you...
If I had to do care work, I"d probably do aged care because I imagine they'd be slightly less challenging, and more predictable (to an extent). Mostly though I'd do pretty much anything other than care work, way to hard of a job for me.

I see what you are saying about the mental exhaustion and you are not the only person who has said it. The thing is this:

I am utterly fed up with my working life making absolutely no discernible difference to anyone. In sixteen years of working I have never worked in a job where I have gone home and felt good about what I have done that day. Retail? Meaningless. Engineering? Meaningless. I am miserable and sick of jumping from one crap job to another. I want to do something to help others. I am aiming more towards helping people with Asperger's rather than severely autistic people to be clear. I just want to do something worthwhile, something that I wouldn't mind doing until the day I retired. No matter what job I do: I am mentally drained anyway but I have to work to live sadly.

What sort of engineering work did you do?

I don't know that there is any one perfect job for Aspies.

But, I do know this: that there are better and worse work environments.


My last workplace was not supportive. This month, I celebrate my first anniversary of my liberation from it. My current place has an understanding manager.

The LDAO has a course on Job Fit.

http://www.ldao.ca/ldao-services/worksh ... s/job-fit/

I have not taken it, so cannot say whether or not I recommend it.

A friend of mine took a course through there and recommended the association to me.

Hope this helps.