Aspergers Disorder Information

Question: If you get fired from a job due to the conditions that aspergers disorder causes, are you considered disabled?

(Posted by: Casey on 2009-08-04 08:32:41)

. . . For example, if you're working in a grocery store doing a job that requires as little social interaction as possible such as stocking shelves, etc., and the inherent, easily observed, non- verbal external traits of Aspergers disorder result in customer complaint(s) (i.e., that you were rude, or "stuck up " to customer(s) who asked you questions, such as where things are located in the store), which in turn results in your termination of employment, since the employer was providing reasonable accommodations for you by giving you a job with the least amount of social interaction as any in the store, and if you also have comorbid social anxiety disorder and clinical depression.

Posted by: samantha d on 2009-08-04, 12:12:43

Termination does not mean that a disability is to blame. Also, disability status is not decided by the fact that an employer fired you. Regardless of how many illnesses you are diagnosed with the fact is that you are happily able to function. Instead the state may be able to help you get training, education or other skills for jobs that are more suited to you and are not customer service based. The standards for disability status have gone up and a lot of times it is harder to try to claim a check than to visit a State One Stop Center and ask for job training. They can also provide referrals there to understanding employers or often find a way to help you enroll in school/ college. You mentioned reasonable accommodations suggesting that you have been diagnosed and shared this information with your employer who then made adjustments. What about positions that are overnight or solely based on inventory overnight, after closing hours or in off peak hours? Was the complaint founded- was the person deliberately rude? Or did they just come across that way due to facial expression or lack thereof? It sounds like skill training may be a good investment for that employee, in some cases it is possible to have a state/ agency worker come in and help address these areas that are problematic as a sort of on the job training.

Posted by: F on 2009-08-04, 08:44:35

Y:ou really need an expert in this area to advise you... so start looking up attorneys who deal with this specifically.. like mental health attorneys, employment and consumer rights attorneys... It sounds like , you are right, your employer will say they 'reasonably' accomidated you.. on the one hand, but on the other, it may be you have a case, idk... There are support groups for aspergers at the site below, run by doctors and i have heard there is one somewhere on the net with 26000 members, worth finding.... you can ask more people there with more knowledge that i.... As far a being disabled, you could probably make a case for that as your experiences with working,etc... again you need a disability attorney, or just ask at the disability resource areas you have near you, or the social security agencies, which have strict guidelines on defining disability... attorneys who deal with this would know, also...

Posted by: noname on 2009-08-04, 11:11:56

Have you tried applying for Social Security. If you qualify, you can get a disability check each month. call them 1 800 772 1213. Good Luck.

Posted by: mrniceguy1456 on 2009-08-04, 20:45:41

If you have Aspergers you are disabled.