Careers for Aspies

Because people with Aspergers have normal to high intelligence, they often go into careers or jobs when they get older. In some cases, the field they enter is related to one or more of those things the child was fixated on when a child. For example, if an Aspergers syndrome child has a fixation on the weather, he or she can think about a career in meteorology.

Other careers include working in the music industry. Aspergers syndrome individuals often develop striking musical abilities and can then work in this field as a later career. Careers involving mathematics or science are also common in Aspergers syndrome. This can include becoming an accountant, working in economics, working in scientific research, working as a university professor or other mathematical or scientific area. Often, the interest in math and science are natural gifts for these children and the transition from avocation to vocation is usually a seamless one.

Careers in writing are not uncommon for Aspergers syndrome individuals. Writing is a solitary task and often, the Aspergers patient can learn to use words on a page to create books, articles and other material that overcomes their natural need to think in pictures.

Think about the future career of an individual with Aspergers syndrome needs to be proactive and often the process of exploring careers needs to be done sooner than with other individuals. Talking with guidance and career counselors is a good idea in order to explore possible options. Tours of different careers or shadowing a scientist or mathematician may help the teen get an idea of which type of career would be the best for them.

Do plenty of reading about careers and jobs for those with Aspergers syndrome. Two books, Aspergers Syndrome Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Aspergers Syndrome (Paperback) and Employment for Individuals with Aspergers Syndrome or Non-Verbal Learning Disability by Yvona Fast are available in some bookstores or at www.amazon.com. There are plenty of ideas as to how to begin searching for an appropriate career.

There’s nothing to limit an Aspergers syndrome to just these areas and many Aspergers syndrome individuals have found success in other areas of employment. Pay attention to the child’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the interests they exhibit.

20 comments »

1. Thank you for your very positive, helpful and hopeful article on careers for Aspergers people. However, Dave, PLEASE don’t call us “patients” as you did in the third paragraph because we are NOT sick. We are human beings who just so happen to think differently from most other people and we do, indeed, as you suggest, have talents that earn us a good living.

   I would like to add a few suggestions, though, that you might want to consider in a future article. Careers that do not involve a lot of interaction with people are good. I am a retired information specialist who worked in the “back rooms” of a number of institutions and companies, managing databases (and still do on a part-time basis) as well as searching the Internet on request for information. I love this work because it gives me a lot of satisfaction when I am able to find the information the client needs in a timely fashion without having to deal face-to-face with a lot of people and conflicting emotional issues.

   Again, thank you for such a good article with only one flaw - we are NOT PATIENTS because WE ASPIES ARE NOT SICK!!!

   Mary in Nevada, USA

   Comment by Mary Minshall — April 1, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

2. Online selling is a great career for people with Aspergers. I am an adult with Aspergers. I had planned to attend college with a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics, but was unable to find a way to finance it. I ended up finding out that online selling was an even better fit for me. I am able to do it my own way and at my own pace without having to answer to or be accountable to a ‘boss’ of any kind. The best website that I have found for people with Aspergers to thrive is Wagglepop.com. You can have a very easy to set up online store there for $9.95/month and list an unlimited number of items for sale. I have even opened a second store there for my 4-year-old Aspie son to grow into so that he can begin now to learn how to apply his creativity to an online business and see what he can do with it.

   Comment by Alison G — April 1, 2008 @ 5:23 pm

3. Excellent article, Dave! A lot of Internet related jobs would also be a good choice… web designer, affilate marketing, SEO… and they can be very lucrative.

   Comment by Vinny -- AllForAutism.com — April 1, 2008 @ 5:53 pm

4. Thank you for your article on careers! My son is an 18 year old Aspie and is currently a junior in high school and looking into doing two internships in his senior year to help him experiance a bit of the career world in his area of interests. I thank you for making everyone aware that at some point we all will be facing this decision!

   Comment by kim — April 1, 2008 @ 8:20 pm

5. my son has aspergers, but is of low inttellingence…..he has poor people/social skills, and has a hard time staying on task. He is 14, and preparing for high school next year….any suggestions for those not high on the IQ scale?

   Comment by angela vulich — April 1, 2008 @ 10:12 pm

6. Dave,
   thanks so much for your positive suggestions. We’re looking into career choices for my son [currently jr in high school]. Although he’s showed much more maturity in this last year I don’t think he’ll be ready for typical “dorm life” after graduation. Fortunatley his high school counselor is suggesting community college for first year - then move into dorm situation.
   Regarding this summer - he’s applied twice on his own but no luck yet. Do I need to talk to future employers regarding his Aspergers’ or should he tell them himself? I worry he’ll get into stressful situations most people can handle but he will not be able to. [i've worked in kitchens, etc... and even washing dishes can be very hectic!] Don’t want him to loose self esteem he’s trying hard to build. Any “jobs” better than others for temporary summer work?

   Comment by Marcia — April 2, 2008 @ 12:22 am

7. My 14 year old is already focused on his careeer, and has already thought out ways to achieve his goal. We have offered advice on courses for him to take to achieve the goal, and it seems to have helped this year at school. He is in the average to above average intellectually and he is also more secure in telling people about Aspbergers…. He however doesnt like the term Aspies as he feels this gives him a label. He is normal, and different… at the same time and each year is more and more comfortable. Let the child be the guide as to what they want, just show them how to get there and they will do it in their own time.

   Comment by Liz Ellis — April 2, 2008 @ 2:44 am

8. Hi Dave
   Your regular articles to me over the internet has made it possible to understand my 9 yr old son’s condition. I can’t thank you enough. At the moment James’ teachers and me are working out Individual Education Plans for him to achieve. I look forward to reading more of your positive suggestions. Once again..thank you.

   Ian Hunter

   Comment by Ian Hunter — April 2, 2008 @ 3:08 am

9. Dave,
   I do enjoy your posts, but I wish you would start using people first language. The individuals you speak of or not Aspergers Individuals but Individuals with Aspergers. They are people first! We have to let the world know that our loved ones are people who just happen to have this disability. If a child had cancer would you introduce them as my cancer son? I mean this with respect to all individuals out there who are looked at for their disability rather then their ability. I thank Kathie Snow for teaching me this information!

   Thanks,

   Bebe

   Comment by Bebe Bode — April 2, 2008 @ 10:27 am

10. My son is 9 but we’ve already started talking to him about what jobs he can do when he gets older. My son’s focus is computers & this could be a wonderful, lucrative career for him! We have never discouraged his obsession with computers (but we do have to MAKE him go outside every now & then) because I feel that that is the path that will allow him to one day be able to take care of himself without worrying about what will happen to him when we are no longer around! Thanks for this article.

    Comment by Lela — April 2, 2008 @ 10:44 am

11. Hi Dave,
    My son is 11 and has been recently dx with Aspergers (although I have know it for some time)
    Everyone is telling us (my husband and I) when we are going to tell my son of his Dx. Is this a good idea at this stage. Will this hinder his self-esteem and label himself? My son knows that he was tested to find out the way he “learns”, he knows that we have modified some of his homework organizational paperwork and has asked if there were any kids in the school that have the same kind of paperwork. He is also going ot get in school assistance for Asperpers. He is average/to above average in everything except timed processing - in which he is poor.

    He is very sensitive, very communicative with us when we are discussing most issues. We think there will be a good time to let him know… just don’t know if that time is now.

    Comment by t. mcdowell — April 2, 2008 @ 11:41 am

12. I need information regarding after high school options for my niece who has Asperger. She lives in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA. Thank you…

    Comment by Pat Lopez — April 2, 2008 @ 12:03 pm

13. My son has severe sensory issues and finds shops, especially shopping centres, and even mainstream classrooms too much to handle. He likes social contact with other people who share his passions, Xbox/computer/Dvds particularly anime/Heavy metal music. He has poor short term memory, auditory processing disorder, difficulty staying on task if its not his special interest…his IQ is hard to determine as he has so many peaks and troughs in his abilities. He is 15…any suggestions for career routes?

    Comment by Mia Clark — April 2, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

14. It would be a great project to interview successful Aspie adults. Our 13 year old son (he’s actually PDD-NOS) has plenty of plusses and minuses (don’t we all), it would be enheartening for him and for us to see case studies of people like him succeeding!

    Comment by Gidon Ariel — April 4, 2008 @ 3:02 am

15. Your articles have helped me understand my son and myself way better. My son was only suggested to be aspergers and this partial diagnosis is hampering us in his education, his teacher still refuses to see that my sons behaviors are related to a different brain function and believes him to be stubborn and lazy, he has taken to using scare tactics, humiliation and threats to get my son to pay attention in class, one thing he did when my son went back to the wrong class after lunch, was to tell him I had been told that he was not in school that afternoon. Really what my question is; are there any current methods of determining if my son really is aspergers, so that I can make the teachers understand his behaviors better and realize he is very bright, he just doesnt get the way you explain it!
    I had the same problem in school, and ended up being a dropout, I dont want this for my son….what can I do

    Comment by Sharyn — April 4, 2008 @ 8:20 am

16. We too are in the same situation as comment no 5.
    we have a son turning 16 in year 10 at High school here in Australia, with lower intelligence, suffers with poor people skills, and we are unsure as to which career path he should choose

    Comment by Jess — April 6, 2008 @ 7:35 am

17. I need feedback. My son diagnosed with Asperger’s 5-6 yrs ago. He is now in 7th grade and having very difficult time with peer relationships/self esteem issues. Not to mention, he has now failed an Honors class (he is of high intelligence), but is not producing the work he is capable of doing and is/has done in classes that interest him,(science/social studies). He does carry an IEP but only for emotional/social issues now, due do I believe his high test scores in the past. BUT, he is incapable of carry this new work load no matter how many times I stress that it is very important to get at least “C’s”. I have had meetings with his team of teachers, which I don’t think they realize he can’t be molded into the
    “normal” mold ( I don’t like saying it that way ) of a 7 th graded. Do you have any suggestions? Yes he does see a counselor at the Melmed Center located in Scottsdale, AZ, and a Pyschiatrist as well.

    Comment by Kathleen Tuntland — April 6, 2008 @ 9:48 pm

18. Dear Dave. Thank you for your article and website, a tremendous resource for us Aspie parents. However, instead of us working to overcome “their natural need to think in pictures”, why not utilize this unique gift by helping channel it into career work and educational study in photography and video? My nine year old son has a talent for video gaming and for photography and videography too. I am working to develop an after school edutcational class for him in these areas. Any feedback from your readers or you would be greatly appreciated. Email to John@adot.com. PS: I will be posting more information regarding Asperger careers in photography and video and related issues on Adot.com as it is developed. Thanks!

    Comment by John Lionheart — April 7, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

19. dear dave, thank you for your web site, i’m a single mother of a 21year old with aspie’s. diagnosis around his senior year. i want to help my son find a career, but he is very happy sitting in his room all day for days playing video games and reading, when i ask him what he wants to do his reply is “i don’t know” we are in therapy, no medications, trying to get him to learn to drive, but never wants to go out, only to the book store/game stores. a job in one of those areas would be great but he doesn’t like to talk to people, the only one he carries on in length conversations is me. should i sign him up for on-line courses? make him go to a community college? he is a great kid, i want to show everyone just how wonderful he is and what he is capitable of he’s. very smart, but he won’t cooperate, help need suggestions. thank you

    Comment by michelle — April 17, 2008 @ 6:37 am

20. Hi, my son was diagnosed at age 9 with aspergers and is currently 17 yrs old. Since then people has told me that he will never be able to hold a job in any job. Due to the fact that he needs constant one on one, to this very day. Everyone is so negative about it. What should i do when he doesn’t live with us. He lives in a foster home. Do i have any say what goes on, in his life? He cannot take his own meds. on his own.

    Comment by Annette — April 29, 2008 @ 6:44 pm

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