Meet Steve, an autistic boy who has leveraged his strengths and abilities to build a successful career in the IT industry. When Steve was a child, his family members noticed that he was different from other children, but since it was back in the 80s, they could not tell whether Steve had autism.

Growing up, Steve faced many challenges in school, as he struggled with social interaction and occasionally got bullied by peers. Despite these difficulties, Steve could complete primary school with good grades, and his teachers even commented on his strong work ethic.

In high school, Steve discovered something he was passionate about, computers. But he dropped out of college at 16 because it was too overwhelming for him, even though his grades were still good. However, Steve was able to find a job in the IT industry thanks to his autism strengths and abilities in coding skills. Today, Steve is the CEO of platinum technology, a successful IT company. His autism diagnosis would eventually come when he was 34, but this did not stop him from achieving success.

Steve believes his autism has dramatically benefited his career and helped him remain focused and detail-oriented. He has leveraged his autism strengths and abilities to make the most out of them. Steve’s company, platinum bay, helps Autistic children to gain skills and find jobs. He believes everyone should be allowed to pursue their passions, regardless of any special needs or disability.

How to Build a Career with Autism

Identify Your Strengths

The first step to building a successful career with autism is to identify your autism strengths and abilities. Most people with autism have unique skills, from their unique way of thinking to their strong work ethic. If you’re passionate about something, use that as a starting point and do some research to find out more about what you need to pursue it. For example, your strengths could be painting (Lots of autistic painters have won awards), programming, writing fiction stories, etc.

Develop those skills

Once you have identified your strengths, developing those skills is next. This could mean taking classes, attending workshops, reading books specific to your interests or even asking for mentors. Never underestimate the power of hard work and dedication. It might take longer for some with autism to learn new skills than others, but it’s essential to stick with your goals and never give up.

Create Opportunities

Once you have identified your autism strengths and developed the necessary skills, it’s time to create opportunities for yourself. Networking is critical in any industry, and having an autism diagnosis might be a strength rather than a disadvantage. You must find ways to stand out, such as marketing yourself on social media, attending conferences in your field or even reaching out to potential employers.

Obtaining Supports

The last step to building a career with autism is to obtain support. Many government-funded programs can help autistic individuals pursue their dreams. Depending on your needs, you can obtain assistance with job training, transportation, and other support.

Building a successful career with autism is possible, and there are many inspiring stories of autistic individuals who have leveraged their autism strengths and abilities to create tremendous opportunities for themselves. It is important to remember that everyone’s journey is different, and finding the right support for you is essential.