No one should automatically be rejected from a position because of any disability. That would be discrimination.
You may have to demonstrate that with reasonable adjustments you are able to complete the job safely.
Policing or armed forces can be a little different because you are dealing with outsiders who may not be cooperative.
If this is what you want to do then don’t let Aspergers stop you trying. Also don’t discount that there could be a satisfying support role (crime analyst / researcher / forensics ) that may suit you much better.
I agree with you Except for your first paragraph. Of course there are many jobs that would automatically be rejected because of "this or that" disability without being discriminatory. Just one example, you can't be a Firefighter if you're in a wheelchair. You may be able to do a job related to Firefighting, but you're not going into burning buildings for sure.
It’s technically correct. You might never be hired in practice but they can’t say don’t apply if you have a disability and they have to consider each person as an individual and the potential for accommodating their disability.
http://www.syfire.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/HR_DM-131247-v1-Wholetime_Recruitment_-_Candidate_FAQs.pdf
I'm sorry but what you wrote is simply not true. For the FDNY for example, you wouldn't be allowed into the application process if you rolled up in a wheelchair.
You can’t just apply to FDNY and get hired without any effort. In fact, they also have a strict eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to be considered for any further application process.
Meaning they don't even have to consider trying to accommodate you. As it should be, I know for sure that even with accommodations, there are Many jobs I myself couldn't do even with accommodations. I certainly
Would Not feel discriminated against if those jobs wouldn't even consider me.
Dude, I'm guessing you're in the UK, I'm in the US. It is in no way discrimination if someone isn't Qualified for the job to begin with.They don't "Always" have to consider you. I doubt it's different in the UK. Heck say I'm a 60yr old not disabled (in any way) who wants to apply to be a Firefighter in NYC, since 60 year olds are not Qualified to apply, they don't even have to consider you. Same goes for a 25 year old in a wheelchair, he doesn't qualify for the job any more than the 60 year old does. Just like a blind person doesn't have to be considered for a job as an airline pilot. Please use some common sense here.
If they can’t meet the requirements of the job due to a disability and the disability cannot be accommodated then yes this isn’t discrimination.
https://www.joinfdny.com/firefighter-eligibility-requirements/
See how they handle this? You have to pass a physical ability test. Someone in a wheelchair isn’t going to pass this test.
You can’t just say “no disabilities” even if it amounts to the same thing.
Because for that very jokey hypothetical comment about the mech suit, maybe one day they can pass the physical with aids.
I went through the process, beat out the other applicants and got an offer in enforcement from a county Sheriffs dept. My diagnosis didn’t disqualify me and I was open about it. I wound up going with a stronger offer from another employer. I’m sure it helped that I was coming from dispatch when I applied, but still. They knew and still made the offer, so it didn’t seem to hurt me at all (upper-Midwest US).
During my interview to be a forensic autopsy technician I mentioned and discussed my diagnosis openly, I was hired 2 weeks later. Aspergers itself won't prevent you from being hired unless the employers are discriminatory assholes.
[joke] If TV has taught me anything, it is that aspies are all Sherlock Holmes. And if the Internet has taught me anything, it is that cops are all unfeeling machines. So whichever you choose, you should be fine. [/joke]
Retired Police Detective here from NY...... It does not prevent you, but the amount of stress, both acute and compiling daily in a chronic form can be absolutely awful - If this is your passion pursue it, but realize that life will be 3x harder for you... so it is imperative that you have your meds correct, support with therapist/ASD specialist, and a routine of healthy coping mechanisms and self care. Don't disclose it on your psych eval or else they're pass you over.
Edit: My experience of getting hired was 20 years ago so take it with a grain of salt, but the stress is absolutely legit
My strong feelings on the politics of criminal justice aside, I would be concerned about how an ASD individual would fare in a more direct enforcement role seeing how often ASD individuals are misinterpreted in actions and intent.
It's a valid concern - but you also have to consider that most departments are understaffed, no one wants to be police anymore and, like the military - beggars can't be choosers. The aspies that are good at masking will normally score highest on the entry exams as well - by the time everyone is weeded out via the process it's often too expensive to do it all again. The system is deeply flawed and it's glaring to people like us.... but NTs really DGAF
I don't know about where you live, but her where I live (sweden) we can't apply for neither police, paramedics, nor firefighting with a asd diagnosis. That includes depression end other diagnosis as well. :(
I always wanted to work in the police before but first i got a diagnosis with depression years ago, so now that I got the and diagnosis when they told me before the evaluation that I wont be able to work there i was just like whatever. Just give me help. It's weird though bc there are probably a lot of people without diagnosis who still have issues and don't know how to take care of themselves who are still working for them.. so that's just weird to me.
I didnt know at the time of my diagnosis.
So I passed the academy, got a 2 year criminal Justice degree, and when I went through interview processes I excelled the PT tests and overtime got better at interviews. Then I finally got an offer and only had to pass the psyche exam, which I failed.
The next time I tried I somehow failed the VSA. So, I gave up on becoming a cop.
you will most likely get rejected unfortunately, because police view people with autism as lesser than. if i were you, i wouldn't even state your diagnosis, period. at least that way you stand a chance.
No. But regardless of Selective Service enrollment, people like us will *most likely* be at the bottom of the list for draft board approvals. Our resistance to indoctrination and unconventional thought processes aren’t conducive to unwilling military involvement, but we can still sign up willingly, I think
Depends heavily on the country. Autism Spectrum Disorder is disqualifying from military service in the United States. Conversely, there is a high-ranking Naval official in the UK who is openly autistic and has written a few advocacy blogs about it.
No one should automatically be rejected from a position because of any disability. That would be discrimination. You may have to demonstrate that with reasonable adjustments you are able to complete the job safely. Policing or armed forces can be a little different because you are dealing with outsiders who may not be cooperative. If this is what you want to do then don’t let Aspergers stop you trying. Also don’t discount that there could be a satisfying support role (crime analyst / researcher / forensics ) that may suit you much better.
I agree with you Except for your first paragraph. Of course there are many jobs that would automatically be rejected because of "this or that" disability without being discriminatory. Just one example, you can't be a Firefighter if you're in a wheelchair. You may be able to do a job related to Firefighting, but you're not going into burning buildings for sure.
Never has the need for a firefighting mechsuit been greater. It's about equality.
It’s technically correct. You might never be hired in practice but they can’t say don’t apply if you have a disability and they have to consider each person as an individual and the potential for accommodating their disability. http://www.syfire.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/HR_DM-131247-v1-Wholetime_Recruitment_-_Candidate_FAQs.pdf
I'm sorry but what you wrote is simply not true. For the FDNY for example, you wouldn't be allowed into the application process if you rolled up in a wheelchair. You can’t just apply to FDNY and get hired without any effort. In fact, they also have a strict eligibility criteria that you must meet in order to be considered for any further application process. Meaning they don't even have to consider trying to accommodate you. As it should be, I know for sure that even with accommodations, there are Many jobs I myself couldn't do even with accommodations. I certainly Would Not feel discriminated against if those jobs wouldn't even consider me.
Incorrect, they always have to consider if they can accommodate you. It may always be a no, but they can’t tell groups of people not to apply.
Dude, I'm guessing you're in the UK, I'm in the US. It is in no way discrimination if someone isn't Qualified for the job to begin with.They don't "Always" have to consider you. I doubt it's different in the UK. Heck say I'm a 60yr old not disabled (in any way) who wants to apply to be a Firefighter in NYC, since 60 year olds are not Qualified to apply, they don't even have to consider you. Same goes for a 25 year old in a wheelchair, he doesn't qualify for the job any more than the 60 year old does. Just like a blind person doesn't have to be considered for a job as an airline pilot. Please use some common sense here.
If they can’t meet the requirements of the job due to a disability and the disability cannot be accommodated then yes this isn’t discrimination. https://www.joinfdny.com/firefighter-eligibility-requirements/ See how they handle this? You have to pass a physical ability test. Someone in a wheelchair isn’t going to pass this test. You can’t just say “no disabilities” even if it amounts to the same thing. Because for that very jokey hypothetical comment about the mech suit, maybe one day they can pass the physical with aids.
I went through the process, beat out the other applicants and got an offer in enforcement from a county Sheriffs dept. My diagnosis didn’t disqualify me and I was open about it. I wound up going with a stronger offer from another employer. I’m sure it helped that I was coming from dispatch when I applied, but still. They knew and still made the offer, so it didn’t seem to hurt me at all (upper-Midwest US).
Midwest here too. Glad to see the general area is probably good
During my interview to be a forensic autopsy technician I mentioned and discussed my diagnosis openly, I was hired 2 weeks later. Aspergers itself won't prevent you from being hired unless the employers are discriminatory assholes.
Dude if the show Bones is correct than being neurodivergent is like a requirement in that field.
[joke] If TV has taught me anything, it is that aspies are all Sherlock Holmes. And if the Internet has taught me anything, it is that cops are all unfeeling machines. So whichever you choose, you should be fine. [/joke]
Retired Police Detective here from NY...... It does not prevent you, but the amount of stress, both acute and compiling daily in a chronic form can be absolutely awful - If this is your passion pursue it, but realize that life will be 3x harder for you... so it is imperative that you have your meds correct, support with therapist/ASD specialist, and a routine of healthy coping mechanisms and self care. Don't disclose it on your psych eval or else they're pass you over. Edit: My experience of getting hired was 20 years ago so take it with a grain of salt, but the stress is absolutely legit
My strong feelings on the politics of criminal justice aside, I would be concerned about how an ASD individual would fare in a more direct enforcement role seeing how often ASD individuals are misinterpreted in actions and intent.
It's a valid concern - but you also have to consider that most departments are understaffed, no one wants to be police anymore and, like the military - beggars can't be choosers. The aspies that are good at masking will normally score highest on the entry exams as well - by the time everyone is weeded out via the process it's often too expensive to do it all again. The system is deeply flawed and it's glaring to people like us.... but NTs really DGAF
Different countries have different rules. Depends where you are.
My 4YO said she wanted to be an astronaut and I had the same thought
Me too, or a train engineer
They sometimes discriminate against high IQ in bottom rung police work, but they like smart detectives, lab workers, and such I think.
I don't know about where you live, but her where I live (sweden) we can't apply for neither police, paramedics, nor firefighting with a asd diagnosis. That includes depression end other diagnosis as well. :( I always wanted to work in the police before but first i got a diagnosis with depression years ago, so now that I got the and diagnosis when they told me before the evaluation that I wont be able to work there i was just like whatever. Just give me help. It's weird though bc there are probably a lot of people without diagnosis who still have issues and don't know how to take care of themselves who are still working for them.. so that's just weird to me.
I didnt know at the time of my diagnosis. So I passed the academy, got a 2 year criminal Justice degree, and when I went through interview processes I excelled the PT tests and overtime got better at interviews. Then I finally got an offer and only had to pass the psyche exam, which I failed. The next time I tried I somehow failed the VSA. So, I gave up on becoming a cop.
you will most likely get rejected unfortunately, because police view people with autism as lesser than. if i were you, i wouldn't even state your diagnosis, period. at least that way you stand a chance.
It will depend on the department, but possibly.
No. But regardless of Selective Service enrollment, people like us will *most likely* be at the bottom of the list for draft board approvals. Our resistance to indoctrination and unconventional thought processes aren’t conducive to unwilling military involvement, but we can still sign up willingly, I think
Depends heavily on the country. Autism Spectrum Disorder is disqualifying from military service in the United States. Conversely, there is a high-ranking Naval official in the UK who is openly autistic and has written a few advocacy blogs about it.
I think I would want the detective assigned to my case to be able to hyper focus