Jim

My name is Jim and I am Autistic. There, I have gone and stated it to the world, well to those interested enough to read this! I was diagnosed through the partnership with AWE and Reading University in my mid 40’s and it certainly explained why my life turned out the way it did.

Like most people with Autism who are diagnosed later in life, I always felt different, no real friends, odd obsessions, quirky behaviours and over reacting to certain situations, but no reason as to why I felt and behaved the way I did.

I did not actively seek out an assessment for the condition as I thought I was normal (whatever normal is!), until one day I woke up and felt like I couldn’t cope with life. Things that I could do without any problems suddenly became difficult, meeting and interacting with people was mentally painful and my tolerance levels for illogical decision making by people became zero. Anger, emotional outbursts and heart pounding anxiety became my normal response to the twists and turns of life.

Both of my sons have the condition so for the past 18 years I have been well aware of the symptoms and challenges that face someone growing up with the condition, but never thought of myself as being potentially autistic until I had reached a mental health crisis point.

I can’t honestly tell you if finding out that I have the condition has been a blessing. It certainly caused a lot of anger in the early days as I looked back at the low points of my life and realised that I had been bullied by past employers, unfairly dismissed from jobs and most saddening of all, so called friends and colleagues have taken advantage of my inability to spot selfish behaviours and have used my disability to their advantage.

What I can tell you two years on from my diagnosis is that I am proud to be Autistic even though I face challenges on a daily basis, I still suffer from severe anxiety, anger at illogical situations, a deep mistrust of people, a complete lack of empathy towards irritating people, and blunt forthright disposition, yet I survive and engage with life, well sort of.

Sadly, a large proportion of people with Autism cannot hold down a full-time job and there are employers who can’t or won’t embrace hidden disabilities and use the skills that this valuable pool of workers can offer. Working at an inclusive employer like AWE proves that people with Autism and other hidden disabilities can be successful and can contribute in a work place and to life in general.

Without the support and reasonable adjustments provided for me by AWE I would have been looking for another job by now that’s for sure.

So instead of job hunting and feeling the odd one out at work I am able to give back to the Autistic community at AWE by being an active participant with the Disability and Neurodiversity Working Group, and help to make AWE even more inclusive for the disabled community in general.