Like many twentysomethings, Eric Ascher had trouble finding a job after graduating from college. But unlike some of his peers, he faced additional barriers to employment.
Ascher was diagnosed with autism when he was in high school. The news did not come as a surprise to him. He exhibited many telltale signs of the condition, such as difficulty maintaining eye contact and challenges interacting with others in social situations.
His condition made it particularly difficult to secure a job.
"I definitely struggled during some [job] interviews," Ascher said. "Hundreds of applications [and] dozens of interviews all led to nothing."
He isn't alone. In their early 20s, adults with autism had far lower rates of employment than their peers, according to a report by Drexel University. And nearly 42 percent of young adults with autism never worked for pay in their early 20s.
Disability awareness organization Autism Speaks says that most autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed despite having the skill sets and expertise to excel in the workplace. Even those who land jobs often experience stigmas, discrimination and bullying from their colleagues.
Avoid Pigeonholing Autistic Workers
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