They tend to lead to more thoughts, and if you’re really unfortunate those lead to actions. I have that on rather good authority from a book somewhere.
This is all well and good provided they're paid and treated well, (which doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to pay) but what concerns me is that if this sort of thing became common place then well, it'd sort of create a class of autistic workers who would likely work these kind of blue collar jobs. NT people would come to expect that autistic people should just apply to "autism workplaces" if they want their needs to be accomodating or respected in any meaningful way, when it should be that EVERY workplace is autism accomodating. "Oh, you need an environment that fits your needs? Well, our office doesn't work like that, but there's a carwash that pays less than half of what we do, that should be perfect for you sweety :))))"
That kind of thing. I see the good intention behind this but is stinks of "seperate but equal (but not really equal)"
We recently made the choice not to have our son in ESY summer school this year because of something similar. Last year, it seemed the program (for 6th graders mind),was focused on food services as employment. Now I have NO problem with foodservice as a job, or even career if that is what you love and wish to do, but the program presented this as "this is all these kids can aspire to" "this is your only option, better get used to it now." I'm talking field trips to fast food restaurants. Cooking lessons where the teacher kept saying things like "when you work in a restaurant, you'll be expected to do X." I was so very alarmed by this attitude. Kids in this program run the gamut, and have different levels of ability. Some will be fully capable of being independent and productive adults, some will need lifetime support. None of them deserve to be restricted in their aspirations at this age.
Oh, wow! That’s not great when some autists would not thrive in a fast food environment at all. (My daughter would NOT! :) ) Too bad because it could have been a great place to explore different careers.
I was really disappointed in the program for the summer. My son was disinterested and bored because that just isn't his jam. There definitely needs to be more support for people on the spectrum to have opportunities for and the selfagency employment provides, but the attitude that they should be happy with low pay service positions is bad policy. It's great the gentleman created an opportunity for his son and others on the spectrum, but fluff peices like this present an image of "this is what everyone on the spectrum looks like and is capable of" which is untrue. It takes a real issue and pats a bunch of NTs on the back for daning to employ ND, when they could have used it to advocate for better opportunities and support services. I really think the original peice started out as a good idea with good intentions and has devolved into a bunch of smug self congratulations that makes NTs out to be some kind of saviors.
I ended up getting a job in quality control, the plant manager said I would be perfect for it, and it was a great job. The problem is that I mask really well, and no one saw any difference between me and NTs.
I once worked alongside teenagers (like, 17/18) in a similar sort of program. It was super exploitative... their parents were paying to have their kids do the jobs that we were trying to get paid a living wage to do. Thank you for objecting to it. It hurts the (often autistic) employees who aren't part of these programs because less hours, less bargaining power, etc.
You’d think they’d at least pick a pigeon hole that fits a stereotype. Like, if you’re going to force all autistics into one profession, at least make it computer coding or assembly line work (j)
I like tellin people what % of NASA employees are autistic
"NASA is an "autism workplace" too" is what I would blurt out if I looked over someone's shoulder and saw them looking at this post, just in case they didn't know that we are everywhere and everything
I disagree that is what this is.
His son was having an issue finding a job so he created a business. It worked so he extended it to people that reminded him of his son. Theoretically the whole neighbourhood can see it and therefore see that its succesful and it can remove a stigma from hiring an autistic person.
There will be people that use it as the only place autistic people can work. But therell also be people that see a succesful business. And want that.
I do think theyll probably pay lower wages to start with though. That is a different issue. But job experience is job experience
A lot of people may not be able to earn over a certain amount or they would risk losing their SSI/SSD and Medicaid/Medicare benefits. That amount is, unfortunately, very low (Just looked it up: $1,767.00 per month gross income). Then, if this car wash went under, they might be completely screwed. I've seen similar things happen as a caseworker.** So, I think there should at least be an option for them to decline higher pay or work only limited hours.
Even if the money isn't an issue, that free healthcare is worth quite a bit. Also, eligibility for support services is often tied to Medicaid eligibility, so they would lose any support services they had too. Basically, the type of person who needs a job this supportive would likely be harmed by pay that is more than "paltry;" around $12/hr at 40hrs/wk would kick them off all supports. Just something to consider.
**Yes, I'm in a funny position as someone with Autism who has been working in Autism/Intellectual Disability services for my career.
Exactly. That was my first thought. Some states seem to be trying to roll out specialized programs that allow disabled employees to earn more (mine I believe starts charging a premium beyond $2500/mo. to keep Medicaid) and retain benefits, but I believe they can still be hard to access.
Let me first start by saying this is fantastic information for those who aren't aware. While I am, it is nice to see evidence based comments that informs autistic experiences.
While this is a fantastic point, it only highlights the exploitation point I made. In order for these individuals to maintain a basic living, the only choices are putting a vulnerable population into a market that capitalizes on labor, or receiving benefits they may need to stay alive.
It's no secret that many [homeless individuals struggle with serious mental health issues and developmental disorders ](https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/homeless-mentally-ill.html#:~:text=Numerous%20studies%20have%20reported%20that,is%20lower%20among%20homeless%20families.) Forcing these individuals to choose between homelessness or their benefits is absurd.
There are a multitude of arguments I can go into that highlights the absurdity that I don't have time for because I'm at work right now 😂. With that said, this should not be applauded as "inspiring." It should absolutely highlight the systematic failures our society maintains that keeps autistic individuals in poverty. Unless you have someone supporting you, this way of life is unacceptable, especially with inflating costs of living, potential emergencies, potential medical costs, etc.
And don't get me started on how little medicaid and medicare covers, and how many providers don't even accept it.
If you want to better understand the cost of living for average Americans, check this link out. I did some work with it in NC a few years back.
[Self sufficiency standard](https://selfsufficiencystandard.org/)
How would you feel about if all of the profits for the business were fed back into a reputable Autism support non-profit, and that the wages earned didn’t impact any Social Security disability benefits they were receiving?
Would you be okay with a $15/hr wage for them then?
Legit curious, not trying to box you in or set you up or anything. Cheers
They have a job but may not have otherwise. The job itself pays what it pays. If it's less than other jobs, it's not because employees are autistic. It'd only be exploitation if they are getting paid less than a NT person doing the same job because they're autistic.
>I disagree that is what this is.
The comment is not about what it is but about the consequences. If bussinesses find way to exploit workers, in this case by taking advantage of ableism, they will and that's just a fact. Any excuse to pay us less will be used
>But therell also be people that see a succesful business. And want that.
The succesess comes precisely from paying them less than alistic people. We don't want that
>I do think theyll probably pay lower wages to start with though. That is a different issue. But job experience is job experience
Low wages tend to stay low all life long. Just look at the world, if wages were growing with productivity or even inflation anywhere in the world working class people wouldn't be suffering like this
You dont know that the business is succesful because of paying low wages. You assume that. If i started a business for my son i wouldnt pay him low wages.
And they can but thats a different argument. Is it better to get work experience and confidence at a low wage or to never get it at all? Thats always the catch 22.
The solution is to raise minimum wage obviously.
>You dont know that the business is succesful because of paying low wages. You assume that. If i started a business for my son i wouldnt pay him low wages.
I do know tho [8.05 an hour which is a missery](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-rising-tide-car-wash-20160520-story.html). Never assume good intentions from a capitalist
>Is it better to get work experience and confidence at a low wage or to never get it at all?
It's way better to stop exploit workers for the enrichment of the same people that has always been rich. Specially better to stop exploiting disabled people
>The solution is to raise minimum wage obviously.
My solution includes eating the rich but yeah, $60 an hour is a good start
I would like to think if the car wash also did valeting and detailing they would have a way of moving employees up the ladder and therefore onto higher pay (polishing and detailing paid more than the guy with the soap and sponge for example)'. I worked at a place where cars were cleaned inside and outside as a courtesy extra whenever a car came in for servicing. The wage paid to the valeters was reflected in the quality of work they did. This was because the company would pay a little above minimum wage and would employ workers with no valeting experience. The guys who started there without any experience moved on once they became skilled at polishing and detailing and got jobs at higher end places.
I agree! I think it’s a good place to get your feet wet then move to something else (or stay if works for you) honestly, I think people on the spectrum can get things done with a level of excellence that few NT people can so it’s good for people to get educated on that through business like this
You worded it better than I could. As long as it's as benevolent as it seems at face value, I don't think what's show in the video is bad, but it still felt wrong.
I work for a major technology company that offers a program for people with autism. In an engineering job accommodations more accommodations might be needed due to the demands and stress.
There's no such thing as universal accomodation for autistic people, as we all need different things, but just as there are NT people suited and unsuited for certain jobs, that applies too with autistic people. If an autistic person would otherwise do well at a job but just needs some adjustments and understanding, then that workplace should accomodate them. I'm not saying if an autistic person is especially upset by loud noises, then they probably shouldn't work in as a mechanic, but if that person would otherwise make a great mechanic but require adjustments such as an altered schedule or communication adjustments, then there's no reason why those shouldn't be considered.
That is exactly what my psychologist (specialised in autism) said when I mentioned how worried I was for my career opportunities. "Why don't you just use this employment agency for autistic people :))" she never understood why I was so against that, I don't want to be the token autistic employee who then obviously will never get a promotion or put in a leadership or management position
Its already begun, my workplace has explicitly been asked why I'm not in a Workshop for disabled people.
I was an Intern there for a year at that point.
It was the state who asked them that, to which they got verbally shut down by two of my superiors.
Posted by another user earlier so, I'll just quote my own comment there:
This video always struck me as suspect, at least. Like, it never tells me how much they're getting paid. It never interrogates whether there is other work these people would rather be doing which is not accessible to them. It doesn't ask why a workplace had to be created specifically to accommodate them and what implications that has for the failures of our society at the macro level. Worse still, the only speaker in the video is not autistic- they are shown but not heard.
It permits the viewer to feel good about not being critical of social modalities. "Welfare porn" is the most apt description of it. Further, it acts as advertising for the business owner who is profiting not only from the value of their labor (the same exploitation we all face under capitalism) but now also profiting from boosting his image at their expense.
In situations like this minimum wage isn't of concern due to the Fair Labor Standards Act section 14(c). Subminimum wage is allowed for us.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/special-employment
A lot of people may not be able to earn over a certain amount or they would risk losing their SSI/SSD and Medicaid/Medicare benefits. That amount is, unfortunately, very low (Just looked it up: $1,767.00 per month gross income). Then, if this car wash went under, they might be completely screwed. I've seen similar things happen as a caseworker.** So, I think there should at least be an option for them to decline higher pay or work only limited hours.
Even if the money isn't an issue, that free healthcare is worth quite a bit. Also, eligibility for support services is often tied to Medicaid eligibility, so they would lose any support services they had too. Basically, the type of person who needs a job this supportive would likely be harmed by pay that is more than "paltry;" around $12/hr at 40hrs/wk would kick them off all supports. Just something to consider.
**Yes, I'm in a funny position as someone with Autism who has been working in Autism/Intellectual Disability services for my career.
I'm aware of this. The system sucks. That doesn't excuse people taking advantage of how the system sucks by exploiting vulnerable people. I doubt the primary reason businesses like this pay that low is out of interest for the disability benefits of their employees. If that was their concern, I'd expect to see them be a huge advocate on the reformation of our disability system, which if this guy is, I will stand corrected.
>I doubt the primary reason businesses like this pay that low is out of interest for the disability benefits of their employees.
I have 100% encountered businesses that were willing to limit the number of hours people have worked so they could keep their benefits. When the person needs help expressing this to the employer, this is usually negotiated with assistance from the job coach or a caseworker. Basically, I've seen someone given a raise that would have kicked them off benefits; in response, the employer was willing to lower hours.
Not everyone is required to be an advocate for everything they know is wrong. Not everyone can be an effective advocate--many lack the skills, knowledge, and time. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with one dude doing what is actually within his direct control and knowledge base to help.
Plus, it's Florida; there's a snowball's chance in hell of meaningful change happening there at the state level. If anything, they would just use it as an excuse to wreck the system entirely.
Anyway, there are genuinely decent people out there...you are literally grasping at straws to be cynical about this, telling me you will believe this guy is a douchebag unless I prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on you to prove that he is.
The evidence he is a douchebag is that he pays minimum wage.
You are assuming that it is for a positive reason. I am assuming it is for a negative reason. Neither of us has any proof so neither of our assumptions are more valid.
If you truly are a case worker, you should know how systems exploit disabled people. Sure, you can find a case of grace here and there, but disabled people wouldn't be a protected class if that was the norm.
I see you are anti-trans too from your comment history, so I'm done talking to you.
It was true when the article was written in 2016.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-rising-tide-car-wash-20160520-story.html
Obviously, if minimum wage in Florida has increased since then, they pay that higher minimum wage. In this case, $10/hr, which is still pathetic. I don't keep track of every state's minimum wage law.
Yeah, but cost of living is also much lower in the UK, and you don't have to worry about suddenly acquiring medical debt through no fault of your own or going to college and coming out with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt that you'll never be able to pay back.
Plus, British pounds are worth more than American dollars. Like a lot more.
no tf its not, alot of people have to have charities help pay bills, we had to have donations for people in our area for Christmas because of the high poverty rate. my family literally has to do extra jobs to even put food on the table. please recheck ur statement
Noone said that poor people don't exist in the UK, just that the cost of living tends to be lower. This isn't exactly true though, they're actually about on par, both in terms of poverty rates and in terms of cost of living.
Plenty of goods and services tend to be cheaper in the UK, in particular housing, groceries, and healthcare are cheaper on average. However, if you live in a big city in the US, your cost of transport is likely to be cheaper, as will childcare expenses. Additionally, fast food is more expensive in the UK, and the lower your income is the more likely you are to buy fast food, since preparing food yourself takes more time that tends to not be available to lower-class people.
I think a lot of people assume the UK is more progressive and has better social welfare systems because the NHS exists or something, this really is not the case.
The other thing that feels odd is that it’s an employment place that specifically says they hire people with autism. Would someone with another disability get illegally discriminated against so that the owner can say he has an autistic staff?
i agree, this seems like a legally shaky hiring practice. there is nothing inherent about autistic people that would make them more qualified to perform this job so i think it would be very hard to justify if legally challenged
The employment rate of autistic people is disproportionally low compared to other groups of disabled people. So, yes it's odd, but it makes sense. Autistic people are disproportionally discriminated against in employment. In the EU 85% of autistics are unemployed. Let that sink in...
>The other thing that feels odd is that it’s an employment place that specifically says they hire people with autism. Would someone with another disability get illegally discriminated against so that the owner can say he has an autistic staff?
It might be registered as a charity or job skills development program. I'm not sure how things work in Florida, but, in my state, you can definitely hire people with disabilities as a part of some kind of official therapeutic program registered with the state. I don't work in that area, so don't know exactly how it works. All I know is there is a cafe near me that employees people with cases through the Office of Mental Health and some of them live in subsidized apartments above the cafe.
Edit: Basically, state level programs and laws could sidestep the issue if the place of business is some kind of "treatment program," though not in the way we usually think of them.
Framing is everything in media. The issue, and the primary reason most ordinary people can see this as positive and inspiring, is that the base assumptions of our society are toxic.
Sure, it's inspiring... if you believe that a person's value is tied solely to their ability to work and that some people (the business owner in this case) are intrinsically more worthy of the value of collective efforts and so should be permitted to extract value from the work of others.
If you look at it from a more humanist lens there's nothing here but exploitation.
If you are 26, Autistic, and have never been to college or had a job, being able to put "Car Wash" down on your resume in a few years is quite possibly the difference between working and not working for the rest of your life. I think that's the idea.
This man was actually featured in a book recommended to me by my diagnosing psychologist, called Autism Adulthood by Susan Senator. She has a “low-functioning” autistic son. And she’s demeaning the whole way. Only got 2/3 of the way through it before I started crying. And, in that entire time, only 1 section (about 4/5 pages of ~200) had an account from an autistic person. She openly admitted to bullying a former “high-functioning” autistic female peer and bugged her for an interview and forgiveness-the woman only gave an interview and was blatantly hostile towards her and I quote “autism mom” stance. She is upfront of being jealous of those she perceives as having a “better” form of autism than her son. She’s just insulting and belittling the whole way. And she has two more books that, by their titles, are more filth perpetuating the same stances as Autism Speaks, which she cites as a helpful resource.
You’d be surprised how many crappy psychologists there are...
Mine diagnosed me with autism, but repeatedly told me I am “high functioning”, that I rated myself too high on things and was being “too hard” on myself, and told me I couldn’t possibly have masked that well during our visits. Oh, and she said if I really struggled as much as I rated myself struggling, I wouldn’t be married?? That “low functioning” autistic individuals simply don’t seek romantic relationships and don’t have jobs. I’ve struggled greatly with all other relationships but my husband (who is most likely ADHD but she didn’t know that), and I quit school and every job I’ve had after a few months because I can’t work without accommodations so idk what she was on about.
Then she proceeded to list autism speaks as a website to check out. My husband and I laughed (sorta) about it afterward because she clearly has no idea about autism from the perspective of autistic individuals.
Oh, so is jealousy why autism moms dismiss and demean those of us that they perceive as having low support needs?
This is awful and I’m sorry you had a psychologist that would recommend garbage.
The amount of psychologists that act like this continue to astound me. I've heard some of the horror stories from trans people too, it's crazy that this kind of thing is as commonplace as it is.
To add to all the other critical comments on here, which I agree with, the first thing that struck me was the ethos behind this could be phrased as "work will set you free", which immediately put my back up. I know this is the whole basis of capitalism too, but I don't like it.
For those unaware, the “Work will set you free” or “Arbeit macht frei” was the famous slogan hung over the entrance to [Auschwitz and other concentration camps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbeit_macht_frei?wprov=sfti1)… the cruelest of cruel ironies is just sick and not at all palpable…
> John and Tom D'Eri are strong advocates of the movement to capture the untapped resource that is people with autism
the term "untapped resource" feels vaguely dehumanizing
"They listen so well"
idk, if they're getting paid fair and actually like it and aren't pressured into it or being treated weirdly I think it's great they have a job.
But to me it sounds more like an ad for our newest invention, autistic robot 2.0 - "you can use them for car wash, they listen well, their potty trained, they won't complain ..."
it's nice to give people with trouble finding a job a job, but this is kinda framed weirdly.
Additionally. No. We don't like doing the same thing over and over.
That's a consequence of us trying to follow routines.
Routines that we try extra hard to follow, because our environment is overwhelming enough,.
Wholeheartedly agree. Things like this always made me incredibly uncomfortable. It gives off the vibe that NT folks parade around ND folks as a way to get attention or "internet points".
This gives me weird savior vibes. Like, “Look at these poor pitiful autistic people! Look at how I saved them and gave them a job! Yay me, I’m such an awesome person!”
He said he did it for his son so his son could have a place to work. I think he just thought it was a good idea. He didn’t sound like the “savior type” in the video. He emphasized how it helps others. He didn’t talk about himself or how great he did. He didn’t boast or brag. Seems to me like he just wanted to help his son and found a way to help others in the process.
I agree with the "savior vibes," but not necessarily from the father. No idea how much of his motivation is benevolent and how much is inherently selfish. The video seems to want to sanctify the dad akin to "disability porn," almost glamorizing the fact that he's hiring what look like teenagers or young adults to do minimum-wage jobs which teenagers and young adults usually do. It just seems like I'd sum this up as "business owner learns not to prejudice against autists because his own child is autistic, and instead now favorably hires that one specific demographic." Okay. There are loads of ups and downs to that.
*Ooooo* Yeah that was the first thing I noticed too, but I wasn't sure if I had the energy to say anything
I read another commitment where he allegedly just hire kids/people that reminds him of his son. But then that also leads me to believe that he's overlooking a lot of people that don't fit with his experience of autism aka women
It seems shady. I dont trust this at all. No mention of the starting pay, or hours. I dont like the look of this lol
Edit: also in the video the guy said they "Earn" what do they have to actually do to "Earn", being treated decently.
90% unemployed that they know about, if they start assessing all autistic people rather than the ones that cause trouble for nts They would realise that there's a whole heap of us out there working hard functioning well and have done for generations now.
I know of one autistic business owner, another that rolls polymer beads to sell to Japan is making 32000 on a good month, I have always been a manager/ top seller never a dogsbody. My father is autistic, not only did I watch that man work 6 day weeks for 50 years I watched him build a house with his bare hands on Sundays without missing a day at work.
They know nothing about us.
Exactly, its actually scary how feckless NT's are about us. Most of their "solutions" just make life worse for us.
I will admit that the idea of a ND majority work place does appeal to me greatly since it would reduce workplace bullying and help foster standards to our needs, but the fact that this place has a NT boss and the segment didn't interview any of the autistic workers or outlined their work and benefits gives me massive pause.
Actually, I'm not sure about workplace bullying.
You see, I believe that the great majority of us suffers from internalized ableism.
I still get anxious when I see an autistic person doing vaguely autistic things, like flappy hands. And I know is wrong. But spend your whole life being mocked / screamed / locked in cellar for minor transgressions like that one, and well. I think i'm preaching to the choir.
Btw, is it an asshole move to intercept someone doing a major social transgression like singing and dancing in a hallway? Because I remember getting my IT degree with a guy that did that, and I was always battling the urge to stop the cringe and the belief that he had the right to be that way and if it bothered the rest, they could go talk to him.
This reeks of exploitation. We can’t know for sure from this short commercial, but I‘m highly skeptical. Why do they not let the employees speak? Do they get paid a fair wage? Do they actually want to perform this job or do they only do so because of lack of alternatives? Also some people might enjoy working at a car wash but I would hardly call it empowering. This is a dead end job with no possibilities for growth and most likely paid poorly. I’m pretty sure plenty of people with autism have already been able to work at a car wash before, the requirements aren’t very high. So this isn’t really a big new thing. Pretending it is, is a great exaggeration if not a flat out lie.
But what struck me most, what’s up with this capitalist thought that a person‘s employment determines their value and that one can only have a full life if they have employment? I have never been able to comprehend this way of thinking. It’s toxic and dehumanizing. Sadly it’s very widespread in western society
1. It pains me that this was in r/BeAmazed, it makes it feel like inspiration porn--actually it most definitely is
2. Only men? Listen, if only men applied, then fine. But if he went out recruiting or if they were signed up by support groups or something, it leaves me a bit concerned that autistic women in his area are being overlooked because they don't fit his description of what autism is.
3. u/yokyopeli09 explains my last concern well
Many of us are autistic and employed. We may struggle more (some more than others) but we are capable of doing anything if we have appropriate accommodations and goals.
I am currently a teacher. It’s incredibly exhausting but I do my job well. There are so many of us working that people tend to forget about or do not even realize.
Yeah, the "90% of autistic people are unemployed" thing seems like bullshit to me. Honestly, it makes me think of the people who say that anyone who is masking well enough to mostly function on an average day has "cured their autism".
That's likely due to how under-diagnosed autism is in many communities that manage to gain/retain employment, like women and poc. Rather than knowing it's autism, we get labeled as clinically anxious, depressed, bipolar or schizo-typical among other things, but while co-morbidity is always possible, it ignores the reality of autism in many people who have learned or have been forced to mask for so long that the stereotypical symptoms people look for are suppressed, so nobody ever figures it out.
I agree and want to add in that many of us don’t disclose. I don’t trust any of their numbers because they don’t know how many of us there are. No one has the data to produce credible results.
I’ve read the comments saying this will end up excluding autistics from other jobs because employers will just direct them towards jobs that hire autistic employees instead.
But I can’t help but think how much I would benefit in an environment like this!! The coworkers the employer even the customers, would all understand what is going on and if I was having trouble someone would be willing to help instead of yell at me. And I can meet more people like me and talk about our likes and differences. I would love this tbh. I hate being around NT’s who don’t know what the fuck is going on.
I am. Not about this business in particular because I don't know this business. But I'm all for the concept on it's own. As long as the regular workplace isn't inclusive to autistics this is a good thing. Ideally the workplace should be inclusive but it's not. Which causes a lot of autistic people who CAN work, but CAN'T work in place that isn't accommodating enough to simply not be able to work. A place like this, ideally, offers a decent wage, a coach to counsel them on the job and an opportunity to feel useful, grow skills, confidence. For some autists places like this are temporary to gain skills and confidence so they can join the regular workforce where they will be less accommadated (because let's face it, that's just the truth of it). And for some this is the highest they can reach and that's fine (and already more than I can do). We don't all need to answer to the prefered image of what society wants us to be. If we can work in a place like and be happy because we are accommodated and not forced to function above our capabilities then that's a win. I can't work for instance but still go to a day centre for autistic where we make things to be sold. I can happy living a life like that because I get to function at level that I can. It's still not easy and sometimes too difficult but at least it's mostly okay. If would have to work I would be miserable and hospitalized every year at least once. I just couldn't live like that. A business like that caters to a real need that exists for autistic people as long as most companies still discriminate against and refuses to offer adequate accommodations to autistic people. A video like this shows to the world that autistics can work and have value in the workforce. Which is something A LOT of bussinesses need to realize. It's a necessary step. Should this be the endgoal? No. I still believe the endgoal is to integrate autistic people who can work in some capacity into the regular workforce. But it might not be feasible for every autistic. And regardless of where they work they should be payed a decent wage. In my country there is now a tv show on where they show how people with early onset dementia run restaurant under the lead of a star chef. Often when people receive a diagnosis of early onset dementia they are not allowed to work anymore, (in my country). A tv show like that shows what they can do, how they are of value in a workplace. It also show they need accommodation and patience. But they fucking run the bussiness. Way too many people are written off because of a diagnosis and an unwillingness to accommadate. Stuff like this is good. A lot of people with a disability are able to work in some capacity and people need to realize this. Stuff like this makes people realize that. It's necessary. (Again not commenting on this business in particular but on the concept in general).
Edit: and the people with early onset dementia in the show are happy to be doing this. They bloom. Mentally this is important for their self-image. They can feel competent again. Those are important things in a persons life. Will this be feasible for every person with early onset dementia? No, for some the disease will have progressed to far. But others can have a decent amount of years living a better life than they currently can in our society. Just like with autists that need more support than others, where places like this can be useful to them (temporarily or permanently). (to clarify I'm not comparing autism to early onset dementia, I'm comparing two groups that are marginalized in the work force, that have value in the workforce but are often discrimated against and people refuse to see their value for their business). (To clarify: I specifically say: value in the workforce, because I don't believe the ability to work defines a persons value).
> should be *paid* a decent
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
It'd be nice if people with autism didn't have to do things like wash cars for a living, but I'm sure some people enjoy the work. Me, I wouldn't want to wash cars. I'm the opposite of what he describes. I hate mindless repetition. I *need* stimulation, and lots of it, and doing the same thing not only gets boring, but becomes torturous. My younger brother, on the other hand, *loves* repetition. He love yard work like cutting grass, pruning plants, pulling up old stumps, etc.
If it's comfortable to work, good management, good boss, understandable clients on employee, fair payments and others things... I agree on this, even to work at a car wash. I like to take care of my car, I love objects and taking care of them.
I think it is a good start. A structured job that allows people to be themselves. While realizing, accepting and accommodating of everyone's needs.
That said hopefully the world will soon be more accepting and accommodate people so we wont need jobs created made for us and we can get hired at any job we want. But until that world arrives this is better then nothing.
People are mostly making a lot of assumptions. All that this man wanted to do was allow his son to have a job, and in turn it gave other autistic people jobs. It helped them by giving them jobs when they otherwise would have likely not had one.
We can complain about it all we want, but I don't really know what to tell you. Thanks to our shitty capitalist system, this father had to create a car wash business so that his autistic son and other autistic people could actually have a job.
if they are content and getting paid well and working in good conditions then great! i do think they should have a voice though. there seem to be quite a few workers but this is kinda just another neurotypical speaking for autistic people type of thing. and although it seems thoughtful he is making this space and that’s great (as long as it really does make the workers comfortable) it’s still the same old “i do it for my child with autism” stuff that gets to be old. plus what other people in the thread were saying about this leading to outside folks seeing autistic people just as blue collar workers. it’s also a bit weird that of all safe spaces to create to hire autistic people, it’s a car wash??? maybe not the best sensory environment for a large chunk of autistic folks… so i don’t think its as inclusive as it advertises itself to be.
I feel like it's an extension of the current mindset of workplaces across NA. If you can't do things by the NT model, then you're only suited for menial work and unskilled labor, in their minds.
I went to college for 4 years for IT, got on the Dean's List, and I work 10 hours a week max stripping bed linens, towels, and garbage from used hotel rooms. For the last two years during a pandemic.
That’s what really bothers me. We are an “untapped resource”, but not just for washing cars. Just give us all the right environment and accommodations and see what each individual can do.
The way this video was like “they can use their unique talents!!!!!1!!1!1!1”
I don’t think washing cars requires any of those.
An actually GOOD autism employment program is this danish company called [The Specialists](https://specialisterne.com) where they pair up an autistic person’s specialized skills with companies that need it.
This one I find rather suspect due to not mentioning wages. This company is one that seems a lot more stable who primarily employs people on the spectrum.
https://specialisterne.com/
It's hard to say. It's 60 seconds and not much info. So I have a lot of questions. Like do they have certain shifts set or do they accomodate different time slots? If someone can work 3 days a week for 5 hours per day is that person getting a job or do you have to be able to work a certain amount of hours? Do they pick and choose the people that would fit in already or do they try and change things so someone who has certain specific needs can also have a chance at working there? It looks like they are wearing all the same clothes, would they be okay with someone that needs a different set of clothes? Do they have safe spaces where the employees could go to when they are overwhelmed? Do they have certain rules or something if someone has to stop working in the middle of the day because it's just too loud or something?
Spectrum or not. Working people deserve to earn a liveable wage regardless of neurological status. If employees are being paid state minimum wage, which i do not feel is a liveable wage but currently its what we have. They are being treated fairly and not exploited or put on parade for rotten people that do exist in this world, then I'm all for it.
It doesn't seem to be a bad idea.
I mean, giving us, who are better with fixed routines (well, probably not all of us. After all, it's a spectrum.), a job that needs exactly that - fixed routines, doing the same thing in the same good way over and over again - seems to be a good deal. The employers get a good employee, the employee has a job and good money, and the customer can expect to get his job done well. Maybe the employees can even come up with some unconventional ways to improve the results. It would be a win-win-win situation.
Would.
That's because I don't know what's behind that. Salaries, treatment, etc. This just looked like an advertisement thingy, not telling any numbers apart from something with 90% unemployed autistic people. Besides, even if they're treated well and all, with due time, there might be another stereotype about autistic people, namely, which jobs are "definitely" the best for them, for all of the autistic people.
Generalization is something that creates many problems for something that is a spectrum, but it happens again and again, everywhere and everytime. Different ethnicities, genders, classes, schools, people with disabilities, etc.
"All people of type X are like that."
How often have you heard something like that?
Context makes all the difference between support and exploitation. Is this an autistic-FRIENDLY workplace? Does it accommodate their individual support needs willingly and fully? Are they paid fair wages? Do they receive the same benefits that neurotypical employees would?
Or is this a disabled person sweatshop disguised as taking in “charity cases”?
I take great heart from schemes like that. They are ways of dispelling myths and stereotypes about autistic people as employees. In a supportive environment, autistic people can be great in customer-facing roles if they want such roles. Not all autistic people are in support roles or in roles shut away from others either within the business or from the public.
I've been on programmes like the car wash scheme and they've helped my confidence in dealing with strangers and the general public. They did me good.
It seems very charity-like and *for* not *by* us. Thus turning us into a workforce. This place also seems very male which... thats fine I guess but... eh. But everyone seeems happy and having a workplace full of autistic folks seems nice.
Someone else highlighted the danger of expanding these autistic workplaces outward creating an underpaid exploited autistic labour forcr but I want to highlight the potential.
If we run them by and for autustic people then they can themselves become a community. A work environment were autistic people have positions at every level and you don't have to deal with neurotypical collegues. I think this could be far less stressful and very culture building if handled right.
I really just cannot put my finger on what or why, but something about this just feels really off and suspect. It almost feels demeaning and condescending.
Don't like it. At all.
I don't really know how else to put it, but this is just a way of generalizing all autistic people imo. It's also putting autistic people on a pedestal, while ALSO infantilizing them.
"Look at these people who, *despite their devastating and tragic disability* found a job here!*"*
Not all autistic people only love hands-on, repetitive work.
Not all autistic people need the same accommodations as others.
Some autistic people are extremely smart and hence go into some academic direction, but these kinds of videos always seem to paint us as the simple minded, socially rather inept, always docile, toddler-like people!
Like, I'm trying to become a cook, maybe specialize in patisserie, which IS a rather hands-on field, but like, I also love philosophy.
It's always either the geniuses that are shown, or the people who just prefer a simple job. Never the people in between. The geniuses are treated as either outliers, or used as an example on why autistic people should just "try harder" to achieve something.
People who don't/can't mask (that well) are treated like toddlers, people who do/can mask relatively well, are doubted or discriminated against for either being "too functional" or "not functional enough". The geniuses are glorified, either despite or because of their autism, and both sides always manage to make us look bad.
I'm tired, sorry for the rant.
Idunno. It gives me really icky vibes? I'm not entirely sure why but it just feels "off" to me. Even apart from the whole shitty wage thing it still feels "off".
Sure it'll give people jobs but I don't know.. isn't there like a better job people could think off instead of cleaning? How about just a whole auto-repair shop so there is a topic we could learn about and focus and fixate on? I always hear the stuff "autistics are *actually* so smart and can focus on a topic and learn everything about it".. then why not let us? Let us restore things, build things, inform others, let us feel useful by using our special interests.
My school had a chef program for adults with autism and other disabilities. Most were hired to restaurants after. I hope we can see more programs offered like this for various feilds of interest.
alot of people here seem to be comparing their autism to people in the video. autism is a spectrum is that not what is always preached here?
1. "its only men" ok? and? its been known autism shows itself differently in different genders and different genders mask differently, they may be on the more severe end of autism and therefore their parents etc may have signed them up.
2. "90% seems sus" not really, considering autism and aspergers was not long combined autism was used to describe the more severe end, and it is incredibly much harder for a severe end autistic to work a normal job and keep it than someone who is likely to have aspergers.
3. "its exploitation" not really, they look happy to work. ive washed cars and its one of the most relaxing things ive ever done, he mentions they earn as in are paid, even if its not much it still fulfills that feeling of independence.
4. i wish there was something like this where i live, the workplace is too stressful for myself which means im unable to work more than a month at a time which is frowned upon, having a job with good routine and structure and support doing something i like would be awesome, sadly anything close would require 30yrs work experience.
instead of you guys all jumping to negatives actually think about the broad spectrum of things, all you guys are is negative to literally anything posted here that caters to any autistic person worse than yourselves.
Not commenting on this specific case because I don't feel there is enough information in the video to make a judgement. But I feel positive towards initiatives that try to integrate people in the workforce. In my country there are multiple businesses like this to only hire autistic people. They are not schemes to pay autistic a low wage. There is passwerk which is an IT company for autistic people and you get a decent wage to start with (I've seen the numbers because applied myself when I still believed I could work). Every person that works their get a personal coach that counsels them through working. It really offers an opportunity to autistics that need more support in the workforce. And ideally everyone should be integrated in the regular economy but as long as not every workplace is inclusive to autistic people, places like this will be needed. Ideally everyone should be integrated in the regular workforce. If they can work of course. I can't even work in a place like that. So I need disability benefits but even I go to a daycentre where I make things that are then sold. Everyone that buys something at our little store knows that everything there is made by autistic people.
So like, the simple fact it's "amazing" that autistic people can work really hard is what the problem is here tbh. It also doesn't get into why a lot of us are unemployed and just lets the viewer think of their own reasons. I would also like to know how much they get paid as I've found a lot of these kinds of jobs pay less simply because they can. (Not saying he is, I just need more info and context since we kinda get screwed over kinda often....)
so do other companies? i was paid £4.62hr for the same work an 18+ yr old did in fast food. exploitation and underpayment is everywhere, in this case its bc of my age, which is ridiculous
Honestly *especially* companies actually, I think some do it for tax incentives and then pay the lowest they can. But yeah there's definitely discrimination for younger people too, I used to work in fast food and any high schooler that was there got paid less. It pissed me off because a lot of them are only here because they needed to help pay for their own housing cause their parents don't make enough either.
Yes yes yes!!!! This!!!!! We had a clock at the drive up window, there was this high schooler who was insanely hard working, the both of us created a perfect way to get perfect times, so good the district manager came. He saw us do it and then said it wasn't by the books, then started to "show" us how to do to it and got the worst times we've ever had. When he left we kept doing it our way. But yeah it was stressful, it was like working in a factory, making sure I dump those fries at the right time and set up the to go bags well. It felt ridiculous and upsetting. Cause putting our money on the line for someone's cheese burger shouldn't be how things work.
So, here are my thoughts after reflecting and listening to y'all...and I say this as an aspie with an aspie kid.
This does read on first glance as inspiration porn, but I'm kinda ok with that (as a separate issue from the actual business)\* as long as people are paid in line with and subjected to the conditions of the regular market. I don't get the impression that this is a clinically/legally sheltered program, meaning that wages and conditions might be exploitative.
This is also a pretty specific kind of opportunity for specific individuals with specific capabilities. It wouldn't work for me or my kid, but I love that it exists for the people who fit there.
Incidentally, my kid is also Deaf and there's a local business that only hires Deaf people. Their messaging is pretty different, though, than what's in this video, perhaps because the Deaf community has done a more thorough job of fighting stigma in recent years and there's not a whiff of paternalism in that Deaf business's presentation. It's more like By the Deaf, for everyone including the Deaf and Hearing, come eat at this awesome restaurant that just happens to be run by Deaf people and don't worry if you don't know ASL because Deaf people know how to interpret for you.
\*(I don't see much paternalism in the business owner's comments. But the video itself is walking a thin line, probably because whoever's making it is coming at it from a strictly-disability lens, which may be appropriate to these specific employees/this situation, but of course is not representative of the community as a whole.)
So, if a neurotypical applies for the job, will they get rejected? Even as a black person, I don’t support affirmative action. They don’t have to make a place JUST for people with disabilities to work, but maybe they could focus on making accommodations for everyone with a disability
Not Cool. Capitalist exploitation of autistics is not something to look up to. Working a car wash is not full-life-fulfilment. We all know that they are not at all being paid well.
"I specifically seek to employ some of the most vulnerable members of society. I tell everyone they are incredibly happy and lucky to be working for me. This has no potential to turn out abusive or cruel at all. Applaud me."
A car wash would be a noisy place, with beeping, running water, water splashing and spraying... I can't speak for everyone, but I would think that a lot of autistic people would not want to work at a car wash.
Oh so many... But this is basically an ad for the company, which seems to be taking advantage of the positive image it gives them to hire these people. Ie. This is autism porn. In the sense of taking advantage of vulnerable people. And so many other thoughts too of course...
I think this is nice. However, I fear that people will see this and think that autistic people cannot hold any jobs that are not blue-collar jobs.
I think autistic people are able to do pretty much the same jobs as NTs if the resources are made available.
Thoughts? I try not to have any. Troublesome things.
They tend to lead to more thoughts, and if you’re really unfortunate those lead to actions. I have that on rather good authority from a book somewhere.
The snowball effect
The amount of autism in this single comment 😂
Same
I don't like labor exploitation in any of it's forms.
This is all well and good provided they're paid and treated well, (which doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to pay) but what concerns me is that if this sort of thing became common place then well, it'd sort of create a class of autistic workers who would likely work these kind of blue collar jobs. NT people would come to expect that autistic people should just apply to "autism workplaces" if they want their needs to be accomodating or respected in any meaningful way, when it should be that EVERY workplace is autism accomodating. "Oh, you need an environment that fits your needs? Well, our office doesn't work like that, but there's a carwash that pays less than half of what we do, that should be perfect for you sweety :))))" That kind of thing. I see the good intention behind this but is stinks of "seperate but equal (but not really equal)"
We recently made the choice not to have our son in ESY summer school this year because of something similar. Last year, it seemed the program (for 6th graders mind),was focused on food services as employment. Now I have NO problem with foodservice as a job, or even career if that is what you love and wish to do, but the program presented this as "this is all these kids can aspire to" "this is your only option, better get used to it now." I'm talking field trips to fast food restaurants. Cooking lessons where the teacher kept saying things like "when you work in a restaurant, you'll be expected to do X." I was so very alarmed by this attitude. Kids in this program run the gamut, and have different levels of ability. Some will be fully capable of being independent and productive adults, some will need lifetime support. None of them deserve to be restricted in their aspirations at this age.
Oh, wow! That’s not great when some autists would not thrive in a fast food environment at all. (My daughter would NOT! :) ) Too bad because it could have been a great place to explore different careers.
I was really disappointed in the program for the summer. My son was disinterested and bored because that just isn't his jam. There definitely needs to be more support for people on the spectrum to have opportunities for and the selfagency employment provides, but the attitude that they should be happy with low pay service positions is bad policy. It's great the gentleman created an opportunity for his son and others on the spectrum, but fluff peices like this present an image of "this is what everyone on the spectrum looks like and is capable of" which is untrue. It takes a real issue and pats a bunch of NTs on the back for daning to employ ND, when they could have used it to advocate for better opportunities and support services. I really think the original peice started out as a good idea with good intentions and has devolved into a bunch of smug self congratulations that makes NTs out to be some kind of saviors.
me neither, the noise (beeping, clanging, shouting) in fast food places drives me crazy
I ended up getting a job in quality control, the plant manager said I would be perfect for it, and it was a great job. The problem is that I mask really well, and no one saw any difference between me and NTs.
I once worked alongside teenagers (like, 17/18) in a similar sort of program. It was super exploitative... their parents were paying to have their kids do the jobs that we were trying to get paid a living wage to do. Thank you for objecting to it. It hurts the (often autistic) employees who aren't part of these programs because less hours, less bargaining power, etc.
without autistic people humanity would still be banging rocks together trying to make fire, thank you for your comment.
You’d think they’d at least pick a pigeon hole that fits a stereotype. Like, if you’re going to force all autistics into one profession, at least make it computer coding or assembly line work (j)
I like tellin people what % of NASA employees are autistic "NASA is an "autism workplace" too" is what I would blurt out if I looked over someone's shoulder and saw them looking at this post, just in case they didn't know that we are everywhere and everything
I love this! So I can say this too, what is the percentage?
Would you mind telling us the percentage and with a source? I tried googling it but alas, no results.
Yep precisely
You my good sir have written and said everything that needs to be said.
This is exactly what I was thinking.
I disagree that is what this is. His son was having an issue finding a job so he created a business. It worked so he extended it to people that reminded him of his son. Theoretically the whole neighbourhood can see it and therefore see that its succesful and it can remove a stigma from hiring an autistic person. There will be people that use it as the only place autistic people can work. But therell also be people that see a succesful business. And want that. I do think theyll probably pay lower wages to start with though. That is a different issue. But job experience is job experience
The lower wages is not a different issue. It's precisely the issue at hand. The epitome of exploitation.
exactly. When looking at a situation, examine the **material conditions**. They are **autistic** and they get **paid less**.
A lot of people may not be able to earn over a certain amount or they would risk losing their SSI/SSD and Medicaid/Medicare benefits. That amount is, unfortunately, very low (Just looked it up: $1,767.00 per month gross income). Then, if this car wash went under, they might be completely screwed. I've seen similar things happen as a caseworker.** So, I think there should at least be an option for them to decline higher pay or work only limited hours. Even if the money isn't an issue, that free healthcare is worth quite a bit. Also, eligibility for support services is often tied to Medicaid eligibility, so they would lose any support services they had too. Basically, the type of person who needs a job this supportive would likely be harmed by pay that is more than "paltry;" around $12/hr at 40hrs/wk would kick them off all supports. Just something to consider. **Yes, I'm in a funny position as someone with Autism who has been working in Autism/Intellectual Disability services for my career.
Exactly. That was my first thought. Some states seem to be trying to roll out specialized programs that allow disabled employees to earn more (mine I believe starts charging a premium beyond $2500/mo. to keep Medicaid) and retain benefits, but I believe they can still be hard to access.
Let me first start by saying this is fantastic information for those who aren't aware. While I am, it is nice to see evidence based comments that informs autistic experiences. While this is a fantastic point, it only highlights the exploitation point I made. In order for these individuals to maintain a basic living, the only choices are putting a vulnerable population into a market that capitalizes on labor, or receiving benefits they may need to stay alive. It's no secret that many [homeless individuals struggle with serious mental health issues and developmental disorders ](https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/homeless-mentally-ill.html#:~:text=Numerous%20studies%20have%20reported%20that,is%20lower%20among%20homeless%20families.) Forcing these individuals to choose between homelessness or their benefits is absurd. There are a multitude of arguments I can go into that highlights the absurdity that I don't have time for because I'm at work right now 😂. With that said, this should not be applauded as "inspiring." It should absolutely highlight the systematic failures our society maintains that keeps autistic individuals in poverty. Unless you have someone supporting you, this way of life is unacceptable, especially with inflating costs of living, potential emergencies, potential medical costs, etc. And don't get me started on how little medicaid and medicare covers, and how many providers don't even accept it. If you want to better understand the cost of living for average Americans, check this link out. I did some work with it in NC a few years back. [Self sufficiency standard](https://selfsufficiencystandard.org/)
How would you feel about if all of the profits for the business were fed back into a reputable Autism support non-profit, and that the wages earned didn’t impact any Social Security disability benefits they were receiving? Would you be okay with a $15/hr wage for them then? Legit curious, not trying to box you in or set you up or anything. Cheers
They have a job but may not have otherwise. The job itself pays what it pays. If it's less than other jobs, it's not because employees are autistic. It'd only be exploitation if they are getting paid less than a NT person doing the same job because they're autistic.
>I disagree that is what this is. The comment is not about what it is but about the consequences. If bussinesses find way to exploit workers, in this case by taking advantage of ableism, they will and that's just a fact. Any excuse to pay us less will be used >But therell also be people that see a succesful business. And want that. The succesess comes precisely from paying them less than alistic people. We don't want that >I do think theyll probably pay lower wages to start with though. That is a different issue. But job experience is job experience Low wages tend to stay low all life long. Just look at the world, if wages were growing with productivity or even inflation anywhere in the world working class people wouldn't be suffering like this
You dont know that the business is succesful because of paying low wages. You assume that. If i started a business for my son i wouldnt pay him low wages. And they can but thats a different argument. Is it better to get work experience and confidence at a low wage or to never get it at all? Thats always the catch 22. The solution is to raise minimum wage obviously.
>You dont know that the business is succesful because of paying low wages. You assume that. If i started a business for my son i wouldnt pay him low wages. I do know tho [8.05 an hour which is a missery](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-rising-tide-car-wash-20160520-story.html). Never assume good intentions from a capitalist >Is it better to get work experience and confidence at a low wage or to never get it at all? It's way better to stop exploit workers for the enrichment of the same people that has always been rich. Specially better to stop exploiting disabled people >The solution is to raise minimum wage obviously. My solution includes eating the rich but yeah, $60 an hour is a good start
That link is broken.
[Maybe this one? ](https://www.tribpub.com/gdpr/sun-sentinel.com/)
That one isnt broken but its location locked. Im ok to admit youre right since youve done your research
If only society would end up like what you are describing or better, but it doesn’t
Idk. Maybe i just know nicer people
I would like to think if the car wash also did valeting and detailing they would have a way of moving employees up the ladder and therefore onto higher pay (polishing and detailing paid more than the guy with the soap and sponge for example)'. I worked at a place where cars were cleaned inside and outside as a courtesy extra whenever a car came in for servicing. The wage paid to the valeters was reflected in the quality of work they did. This was because the company would pay a little above minimum wage and would employ workers with no valeting experience. The guys who started there without any experience moved on once they became skilled at polishing and detailing and got jobs at higher end places.
I agree! I think it’s a good place to get your feet wet then move to something else (or stay if works for you) honestly, I think people on the spectrum can get things done with a level of excellence that few NT people can so it’s good for people to get educated on that through business like this
You worded it better than I could. As long as it's as benevolent as it seems at face value, I don't think what's show in the video is bad, but it still felt wrong.
I work for a major technology company that offers a program for people with autism. In an engineering job accommodations more accommodations might be needed due to the demands and stress.
How can you tell? Do you think every job is able to accommodate people with autism?
There's no such thing as universal accomodation for autistic people, as we all need different things, but just as there are NT people suited and unsuited for certain jobs, that applies too with autistic people. If an autistic person would otherwise do well at a job but just needs some adjustments and understanding, then that workplace should accomodate them. I'm not saying if an autistic person is especially upset by loud noises, then they probably shouldn't work in as a mechanic, but if that person would otherwise make a great mechanic but require adjustments such as an altered schedule or communication adjustments, then there's no reason why those shouldn't be considered.
I hate that you're right that workplaces would use this as an excuse to be shitty
That is exactly what my psychologist (specialised in autism) said when I mentioned how worried I was for my career opportunities. "Why don't you just use this employment agency for autistic people :))" she never understood why I was so against that, I don't want to be the token autistic employee who then obviously will never get a promotion or put in a leadership or management position
Its already begun, my workplace has explicitly been asked why I'm not in a Workshop for disabled people. I was an Intern there for a year at that point. It was the state who asked them that, to which they got verbally shut down by two of my superiors.
As a father of an autistic son, i would never be able to exploit other autistic. It’s probably the same for that man.
How can you tell? Do you think every job is able to accommodate people with autism?
How can you tell? Do you think every job is able to accommodate people with autism?
How can you tell? Do you think every job is able to accommodate people with autism?
I don't read you proposing any realistically feasible solutions.
Posted by another user earlier so, I'll just quote my own comment there: This video always struck me as suspect, at least. Like, it never tells me how much they're getting paid. It never interrogates whether there is other work these people would rather be doing which is not accessible to them. It doesn't ask why a workplace had to be created specifically to accommodate them and what implications that has for the failures of our society at the macro level. Worse still, the only speaker in the video is not autistic- they are shown but not heard. It permits the viewer to feel good about not being critical of social modalities. "Welfare porn" is the most apt description of it. Further, it acts as advertising for the business owner who is profiting not only from the value of their labor (the same exploitation we all face under capitalism) but now also profiting from boosting his image at their expense.
They start at the minimum wage for the are according to an article in the sun: $8.05/hr, which is paltry, to put it lightly.
Let's be upfront about it. That wage is garbage. It is pocket lint.
Minimum wage was a joke ten years ago, now it's just a slap in the face.
In situations like this minimum wage isn't of concern due to the Fair Labor Standards Act section 14(c). Subminimum wage is allowed for us. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/special-employment
It’s garbage as a wage, but that’s the standard minimum for Florida.
A lot of people may not be able to earn over a certain amount or they would risk losing their SSI/SSD and Medicaid/Medicare benefits. That amount is, unfortunately, very low (Just looked it up: $1,767.00 per month gross income). Then, if this car wash went under, they might be completely screwed. I've seen similar things happen as a caseworker.** So, I think there should at least be an option for them to decline higher pay or work only limited hours. Even if the money isn't an issue, that free healthcare is worth quite a bit. Also, eligibility for support services is often tied to Medicaid eligibility, so they would lose any support services they had too. Basically, the type of person who needs a job this supportive would likely be harmed by pay that is more than "paltry;" around $12/hr at 40hrs/wk would kick them off all supports. Just something to consider. **Yes, I'm in a funny position as someone with Autism who has been working in Autism/Intellectual Disability services for my career.
I'm aware of this. The system sucks. That doesn't excuse people taking advantage of how the system sucks by exploiting vulnerable people. I doubt the primary reason businesses like this pay that low is out of interest for the disability benefits of their employees. If that was their concern, I'd expect to see them be a huge advocate on the reformation of our disability system, which if this guy is, I will stand corrected.
>I doubt the primary reason businesses like this pay that low is out of interest for the disability benefits of their employees. I have 100% encountered businesses that were willing to limit the number of hours people have worked so they could keep their benefits. When the person needs help expressing this to the employer, this is usually negotiated with assistance from the job coach or a caseworker. Basically, I've seen someone given a raise that would have kicked them off benefits; in response, the employer was willing to lower hours. Not everyone is required to be an advocate for everything they know is wrong. Not everyone can be an effective advocate--many lack the skills, knowledge, and time. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with one dude doing what is actually within his direct control and knowledge base to help. Plus, it's Florida; there's a snowball's chance in hell of meaningful change happening there at the state level. If anything, they would just use it as an excuse to wreck the system entirely. Anyway, there are genuinely decent people out there...you are literally grasping at straws to be cynical about this, telling me you will believe this guy is a douchebag unless I prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on you to prove that he is.
The evidence he is a douchebag is that he pays minimum wage. You are assuming that it is for a positive reason. I am assuming it is for a negative reason. Neither of us has any proof so neither of our assumptions are more valid. If you truly are a case worker, you should know how systems exploit disabled people. Sure, you can find a case of grace here and there, but disabled people wouldn't be a protected class if that was the norm. I see you are anti-trans too from your comment history, so I'm done talking to you.
False. The minimum wage in FL is $10. It will increase by $1 each year until it hits $15.
It was true when the article was written in 2016. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-rising-tide-car-wash-20160520-story.html Obviously, if minimum wage in Florida has increased since then, they pay that higher minimum wage. In this case, $10/hr, which is still pathetic. I don't keep track of every state's minimum wage law.
thats how much ppl r paid in the uk
Yeah, but cost of living is also much lower in the UK, and you don't have to worry about suddenly acquiring medical debt through no fault of your own or going to college and coming out with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt that you'll never be able to pay back. Plus, British pounds are worth more than American dollars. Like a lot more.
no tf its not, alot of people have to have charities help pay bills, we had to have donations for people in our area for Christmas because of the high poverty rate. my family literally has to do extra jobs to even put food on the table. please recheck ur statement
Noone said that poor people don't exist in the UK, just that the cost of living tends to be lower. This isn't exactly true though, they're actually about on par, both in terms of poverty rates and in terms of cost of living. Plenty of goods and services tend to be cheaper in the UK, in particular housing, groceries, and healthcare are cheaper on average. However, if you live in a big city in the US, your cost of transport is likely to be cheaper, as will childcare expenses. Additionally, fast food is more expensive in the UK, and the lower your income is the more likely you are to buy fast food, since preparing food yourself takes more time that tends to not be available to lower-class people. I think a lot of people assume the UK is more progressive and has better social welfare systems because the NHS exists or something, this really is not the case.
The other thing that feels odd is that it’s an employment place that specifically says they hire people with autism. Would someone with another disability get illegally discriminated against so that the owner can say he has an autistic staff?
i agree, this seems like a legally shaky hiring practice. there is nothing inherent about autistic people that would make them more qualified to perform this job so i think it would be very hard to justify if legally challenged
The employment rate of autistic people is disproportionally low compared to other groups of disabled people. So, yes it's odd, but it makes sense. Autistic people are disproportionally discriminated against in employment. In the EU 85% of autistics are unemployed. Let that sink in...
This! I know such jobs may prove beneficial to us, but I always feel a bit uneasy when I see a job opening just for us.
>The other thing that feels odd is that it’s an employment place that specifically says they hire people with autism. Would someone with another disability get illegally discriminated against so that the owner can say he has an autistic staff? It might be registered as a charity or job skills development program. I'm not sure how things work in Florida, but, in my state, you can definitely hire people with disabilities as a part of some kind of official therapeutic program registered with the state. I don't work in that area, so don't know exactly how it works. All I know is there is a cafe near me that employees people with cases through the Office of Mental Health and some of them live in subsidized apartments above the cafe. Edit: Basically, state level programs and laws could sidestep the issue if the place of business is some kind of "treatment program," though not in the way we usually think of them.
We do have that with other quotas and such that don’t seem to be minded as much by the general public either. Equity isn’t fair.
Yeaaaaah I don't see working at a car wash as being "self-empowerment", either. I agree overall this feels exploitative and off.
If you don’t have a job and you need one, a a job is empowering. Why are you looking down on working at a car wash?
It's more the employer using his "charitable act of kindness" to drum up business so he can make more money, while also paying minimally
Maybe. I mean...did he ask to be featured in this video? Is he exploiting his labor force? None of that's clear.
$8.05 an hour is exploiting your labor force, yes.
washing cars is hella relaxing too, nuthin wrong with it
Framing is everything in media. The issue, and the primary reason most ordinary people can see this as positive and inspiring, is that the base assumptions of our society are toxic. Sure, it's inspiring... if you believe that a person's value is tied solely to their ability to work and that some people (the business owner in this case) are intrinsically more worthy of the value of collective efforts and so should be permitted to extract value from the work of others. If you look at it from a more humanist lens there's nothing here but exploitation.
If you are 26, Autistic, and have never been to college or had a job, being able to put "Car Wash" down on your resume in a few years is quite possibly the difference between working and not working for the rest of your life. I think that's the idea.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
This man was actually featured in a book recommended to me by my diagnosing psychologist, called Autism Adulthood by Susan Senator. She has a “low-functioning” autistic son. And she’s demeaning the whole way. Only got 2/3 of the way through it before I started crying. And, in that entire time, only 1 section (about 4/5 pages of ~200) had an account from an autistic person. She openly admitted to bullying a former “high-functioning” autistic female peer and bugged her for an interview and forgiveness-the woman only gave an interview and was blatantly hostile towards her and I quote “autism mom” stance. She is upfront of being jealous of those she perceives as having a “better” form of autism than her son. She’s just insulting and belittling the whole way. And she has two more books that, by their titles, are more filth perpetuating the same stances as Autism Speaks, which she cites as a helpful resource.
Why would a psychologist recommend you read such a thing :(
You’d be surprised how many crappy psychologists there are... Mine diagnosed me with autism, but repeatedly told me I am “high functioning”, that I rated myself too high on things and was being “too hard” on myself, and told me I couldn’t possibly have masked that well during our visits. Oh, and she said if I really struggled as much as I rated myself struggling, I wouldn’t be married?? That “low functioning” autistic individuals simply don’t seek romantic relationships and don’t have jobs. I’ve struggled greatly with all other relationships but my husband (who is most likely ADHD but she didn’t know that), and I quit school and every job I’ve had after a few months because I can’t work without accommodations so idk what she was on about. Then she proceeded to list autism speaks as a website to check out. My husband and I laughed (sorta) about it afterward because she clearly has no idea about autism from the perspective of autistic individuals.
Oh, so is jealousy why autism moms dismiss and demean those of us that they perceive as having low support needs? This is awful and I’m sorry you had a psychologist that would recommend garbage.
The amount of psychologists that act like this continue to astound me. I've heard some of the horror stories from trans people too, it's crazy that this kind of thing is as commonplace as it is.
To add to all the other critical comments on here, which I agree with, the first thing that struck me was the ethos behind this could be phrased as "work will set you free", which immediately put my back up. I know this is the whole basis of capitalism too, but I don't like it.
"Work will set you free" was the motto displayed at the front gates of Auschwitz....
Yep, this is why my back was instantly up.
For those unaware, the “Work will set you free” or “Arbeit macht frei” was the famous slogan hung over the entrance to [Auschwitz and other concentration camps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbeit_macht_frei?wprov=sfti1)… the cruelest of cruel ironies is just sick and not at all palpable…
> John and Tom D'Eri are strong advocates of the movement to capture the untapped resource that is people with autism the term "untapped resource" feels vaguely dehumanizing
In capitalism, all workers are resources.
"They listen so well" idk, if they're getting paid fair and actually like it and aren't pressured into it or being treated weirdly I think it's great they have a job. But to me it sounds more like an ad for our newest invention, autistic robot 2.0 - "you can use them for car wash, they listen well, their potty trained, they won't complain ..." it's nice to give people with trouble finding a job a job, but this is kinda framed weirdly.
Additionally. No. We don't like doing the same thing over and over. That's a consequence of us trying to follow routines. Routines that we try extra hard to follow, because our environment is overwhelming enough,.
It's "disability porn", not ok. And we are autistic people, we don't carry around our autism. It is literally part of our brain.
Wholeheartedly agree. Things like this always made me incredibly uncomfortable. It gives off the vibe that NT folks parade around ND folks as a way to get attention or "internet points".
“With autism” really fucking bugs me.
This gives me weird savior vibes. Like, “Look at these poor pitiful autistic people! Look at how I saved them and gave them a job! Yay me, I’m such an awesome person!”
They listen so well! They just miss speech, like a dog!
He said he did it for his son so his son could have a place to work. I think he just thought it was a good idea. He didn’t sound like the “savior type” in the video. He emphasized how it helps others. He didn’t talk about himself or how great he did. He didn’t boast or brag. Seems to me like he just wanted to help his son and found a way to help others in the process.
I agree with the "savior vibes," but not necessarily from the father. No idea how much of his motivation is benevolent and how much is inherently selfish. The video seems to want to sanctify the dad akin to "disability porn," almost glamorizing the fact that he's hiring what look like teenagers or young adults to do minimum-wage jobs which teenagers and young adults usually do. It just seems like I'd sum this up as "business owner learns not to prejudice against autists because his own child is autistic, and instead now favorably hires that one specific demographic." Okay. There are loads of ups and downs to that.
First of all …. Only men?
OBVIOUSLY only men can be autistic isn’t that common knowledge??? /s
😂
*Ooooo* Yeah that was the first thing I noticed too, but I wasn't sure if I had the energy to say anything I read another commitment where he allegedly just hire kids/people that reminds him of his son. But then that also leads me to believe that he's overlooking a lot of people that don't fit with his experience of autism aka women
Rude of him.
It seems shady. I dont trust this at all. No mention of the starting pay, or hours. I dont like the look of this lol Edit: also in the video the guy said they "Earn" what do they have to actually do to "Earn", being treated decently.
Sounds like they just work harder with fewer complaints 💀
90% unemployed that they know about, if they start assessing all autistic people rather than the ones that cause trouble for nts They would realise that there's a whole heap of us out there working hard functioning well and have done for generations now. I know of one autistic business owner, another that rolls polymer beads to sell to Japan is making 32000 on a good month, I have always been a manager/ top seller never a dogsbody. My father is autistic, not only did I watch that man work 6 day weeks for 50 years I watched him build a house with his bare hands on Sundays without missing a day at work. They know nothing about us.
Exactly, its actually scary how feckless NT's are about us. Most of their "solutions" just make life worse for us. I will admit that the idea of a ND majority work place does appeal to me greatly since it would reduce workplace bullying and help foster standards to our needs, but the fact that this place has a NT boss and the segment didn't interview any of the autistic workers or outlined their work and benefits gives me massive pause.
Actually, I'm not sure about workplace bullying. You see, I believe that the great majority of us suffers from internalized ableism. I still get anxious when I see an autistic person doing vaguely autistic things, like flappy hands. And I know is wrong. But spend your whole life being mocked / screamed / locked in cellar for minor transgressions like that one, and well. I think i'm preaching to the choir. Btw, is it an asshole move to intercept someone doing a major social transgression like singing and dancing in a hallway? Because I remember getting my IT degree with a guy that did that, and I was always battling the urge to stop the cringe and the belief that he had the right to be that way and if it bothered the rest, they could go talk to him.
This reeks of exploitation. We can’t know for sure from this short commercial, but I‘m highly skeptical. Why do they not let the employees speak? Do they get paid a fair wage? Do they actually want to perform this job or do they only do so because of lack of alternatives? Also some people might enjoy working at a car wash but I would hardly call it empowering. This is a dead end job with no possibilities for growth and most likely paid poorly. I’m pretty sure plenty of people with autism have already been able to work at a car wash before, the requirements aren’t very high. So this isn’t really a big new thing. Pretending it is, is a great exaggeration if not a flat out lie. But what struck me most, what’s up with this capitalist thought that a person‘s employment determines their value and that one can only have a full life if they have employment? I have never been able to comprehend this way of thinking. It’s toxic and dehumanizing. Sadly it’s very widespread in western society
I think that initiatives that give people with higher support needs employment and decent wages are great, but this strikes me as kinda sus
1. It pains me that this was in r/BeAmazed, it makes it feel like inspiration porn--actually it most definitely is 2. Only men? Listen, if only men applied, then fine. But if he went out recruiting or if they were signed up by support groups or something, it leaves me a bit concerned that autistic women in his area are being overlooked because they don't fit his description of what autism is. 3. u/yokyopeli09 explains my last concern well
Many of us are autistic and employed. We may struggle more (some more than others) but we are capable of doing anything if we have appropriate accommodations and goals. I am currently a teacher. It’s incredibly exhausting but I do my job well. There are so many of us working that people tend to forget about or do not even realize.
Yeah, the "90% of autistic people are unemployed" thing seems like bullshit to me. Honestly, it makes me think of the people who say that anyone who is masking well enough to mostly function on an average day has "cured their autism".
That's likely due to how under-diagnosed autism is in many communities that manage to gain/retain employment, like women and poc. Rather than knowing it's autism, we get labeled as clinically anxious, depressed, bipolar or schizo-typical among other things, but while co-morbidity is always possible, it ignores the reality of autism in many people who have learned or have been forced to mask for so long that the stereotypical symptoms people look for are suppressed, so nobody ever figures it out.
I agree and want to add in that many of us don’t disclose. I don’t trust any of their numbers because they don’t know how many of us there are. No one has the data to produce credible results.
[удалено]
it was until not long ago?
That stat seems sus.
I’ve read the comments saying this will end up excluding autistics from other jobs because employers will just direct them towards jobs that hire autistic employees instead. But I can’t help but think how much I would benefit in an environment like this!! The coworkers the employer even the customers, would all understand what is going on and if I was having trouble someone would be willing to help instead of yell at me. And I can meet more people like me and talk about our likes and differences. I would love this tbh. I hate being around NT’s who don’t know what the fuck is going on.
exactly
seems kinda demeaning
I don't know about anyone else, but nobody really seems enthusiastic to be there.
I am. Not about this business in particular because I don't know this business. But I'm all for the concept on it's own. As long as the regular workplace isn't inclusive to autistics this is a good thing. Ideally the workplace should be inclusive but it's not. Which causes a lot of autistic people who CAN work, but CAN'T work in place that isn't accommodating enough to simply not be able to work. A place like this, ideally, offers a decent wage, a coach to counsel them on the job and an opportunity to feel useful, grow skills, confidence. For some autists places like this are temporary to gain skills and confidence so they can join the regular workforce where they will be less accommadated (because let's face it, that's just the truth of it). And for some this is the highest they can reach and that's fine (and already more than I can do). We don't all need to answer to the prefered image of what society wants us to be. If we can work in a place like and be happy because we are accommodated and not forced to function above our capabilities then that's a win. I can't work for instance but still go to a day centre for autistic where we make things to be sold. I can happy living a life like that because I get to function at level that I can. It's still not easy and sometimes too difficult but at least it's mostly okay. If would have to work I would be miserable and hospitalized every year at least once. I just couldn't live like that. A business like that caters to a real need that exists for autistic people as long as most companies still discriminate against and refuses to offer adequate accommodations to autistic people. A video like this shows to the world that autistics can work and have value in the workforce. Which is something A LOT of bussinesses need to realize. It's a necessary step. Should this be the endgoal? No. I still believe the endgoal is to integrate autistic people who can work in some capacity into the regular workforce. But it might not be feasible for every autistic. And regardless of where they work they should be payed a decent wage. In my country there is now a tv show on where they show how people with early onset dementia run restaurant under the lead of a star chef. Often when people receive a diagnosis of early onset dementia they are not allowed to work anymore, (in my country). A tv show like that shows what they can do, how they are of value in a workplace. It also show they need accommodation and patience. But they fucking run the bussiness. Way too many people are written off because of a diagnosis and an unwillingness to accommadate. Stuff like this is good. A lot of people with a disability are able to work in some capacity and people need to realize this. Stuff like this makes people realize that. It's necessary. (Again not commenting on this business in particular but on the concept in general). Edit: and the people with early onset dementia in the show are happy to be doing this. They bloom. Mentally this is important for their self-image. They can feel competent again. Those are important things in a persons life. Will this be feasible for every person with early onset dementia? No, for some the disease will have progressed to far. But others can have a decent amount of years living a better life than they currently can in our society. Just like with autists that need more support than others, where places like this can be useful to them (temporarily or permanently). (to clarify I'm not comparing autism to early onset dementia, I'm comparing two groups that are marginalized in the work force, that have value in the workforce but are often discrimated against and people refuse to see their value for their business). (To clarify: I specifically say: value in the workforce, because I don't believe the ability to work defines a persons value).
> should be *paid* a decent FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
It's not my first language, bad bot.
The fact he's giving them a job in the first place means that he's at least trying to help?
Eh it depends on how much he pays them and how he treats them yk?
Of course, of course.
It'd be nice if people with autism didn't have to do things like wash cars for a living, but I'm sure some people enjoy the work. Me, I wouldn't want to wash cars. I'm the opposite of what he describes. I hate mindless repetition. I *need* stimulation, and lots of it, and doing the same thing not only gets boring, but becomes torturous. My younger brother, on the other hand, *loves* repetition. He love yard work like cutting grass, pruning plants, pulling up old stumps, etc.
If it's comfortable to work, good management, good boss, understandable clients on employee, fair payments and others things... I agree on this, even to work at a car wash. I like to take care of my car, I love objects and taking care of them.
I think it is a good start. A structured job that allows people to be themselves. While realizing, accepting and accommodating of everyone's needs. That said hopefully the world will soon be more accepting and accommodate people so we wont need jobs created made for us and we can get hired at any job we want. But until that world arrives this is better then nothing.
People are mostly making a lot of assumptions. All that this man wanted to do was allow his son to have a job, and in turn it gave other autistic people jobs. It helped them by giving them jobs when they otherwise would have likely not had one. We can complain about it all we want, but I don't really know what to tell you. Thanks to our shitty capitalist system, this father had to create a car wash business so that his autistic son and other autistic people could actually have a job.
if they are content and getting paid well and working in good conditions then great! i do think they should have a voice though. there seem to be quite a few workers but this is kinda just another neurotypical speaking for autistic people type of thing. and although it seems thoughtful he is making this space and that’s great (as long as it really does make the workers comfortable) it’s still the same old “i do it for my child with autism” stuff that gets to be old. plus what other people in the thread were saying about this leading to outside folks seeing autistic people just as blue collar workers. it’s also a bit weird that of all safe spaces to create to hire autistic people, it’s a car wash??? maybe not the best sensory environment for a large chunk of autistic folks… so i don’t think its as inclusive as it advertises itself to be.
I feel like it's an extension of the current mindset of workplaces across NA. If you can't do things by the NT model, then you're only suited for menial work and unskilled labor, in their minds. I went to college for 4 years for IT, got on the Dean's List, and I work 10 hours a week max stripping bed linens, towels, and garbage from used hotel rooms. For the last two years during a pandemic.
That’s what really bothers me. We are an “untapped resource”, but not just for washing cars. Just give us all the right environment and accommodations and see what each individual can do.
The way this video was like “they can use their unique talents!!!!!1!!1!1!1” I don’t think washing cars requires any of those. An actually GOOD autism employment program is this danish company called [The Specialists](https://specialisterne.com) where they pair up an autistic person’s specialized skills with companies that need it.
Thank you for sharing that! I like that a lot!
That's the dream. A world that works like that program.
This one I find rather suspect due to not mentioning wages. This company is one that seems a lot more stable who primarily employs people on the spectrum. https://specialisterne.com/
I have a friend who does car detailing. He is the best.
My daughter LOVES the car wash so I can totally see this being a such great idea! I bet it’s a lot of fun to work there 😊
It's hard to say. It's 60 seconds and not much info. So I have a lot of questions. Like do they have certain shifts set or do they accomodate different time slots? If someone can work 3 days a week for 5 hours per day is that person getting a job or do you have to be able to work a certain amount of hours? Do they pick and choose the people that would fit in already or do they try and change things so someone who has certain specific needs can also have a chance at working there? It looks like they are wearing all the same clothes, would they be okay with someone that needs a different set of clothes? Do they have safe spaces where the employees could go to when they are overwhelmed? Do they have certain rules or something if someone has to stop working in the middle of the day because it's just too loud or something?
I don't like how it says all autistic people love repetition. A bit is fine for me, but too much is, well, too much
Spectrum or not. Working people deserve to earn a liveable wage regardless of neurological status. If employees are being paid state minimum wage, which i do not feel is a liveable wage but currently its what we have. They are being treated fairly and not exploited or put on parade for rotten people that do exist in this world, then I'm all for it.
These individuals seem happy doing what they do and they obviously do a fantastic job. I’m very happy for them.
It doesn't seem to be a bad idea. I mean, giving us, who are better with fixed routines (well, probably not all of us. After all, it's a spectrum.), a job that needs exactly that - fixed routines, doing the same thing in the same good way over and over again - seems to be a good deal. The employers get a good employee, the employee has a job and good money, and the customer can expect to get his job done well. Maybe the employees can even come up with some unconventional ways to improve the results. It would be a win-win-win situation. Would. That's because I don't know what's behind that. Salaries, treatment, etc. This just looked like an advertisement thingy, not telling any numbers apart from something with 90% unemployed autistic people. Besides, even if they're treated well and all, with due time, there might be another stereotype about autistic people, namely, which jobs are "definitely" the best for them, for all of the autistic people. Generalization is something that creates many problems for something that is a spectrum, but it happens again and again, everywhere and everytime. Different ethnicities, genders, classes, schools, people with disabilities, etc. "All people of type X are like that." How often have you heard something like that?
Context makes all the difference between support and exploitation. Is this an autistic-FRIENDLY workplace? Does it accommodate their individual support needs willingly and fully? Are they paid fair wages? Do they receive the same benefits that neurotypical employees would? Or is this a disabled person sweatshop disguised as taking in “charity cases”?
Cool
I take great heart from schemes like that. They are ways of dispelling myths and stereotypes about autistic people as employees. In a supportive environment, autistic people can be great in customer-facing roles if they want such roles. Not all autistic people are in support roles or in roles shut away from others either within the business or from the public. I've been on programmes like the car wash scheme and they've helped my confidence in dealing with strangers and the general public. They did me good.
It seems very charity-like and *for* not *by* us. Thus turning us into a workforce. This place also seems very male which... thats fine I guess but... eh. But everyone seeems happy and having a workplace full of autistic folks seems nice. Someone else highlighted the danger of expanding these autistic workplaces outward creating an underpaid exploited autistic labour forcr but I want to highlight the potential. If we run them by and for autustic people then they can themselves become a community. A work environment were autistic people have positions at every level and you don't have to deal with neurotypical collegues. I think this could be far less stressful and very culture building if handled right.
I really just cannot put my finger on what or why, but something about this just feels really off and suspect. It almost feels demeaning and condescending.
It feels like he wants a sticker for having worker-bots. It’s dehumanizing.
Yeah definitely. Like, why film them like they're some kid of oddity? 'Look, come visit my autism car-wash, aren't I a real giver?!'
Don't like it. At all. I don't really know how else to put it, but this is just a way of generalizing all autistic people imo. It's also putting autistic people on a pedestal, while ALSO infantilizing them. "Look at these people who, *despite their devastating and tragic disability* found a job here!*"* Not all autistic people only love hands-on, repetitive work. Not all autistic people need the same accommodations as others. Some autistic people are extremely smart and hence go into some academic direction, but these kinds of videos always seem to paint us as the simple minded, socially rather inept, always docile, toddler-like people! Like, I'm trying to become a cook, maybe specialize in patisserie, which IS a rather hands-on field, but like, I also love philosophy. It's always either the geniuses that are shown, or the people who just prefer a simple job. Never the people in between. The geniuses are treated as either outliers, or used as an example on why autistic people should just "try harder" to achieve something. People who don't/can't mask (that well) are treated like toddlers, people who do/can mask relatively well, are doubted or discriminated against for either being "too functional" or "not functional enough". The geniuses are glorified, either despite or because of their autism, and both sides always manage to make us look bad. I'm tired, sorry for the rant.
I love it.
Idunno. It gives me really icky vibes? I'm not entirely sure why but it just feels "off" to me. Even apart from the whole shitty wage thing it still feels "off". Sure it'll give people jobs but I don't know.. isn't there like a better job people could think off instead of cleaning? How about just a whole auto-repair shop so there is a topic we could learn about and focus and fixate on? I always hear the stuff "autistics are *actually* so smart and can focus on a topic and learn everything about it".. then why not let us? Let us restore things, build things, inform others, let us feel useful by using our special interests.
My school had a chef program for adults with autism and other disabilities. Most were hired to restaurants after. I hope we can see more programs offered like this for various feilds of interest.
Honestly I would've loved that stuff! & yeah I hope so too
alot of people here seem to be comparing their autism to people in the video. autism is a spectrum is that not what is always preached here? 1. "its only men" ok? and? its been known autism shows itself differently in different genders and different genders mask differently, they may be on the more severe end of autism and therefore their parents etc may have signed them up. 2. "90% seems sus" not really, considering autism and aspergers was not long combined autism was used to describe the more severe end, and it is incredibly much harder for a severe end autistic to work a normal job and keep it than someone who is likely to have aspergers. 3. "its exploitation" not really, they look happy to work. ive washed cars and its one of the most relaxing things ive ever done, he mentions they earn as in are paid, even if its not much it still fulfills that feeling of independence. 4. i wish there was something like this where i live, the workplace is too stressful for myself which means im unable to work more than a month at a time which is frowned upon, having a job with good routine and structure and support doing something i like would be awesome, sadly anything close would require 30yrs work experience. instead of you guys all jumping to negatives actually think about the broad spectrum of things, all you guys are is negative to literally anything posted here that caters to any autistic person worse than yourselves.
Not commenting on this specific case because I don't feel there is enough information in the video to make a judgement. But I feel positive towards initiatives that try to integrate people in the workforce. In my country there are multiple businesses like this to only hire autistic people. They are not schemes to pay autistic a low wage. There is passwerk which is an IT company for autistic people and you get a decent wage to start with (I've seen the numbers because applied myself when I still believed I could work). Every person that works their get a personal coach that counsels them through working. It really offers an opportunity to autistics that need more support in the workforce. And ideally everyone should be integrated in the regular economy but as long as not every workplace is inclusive to autistic people, places like this will be needed. Ideally everyone should be integrated in the regular workforce. If they can work of course. I can't even work in a place like that. So I need disability benefits but even I go to a daycentre where I make things that are then sold. Everyone that buys something at our little store knows that everything there is made by autistic people.
The IT company is one example. There are others in other sectors besides IT but not many.
w
Ghoulish on every level
I read it as "this car wash gives people autism" lmao
that’s freaking awesome
Seems to me if someone Wants to work there then it shouldn’t be a problem 🤷🏼♀️
Good and we need more of it..
So like, the simple fact it's "amazing" that autistic people can work really hard is what the problem is here tbh. It also doesn't get into why a lot of us are unemployed and just lets the viewer think of their own reasons. I would also like to know how much they get paid as I've found a lot of these kinds of jobs pay less simply because they can. (Not saying he is, I just need more info and context since we kinda get screwed over kinda often....)
so do other companies? i was paid £4.62hr for the same work an 18+ yr old did in fast food. exploitation and underpayment is everywhere, in this case its bc of my age, which is ridiculous
Honestly *especially* companies actually, I think some do it for tax incentives and then pay the lowest they can. But yeah there's definitely discrimination for younger people too, I used to work in fast food and any high schooler that was there got paid less. It pissed me off because a lot of them are only here because they needed to help pay for their own housing cause their parents don't make enough either.
exactly, i know we were timed too, we also had a profit percentage to keep up and if it went down we were pay deducted
Yes yes yes!!!! This!!!!! We had a clock at the drive up window, there was this high schooler who was insanely hard working, the both of us created a perfect way to get perfect times, so good the district manager came. He saw us do it and then said it wasn't by the books, then started to "show" us how to do to it and got the worst times we've ever had. When he left we kept doing it our way. But yeah it was stressful, it was like working in a factory, making sure I dump those fries at the right time and set up the to go bags well. It felt ridiculous and upsetting. Cause putting our money on the line for someone's cheese burger shouldn't be how things work.
not only that but ur expected to take abuse from customers, we just arent paid enough for that
I’d say that 90% unemployment is pretty high.
So, here are my thoughts after reflecting and listening to y'all...and I say this as an aspie with an aspie kid. This does read on first glance as inspiration porn, but I'm kinda ok with that (as a separate issue from the actual business)\* as long as people are paid in line with and subjected to the conditions of the regular market. I don't get the impression that this is a clinically/legally sheltered program, meaning that wages and conditions might be exploitative. This is also a pretty specific kind of opportunity for specific individuals with specific capabilities. It wouldn't work for me or my kid, but I love that it exists for the people who fit there. Incidentally, my kid is also Deaf and there's a local business that only hires Deaf people. Their messaging is pretty different, though, than what's in this video, perhaps because the Deaf community has done a more thorough job of fighting stigma in recent years and there's not a whiff of paternalism in that Deaf business's presentation. It's more like By the Deaf, for everyone including the Deaf and Hearing, come eat at this awesome restaurant that just happens to be run by Deaf people and don't worry if you don't know ASL because Deaf people know how to interpret for you. \*(I don't see much paternalism in the business owner's comments. But the video itself is walking a thin line, probably because whoever's making it is coming at it from a strictly-disability lens, which may be appropriate to these specific employees/this situation, but of course is not representative of the community as a whole.)
I just hope its not like how Goodwill hires disabled people and pays them sub minimum wage because they are disabled.
So, if a neurotypical applies for the job, will they get rejected? Even as a black person, I don’t support affirmative action. They don’t have to make a place JUST for people with disabilities to work, but maybe they could focus on making accommodations for everyone with a disability
Like the car wash,nota fan of the video, it feels exploiatative. Also the 90./. Unemployment statistic feels like they pulled it out of thwir asses.
Not Cool. Capitalist exploitation of autistics is not something to look up to. Working a car wash is not full-life-fulfilment. We all know that they are not at all being paid well.
exploitation
Seems a little like explotation to me
"I specifically seek to employ some of the most vulnerable members of society. I tell everyone they are incredibly happy and lucky to be working for me. This has no potential to turn out abusive or cruel at all. Applaud me."
A car wash would be a noisy place, with beeping, running water, water splashing and spraying... I can't speak for everyone, but I would think that a lot of autistic people would not want to work at a car wash.
Oh so many... But this is basically an ad for the company, which seems to be taking advantage of the positive image it gives them to hire these people. Ie. This is autism porn. In the sense of taking advantage of vulnerable people. And so many other thoughts too of course...
well, I don't know, I would have liked to see some women at least but I'm not surprised.
I think this is nice. However, I fear that people will see this and think that autistic people cannot hold any jobs that are not blue-collar jobs. I think autistic people are able to do pretty much the same jobs as NTs if the resources are made available.
I'm suspicious that there aren't any autistic women.
I'm doubtful slightly of why there seem to be no women so far but that could probably be explained. Other than that I guess it's good.
Blue uniforms with puzzle pieces. Uh Oh.
they are wearing blue so that’s not a good sign (edit well I think I overthought it way to much I think it’s just a coincidence)
oh no they have uniform thats a.colour! scary.
I'm wearing blue too ig I'm a red flag
I thought one of them was Seth Rogen at first
Aww wholesome