Is it normal (or ethical) for a company to employ someone based on their asd?

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This is going to be pretty detailed, due to the complex nature of the context, so try to keep up:

I'm someone who was diagnosed with AS/ASD at 15 (I'm now 32)and I'm employed at a clinic for people with ASD, which I acquired through an ASD-related agency program. The program had a placement where the agency found jobs for its participants (which they covered via reimbursement for the company), but permanent employment was not guaranteed. Some went on to find permanent work, others did not. However, I'm fairly certain all the participants who were accepted by my clinic were permanently employed there, for obvious reasons. The thing is, all of them (myself included) are only allowed to work part-time and don't have any official titles, instead mostly doing "odd jobs" and menial labour work ussually assigned for volunteers and/or placement students (these indivduals are no longer on placement, however, and are supposed to be regular employees now).

I don't really like my job, though (basically receptionist) and I feel like I can accomplish way more than what I'm currently doing and can handle more responsibility. Problem is, I don't think anyone wants to give anyone from those programs more responsibility because they're essentially employing them due to the fact that it's good PR for them. I've been assured that my position is as important as any other, but I know that most of these jobs were just created to keep people like me employed for the minimal requirement. Case in point, the jobs we have were never officially posted externally for applicants, no one else applied for them (so no competition), and they were not previously filled by anyone else (except, as mentioned, volunteers/placement students working for free). We were simply given these jobs immediately after our resumes were submitted to the company and told that they had "just opened up".

Sorry to ramble on, but it just kinda irritates me to be marginalized like this, especially when I'm being told that's not the case. I've even been told that my having AS is irrelevant and that no one even notices it or perceives me any differently, therefore, marginilization couldn't possibly be happening, which I know can't be true. These are people TRAINED to deal with ASD, and most individuals on the spectrum have difficulty finding employment due to being perceived negatively by employers- if some meathead managing a laundromat or convenience store can notice it, why shouldn't someone who specializes in it be able to? Hell, even elementary school kids target other kids with ASD because it's so obvious they're different- so hearing specialists tell me they don't see me as being any different is a load of BS, in my opinion. How did I get the diagnosis in the first place if I'm the same as a neurotypical?

So, the question remains: do you think it's ethical for ASD individuals to be employed by these types of places that aren't being completely honest with them about why they're there? It certainly isn't due to their skills, even though technically any one of them could be doing much more. Many of them have backgrounds in accounting, IT, business etc. and are just as qualified as anyone else to advance in any company, but most places won't even hire them because of their "disability", which, oftentimes, only amounts to some strange aesthetic issue (ie. monotone voice, awkward body language, lack of facial expression) that makes others uncomfortable socially around them but does not affect their ability to do their jobs whatsoever. In other words, it's basically prejudice and discrimination, bordering on bigotry. It's possible I just sound like a whining ingrate, considering I'm still getting a paycheck from a place that hired me and kept me unconditionally when no other place would, but I'm just looking at the bigger picture. I don't want to stay in a place where I feel like I'm being used to further someone else's agenda.

*Note: I have not spoken to any other ASD employess about this matter- this is based purely on my perception shaped by what I have experienced as an employee. It is possible they feel the same way, but if they don't, I feel like it would be somewhat irresponsible of me to bring it up if they are happy with their role in the company, whatever reason they may have.

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Based on 20 votes (10 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • SuperBenzid
    10 years ago

    It is an interesting question.

    I think it is ethical based on what I have read. They hired you for having a certain quality, ASD, because this conferred benefits, positive image and/or fulfilled an altruistic mission for the company. Now the fact that you possess better skills and qualities that they ignore when they could use them, is incompetence on the management's part. However being incompetent is not unethical.

    I think looking for another job or opportunity while working the one you have is the best way forward.

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    • TunaMeltdown
      10 years ago

      Thanks for your response! This is what I figured, just wanted to make sure it wasn't just me :P. I don't necessarily agree with the "incompetence" part, however; they may be doing it intentionally because they don't actually want to have me as an equal member of their departments due to the perceived social barrier, regardless of whether they believe I am professionally competent or not. They may be missing out on my contributions, but then again, so what? It's not like they can't just find someone else to do the same stuff I would've been doing.

      But, yeah, I've been trying to find another job in the meantime, futile as it probably is... I don't even know where to look anymore.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    What is stopping you from getting a job like people who do not have ASD do if you feel your skills are beyond what the ASD employment program offers?

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    • TunaMeltdown
      10 years ago

      Nothing's stopping me except two things: 1. The job market is exceedingly dismal, which makes it difficult for even neurotypicals to find employment with all the competition and low supply to demand ratio. 2. Due to the poor perception of ASD individuals, it's difficult not to be judged negatively by prospective employees. Skills are not necessarily the be-all and end-all in terms of employment- you have to make a decent presentation, and even then, it's still hard since there are many people competing for the same job who may also make a good showing in an interview but who may also have more experience and better qualifications. I realize that my experience may be a bit lacking in terms of "relevant" skills for certain jobs, but that's not really the point- most places probably wouldn't have even hired me for this type of work due to my disorder, which means the place I'm working at now hired me FOR that reason, which was the question of ethics I had posed. I'm quite certain that even with an immaculate resume, I still would have been passed over when applying for a more menial position someplace else, as many people with ASD have.

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  • robbieforgotpw
    10 years ago

    Nice book bro

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    I understand what your saying and people with autistic disorders often do seem discriminated at work.

    I have aspergers and schizoaffective and while I can work I do not work the way others do and cant seem to get along at work even though I can get along in casual settings. At work I'm clumsy, don't follow instructions and generally do a bad job unless I completely manage everything myself which is basically self employed. Most people don't know but I get ssi. I don't tell people because they're normally judgemental over welfare but most jobs I've had for other people have ended with me oweing them more money than I even made. I do side jobs but they make me pretty much nothing other than a small payment every few months. In some ways I cannot work because I can be a walking hazard. To give an example just an hour ago I was walking by the lake and dropped the flashlight in the water and fell in the lake trying to get it. My life is full of these events and I often own money for breaking stuff. I also have a very hard time thinking before acting which most people don't seem to understand but even when I try to I cannot think until I've already acted.

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  • Ac17
    10 years ago

    A corporation is a business, not a charity. Please do not expect your boss to pity you "Oh, you have ASD. Pity pity, must give you a job." You are hired because you can bring in money for the company. And if you have ASD, you might either die on the work or cause significant loss to the company profits.

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  • Caryopteris
    10 years ago

    Jobs are sooo hard to come by these days. People get cut quite viciously. If you only have this job PT, then by all means, find another PT job. Good at math/accounting? That type of job could be perfect. You could do it as a consultant. But don't give up a gig where they cut you a break just because you think it's embarrassing. No job is perfect and we all doubt whether people take us seriously and whether the boss thinks we are good at what we do. This is normal. Just do like 90% of the population and show up on time and don't make waves. It's not just you and people with disabilities, and at least your job might be a little more protected than most of ours. It's important in this economy.

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  • RomeoDeMontague
    10 years ago

    Alright they do programs like this to help the disabled and yes often its odd job and a permanent job is not always promised. If you think you can do more quit the program and go get a job yourself.

    They are only going to do so much for you. You took up the program and unless you are being forced to stay LEAVE! I know about programs like this and they are not always the best help but they do sometimes offer temporary work for those with issues finding it.

    You are complaining that its not finding you better work. These programs are often meant to get job experience and are not going to do a lot for you.

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