Disclosing at an interview?

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Is it a good idea to tell them you're autistic at an interview?
For anybody that's familiar with my previous topic, I still haven't managed to find a job. I've been trying for more than a decade but all I'm really qualified for and all that's available in the area is retail, which relies heavily on having good social skills. Which I don't. And there's family situations, the worst of which at least seems to at least be on hold for the moment.
I know my autism is the primary cause of my distinct lack of social skills. I was told as much. And while my lack of work experience and inability to drive look bad on an application some places have given me interviews anyway, but never hire me. Even for seasonal. Though they never give any specific reason for not hiring me I'm certain my non-existent social skills are probably the main issue with my interviews. Heck, some of them have just completely ghosted me, saying "you should find out by x" and then never emailing me.
Somebody suggested that I tell the interviewer that I'm autistic and explain the social skills problem it causes. The reasoning given was that it puts them in a difficult place while providing me an advantage because of the laws against discriminating - best case scenario they're understanding and supportive and give me the job even if it's out of pity, ok scenario is that they give me the job because they're scared of legal repercussions, and worst case scenario is that they don't hire me and I have to try to get a reason out of them then I can sue if it's because of my difficulties. The person that made the suggestion seemed pretty convinced, but I'm not sure how realistic any of that actually is.
I've done some searching online for whether I should disclose or not. The articles about it all avoid giving a real answer. People seem to have mixed opinions. So I thought I'd start a topic and just asked.
Thoughts and opinions on disclosing autism at an interview? Good idea or bad idea? Reasons?

Where I'm originally from even the so-called experts think of autism as a less sever form of mental ret@rdation. I think mentioning autism when there is so much confusion & negative stigma is setting yourself up to not be hired. ADA laws require employers to not automatically rule applicants out due to their disabilities. Those laws do not require employers to give disabled preferential hiring. They also require the disabled to be capable of performing the core primary job functions OK. If the employer assumes autism would hinder your performance for your primary duties, it would be up to you to somehow convince the employer that their misconceptions are wrong & you can do the job OK. You could try suing an employer for discrimination for not hiring you but you would have to somehow prove that autism was the reason they did not hire you. The employer could claim they hired another applicant who had some sort of experience, seemed more flexible, seemed more reliable, seemed more physically capable for performing physical jobs, or seemed to better fit the sales rep mold.

Mentioning autism might be more helpful for employers who cater to people that have disabilities like some non-profit & community organizations.

I've disclosed in some cases and not in others.

In your case, I think I probably would. You've been trying really hard for a long time. So it seems like it may be worth a go?

My experience has been that sometimes if someone is unsure how to 'read' you because of your autism, giving them a framework to work within can make a big difference to how favourably they perceive you.

The framework the word 'autism' gives them may be wrong, and that can be a bit of a headache down the road. But for getting the foot in the door, I think it possibly would be helpful.

For what it's worth, ghosting / failure to follow up are unfortunately really, really common. It is rude, but I wouldn't take it too personally.

Absolutely not! Its probably what has been creating problems. Its like Nick said, saying "Im autistic." sounds disabled.
Add "I dont socialize well with others" is icing on the cake for them to say "Ok well we will let you know.".
If its a regular job where social interaction is not required, dont mention it.

If its a job where social interaction is required, skip that agony all together. If theres no other choice, act fake like everyone else does.

If its a good job and you want to explain your behavior, then explain your autism to them. Explain what areas you are gifted in and what areas you lack in that will make up for it. Usually stuff like "I have higher IQ but can lack in common sense to make up for it." sounds lighter and almost humorous to them. They would probably say something like "As long as you get the job done.". I always did alot better when I explained autistic traits I have, other than saying "I have autism.". This usually results in people talking to me like a child, and turning me away from positions of responsibility.

If its programming, technical engineering, systems engineering, sciences, etc., just say "Yea Im autistic.". They get it, and it gains points. Sometimes just saying that gives the chance to show skills where there isnt the same amount of education or experience, and even putting up with the autistic crap we give them.

Mostly its about getting by in the grind until we find our groove. I am pretty lucky. I can just not show up for a month because 'Im thinking about stuff.' with no issues. But Im the only one who understands stuff in the company and am the only able to do them. But its also stuff that would be considered simple here relating to computers.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer here, as it's down to personal choice and preference. If you feel comfortable in doing so then do it, if you don't then don't. Obviously in ain't so easy to make a choice if you're unsure whether it's a good idea or not. I never know if it's wise to even tell them I have ADHD or not. Although you could not tell them and then when you start and run into difficulties or displaying odd behaviour then you could just say you're being assessed for ASD or ADHD, or are self-diagnosed or whatever. That never occurred to me when I first started out with employment because I already had a stupid diagnosis so I just thought that everybody on the spectrum got diagnosed at 8 years old. But now I've learnt that like 99% of high-functioning spectrumers from any generation don't get diagnosed until they're adults, so I could easily just be one of them.

Because I was diagnosed at such a f*****g young age, I was so used to the label following me around everywhere I went and everyone and their dog knowing about it, that I felt obliged to have to tell employers about it and I thought that if I didn't then I'd get prosecuted or something. It's because I thought it was part of my identity and had to be known.

It's much better now, because I work somewhere where nobody knew me when I was younger so are none the wiser of all the diagnosis s**t I went through, and I felt no obligations to have to tell anyone anything about this, and I feel much freer because of it. Yes some know I have ADHD and others have guessed I have mental health issues due to meltdowns and panic attacks I've had at work with all that bullying I faced, but because I have a "normal" communication style and I don't stim or go off on my own during lunch-breaks or anything like that, ASD is never sussed. Well, and even if it were, it'd just be speculation and not a definitive fact, as for all they know I could be an undiagnosed Aspie like nearly everyone else on the spectrum.

Having a diagnosis so young in life just makes you feel like you're more severe than what you are. In a way, getting diagnosed with autism in adulthood is becoming a bit trendy-like here, while arriving into adulthood already being diagnosed for years just makes you feel more like you were a special needs child with developmental delays or something. Do you know what I mean?

I can't skip it. Retail is about the only thing in my area that I'm qualified for - doesn't require a degree or the ability to drive - and I need a paying job. And I can't act fake. I've never been able to act fake. And aside from my inability to act fake, it also just sounds morally incorrect.

I don't feel comfortable telling a prospective employer about my autism, but I also don't feel comfortable just talking to strangers in general. But whether I'm comfortable or not doesn't matter. My preference doesn't matter. I need a paying job and if telling them about my autism helps with that then that's what I have to do. But I don't have enough information yet to know whether or not it would be helpful or harmful.
I'm not in the process of assessment or self-diagnosed, so that wouldn't work for me. I've had an official diagnosis for quite a while now already.

I meant you could pretend you didn't really know you had ASD when you first got the job and that you just found out. Then they wouldn't say "but you never told us in the interview".

Seconded, do whatever you think will better serve you. I model for life drawing classes and that's only for a couple of hours per session, and not everyday. I've never disclosed to any art tutors who hire me. There's no need, I'm good at the job and feel happy doing it. So even if anyone reads me as awkward during the breaks it doesn't matter. As you said, there are plenty of adults roaming around with undiagnosed traits and it's nbd. I started volunteering at a charity shop recently and I've not told them either, I'm only doing menial repetitive tasks. I'd only start considering saying something later on if I'm made to do something that triggers demand avoidance. Coz it makes me act like a childish dick. Life modelling never triggers it luckily.

I relate to thinking you have to tell people and the diagnosis age thing. My mum used to really pressure me to disclose in application forms and breathe down my neck about it because she treats me like I'm incapable. So I used to do it out of obligation and fear of "lying". I would always put stuff like "mild aspergers but please ignore it do not treat me differently". Early diagnosed high-functioning people have had the special needs kid experience so I've noticed we're more likely to want to just get on with life?
People reassure me that I'm socially competent when I feel doubftul, and it's good to hear. It means I can get away with not disclosing and it's not so bad afterall. Even though it feels that bad sometimes because of the surplus of self awareness that being diagnosed early brings. Since it's become a bit trendy now to get diagnosed, reasurrances at competence are seen as offensive because it doesn't recogonise someone's internal struggle. And disclosure is something people diagnosed in adulthood do keenly now. I tend to personally get on with people who end up doing this (even though I don't relate to their approach to the label and dislike the trend). I behave more like them personality wise than I do someone more severe who also got diagnosed young.

Also this.
I think you have to become a little more comfortable with harmles dishonesty in order to succeed. Easier said than done mind you.

Somebody else suggested something along similar lines. I'm a terrible liar and I can't be fake. And doing so would be morally incorrect anyway.

I don't think you'd be doing anything immoral because your medical history isn't anyone else's business but yours. But I understand where you're coming from, while I prefer to not disclose I still hover my pen over the forms fighting my own honesty lol.

I've been asking myself the same question about disclosure.

In a way being discriminated against from the get go is kinda a good thing I think. Who wants to work for someone who doesn't understand / like autistic people?

On the other hand there is a somewhat sneaky method that I have had suggested to me by job coaches, which is waiting until you are past the 3 month probationary period to disclose.

The reason for this is (at least where I live in canada) it's legal to fire someone within the first 3 months of employment for any reason. Once the probationary period is over, all of the employee legal protections kick in, including laws against the discrimination of people with disabilities.

Still even when you do all the right things according to the laws in your local area, you still can get burned, it happens all the time and unfortunately it usually goes unpunished.

Have you looked into applying to equal opportunity employers in your area?

In the case of applying to an organization that explicitly states that they want to hire individuals from different minority groups, I would encourage disclosure of your ASD diagnosis. Because it probably will raise your chances of getting hired.

I hope this advice helps, I am still trying to figure this out for myself.

Cheers,

CFL

Ah okay.