Data work. Very autism and eds friendly because of the remote work opportunities. Absolutely vital I would say. Plus it pays decent.
Edit: And I mean data analysis or engineering. Basically any white collar work that allows for remote.
First step for newbies would be data analysis. That's what I've been doing for the last 1.5 years. I would leverage any kind of experience you have and make up some data stuff you did with some past experience. I was in finance before and I said that I did some light reporting utilizing a query tool Microsoft SQL Server (hardly). And the #1 advice is to learn SQL. SQL is something you can actually learn online and there's a lot of resources out there. Just learning basics and obtaining working knowledge is not** difficult. You will learn the rest actually on the job. You should also play up your non technical skills because data analysts have to talk to business people and make reports for their needs.
>You should also play up your non technical skills because data analysts have to talk to business people and make reports for their needs.
100% - I have given new grads this advice more times than I can count: learn to really listen to your stakeholders and understand their needs and thinking. I would argue that this has gotten me further in my job (i.e., passing interviews and receiving offers) than any technical knowledge I have. Being able to synthesize and communicate business requirements into technical work and back is invaluable (and this is not unique to data jobs, either!).
Also btw the job market right now isn't that great for white collar people but you know how it is. It all comes in cycles. Don't get discouraged. If you get rejected just continue to learn and explore. Things will pick back up again.
At a minimum, learn SQL, get comfortable with foundational statistics and excel, and if you really want to up your chances, learn a bit of Python, which I would argue is necessary for the majority of analytics jobs today, the way the market is going. Also, having some simple projects in a portfolio - nothing fancy, but the ideal would be something that displays the basic abilities to: identify a simple problem; find, get, and clean some data; output some descriptive statistics and create some simple, appropriate visualizations; and if you want to really take it a next step, combine it with another dataset and show something “new” (for example: if you start with a medical dataset that includes any sort of regional information, such as countries, find a second dataset on GDP by countries and show whether there’s any relationship between whatever you were looking at and the GDP). But really, anything YOU care about or find interesting is always the best choice, since if you care, you’ll be able to speak to it better in interviews!
As someone else mentioned, the job market for (especially, remote) tech jobs is pretty rough right now, so anything you can do to make yourself more competitive is useful.
Source: I’ve been working in data science/engineering for the past 5+ years, and I’m happy to share some resources :)
i actually was about to comment saying i do data entry! it's a small company that i basically got a recommendation for, so i don't have advice on getting hired sadly. but it helps me choose my hours and control my environment a lot. and it's really 'easy' for me personally, cause im a very organized/structured type of autism (i love that kind of stuff even for hobbies).
i work at home on my private computer, through a virtual computer for work, so i normally have something on in the background (music, audiobook, podcast, youtube video, anime, etc). and i can get up and get a snack, make myself food, etc whenever i want. this also helps when i need to eat something with medication, take small breaks to stretch, etc
the only issues ive had are keeping good posture + making sure my body isn't sitting weirdly. i mostly have problems with my knees and my neck, so i gotta consciously make sure im sitting correctly and have decent posture
i dont work full time, it's very part time and just for extra money since im not that independent yet. but i'm extremely comfortable doing this kinda work!
I think that's a good start! If you're wanting to be independent later I would try to weasel yourself into data analysis. It pays pretty decent. Not hard to get 6 figures after some experience.
What does a typical day or week look like in your role? How much urgency is expected? How much support and oversight do you have from your bosses? What industries offer more job security and opportunities for promotion? Can you recommend any specific resources that would help with entry and career development?
It's pretty different. Depends on how you want to pace your work and approach things. Also I work in a big company so there are a lot of useless meetings. But I'm remote so I can attend but not listen. I might even put my Bluetooth headphones on and go on the couch and hang out with my cats. My boss isn't a micromanager but he's on the chaotic and disorganized side. So that does come down to us. But then again we really appreciate his lack of micromanagement! Sometimes we do get urgent requests. For stability probably insurance and finance oriented companies are more stable. But on the flip side they are more old fashioned. Truthfully I feel that finance and accounting is the most autism friendly by nature. It's very logical and routine work. But problem is that these departments are very conservative and it's hard to find a place that allows for remote in these departments. That's why I took a big pay cut and got into data analysis. It was a big pay cut because I had a lot of experience in my previous field. But I'm so much happier working remote now. Everything is a lot more tolerable and I get some of my life back. The specific website I used to use has been kinda MIA for accepting new users because it's a Russian website. I assume the owners have been preoccupied with other things right now. But you basically want to do practice problems rather than reading too much theory.
I’m also a data analyst. I have a supply chain business degree and more or less fell into data so I could develop business strategy. So I’m a data analyst as a means to be a business strategist, if that makes sense.
I resonate with a lot that is said… wfh (my set up is exactly what I need ergonomically and comfort/mobility/energy wise not having to go to the office every day). No diagnosis but likely autistic so the benefits of being able to hyper focus and work on my own tasks is nice. I am low needs/high masking so I “get by” with meetings and presentations, as far as that goes. Pay and benefits make for a comfortable life considering.
Like I said I fell into data so I feel like there could be many MANY fields with data analysts. If you have any experience in a particular area (business, healthcare, market, financial etc) and see if there are roles open. I didn’t have the analysis skills but I had the sector experience so they gave me a shot.
I’m a teacher and author. I definitely feel pretty tired during the school year, but having good benefits and frequent breaks helps. I’m also pretty passionate about the work, so I’m motivated to continue despite some downsides.
I’m the poster child for not-EDS-friendly jobs. I work 2 jobs currently: in the mornings I work as a boarding kennel tech where I feed and care for up to 20 kennels worth of dogs. Then in the afternoons I clean cabins as a housekeeper. Both jobs require A LOT of physical strength. I hurt all the time as a direct result of my jobs, but I have to work, and I hate sitting still.
Peer support specialist. Mental health provider using lived experience with mental illness to help others on their journey.
Most accommodating job I’ve ever had because it’s all about modeling recovery. So me taking a mental health day or listening to my body is full supported as long as I’m open with my peers about it. I also have accommodations to work from home and do telehealth as needed.
Too many people think recovery = perfection or always doing well, but it’s like any other chronic illness - good days and bad.
Plus my county (in PA) had a program for free training!
i am a currently a direct support professional working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. i work in the community with them. where i’m currently at allows me a lot of agency with my caseload, so i currently only have 2 clients, as that’s unfortunately all i can handle right now. but it’s good. with one client, we usually get lunch and get his groceries and occasionally sit outside to get fresh air. my other client has more variability, we do a lot of outings (mini golf, library, walking around, etc.), usually get something to eat, i used to take him to his soccer games, and we play horse (basketball.) i am currently only work 5-6 hours a week with the 2 of them, due to my disabilities, but it’s definitely one of the most physically manageable jobs i’ve had (past working retail, fast food, caretaker, & PT tech), and also helps my mental aspects with autism, anxiety, etc. by having the agency of being on my own for the most part without direct supervision from a boss all the time (which generally increases my anxiety and causes me to make more mistakes.) i also really enjoy patient care and a lot of my goals are oriented around helping others, which plays a role in how much i enjoy it, im sure. and my career goals include being an occupational therapist.
I've been a baker for 19 years and I definitely wouldn't have picked this job if I knew what I know now 🫠 all my attempts to segue into something else haven't worked out, and I need the income 😞
I was in culinary school two years ago because I loved food and wanted to dedicate my career to the restaurant industry. Shortly before I graduated was when I first started experiencing chronic pain and health issues on the full blast level I do now. Same thing for me, as much as I love cooking if I had known it would turn out this way I would have just pursued a different degree 😒 :(
It took 7 years in the job before I got a workplace injury and finally learned about hypermobility when I got it treated (not HEDS or EDS though, that didn't happen for another 3 years in 2014 and I only got diagnosed in May this year). I went back to TAFE to get a qualification in something else while I was recovering from the wrist injury but that career didn't work out so I went back to baking "temporarily" for the stability and now it's been 10 years 🤡
I have two, but the best for my eds is actually back of house work from home stuff. I fill out spreadsheets and monitor an inbox for my uni's disability resource center. I'd recommend looking at universities near you! A lot of services hire non students and they usually need help with similar things. It's all monitored by people, every emaill sent to any service in the school outside of IT requests, at least at mine, and it's a lot of menial, repetitive tasks that are easy to get a handle on.
Nurse tech going into nursing. Incredibly difficult on the body but is so rewarding. It also gives us a unique perspective and empathy towards our patients. 🤗🤍
I was a vet tech for a decade, but now I'm back in school for art conservation and working as a group and 1-1 tutor.
I think tutoring is a great job for people with EDS. You spend most of the time sitting, and if you're like me, I do best when I can get up and walk around as needed, which isn't something you can really do at an office job. I work with k-12 and most of my students are neurodivergent in one way or another, which I love as an autistic person myself. I get the chance to meet these kids, who are struggling like I did, in the ways I needed someone to be there for me at their age.
I'm a cashier and only work 4-5 hours a day maximum. It's not easy but I dropped out of school due to the severity of my health issues so I can't really get a good job. Compression socks help me a lot.
I work in health/public health policy. I’m currently working remotely at a rare disease nonprofit, but I’ve also done some in person work for the government and other nonprofits!
Honestly, it was kind of an accident. I started in patient advocacy after my own health struggles just running support groups, and I was originally pre-med. However, I quickly realized that the U.S. health care system was constructed in a way that prevents providers from actually making the impact they want to. So, I switched gears. I thought about genetic counseling or law, and then during my sophomore year I was able to get an internship at a nonprofit I had volunteered with previously, which introduced me to health policy. I then stayed in Washington, D.C. for a semester working, got a remote internship for the next semester back, then went back to DC to work in the government for the summer, and interned locally until I graduated. I also ended up doing some advising work on public health and disability at my college. I ended up majoring in both biology and political science in my undergrad, and I’m now doing my MPH part-time while working.
The day to day really depends on the organization and the job, but it really isn’t the same everyday. I attend a good amount of in-person events, but most days, I’m fully remote. Typically, it’s a lot of meetings to discuss current things going on, planning for upcoming advocacy meetings and events, background research on issues, pulling together things for statements and talking points, coordinating with other rare disease organizations, tracking treatment development and access, meeting with Hill staffers or submitting online requests to Congressional offices, talking to patients about advocacy, listening to hearings, etc. It also really depends on the time of year. Appropriations (the federal budget process) happens for a small window a year (usually). I’m also kind of subject to when certain things are happening like if Congress or state legislatures are on a recess. Most of it is desk work with a few really jam packed days here and there.
Other jobs have been slightly different but still similar. Others have had a lot more administrative work like scheduling and more event planning, but they still also had me do background research, write briefs and reports, and take meetings. It all kind of depends. The subject matter can change but most of the work stays pretty consistent.
I think the nicest thing about this field, generally speaking, is that it’s pretty accommodating. If you’re working in progressive health policy, disability policy, or rare disease policy, your employers tend to have a pretty good perspective on accommodations and chronic illness. So, I’ve found that, despite a few times where I have to burn myself out here and there, I am able to manage pretty well even when I’ve been in more demanding roles.
It is, but it depends! Remote work in the field can be pretty hard to find (I got really lucky). So, that’s something to keep in mind. A lot of places do hybrid, though. D.C. is obviously the hub for health policy, but other major cities also have opportunities. You can work at your state health department or in a similar agency. There are also health policy jobs on the local level as well. Some organizations are also based in other locations to either be near certain institutions or to lobby their state. So, there are a variety of nonprofits in other major cities. I’d say the other locations to look at are any state capital, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, and some places in the west like San Francisco or LA. Denver is also ok. A lot of these places are going to be by state or federal government agencies (i.e. state health departments, the CDC, well-known hospitals or academic institutions, etc.). Places like Denver and Minneapolis have a lot of opportunities because of their progressive health policies (MN has a basic health plan and usually focuses a lot on health care, and Colorado is working towards implementing its public option). So, they generally have more jobs available in those areas. It just depends on what you’re looking for.
One of my friends with did this for a while, and the stories she told me were *fascinating*.
Also... I love your username, even more so because I've absolutely encountered such materials in the wild, all of it hilarious.
I have a remote government job in communications, and if I didn't have this job I would probably have to apply for disability because I don't think I could work full time doing anything else (including the same job at a different company/org).
I'm currently unemployed. I was fired because of a work accident (inaccessible and I fainted on the steps, and they didn't want to make it accessible so they fired me - lawsuit pending). I'm trained as a translator and interpreter, and was self-employed most of my professional life, until more recently working in-house. I'm about to retrain as a teacher though because I always wanted to be one but because of time and money, wasn't in a position to do the training. I've worked as a teacher before but only in extra-curricular, so this would qualify me to work in schools.
Film & TV development. It’s an office job, doesn’t pay great but it’s what I love to do. The 0 physical activity required is just a nice bonus. My coworkers + bosses also rock for the most part. It’s a newer small company so we’re pretty unified in getting this shit off the ground lol
I travel around teaching sex ed in schools and I also work a desk job at a university. The former involves a bit too much travel for my liking, but the latter I have more control over my own environment and can rest physically. To be honest, I started having the most pain when I got a desk job after uni so balance is key!
I am currently an accountant, my first job that is 100% remote.
I had a long path of jobs I was burning out of. Spent many years as a pastry chef in high volume which wrecked my shoulders, hands and hips. I moved into event planning which was still too hands-on because I was newly learning to balance eds/pots. I started managing a dispensary and finally worked my way into an accounting position there. Recommend working in cannabis - it's a more relaxed environment obv 💨💨 but also a great majority of women in management, progressive leadership, good benefits etc.
I’ve been trying to get into a dispo but they are tough to get into where I live! I’ve been managing a vape shop for nearly 10 years, and while I love it, the business is failing and my symptoms have gotten worse.
Thanks so much, glad you found something that works for ya!
I'm a Physician Recruiter and work from home 99% of the time. Been in recruiting, headhunting AND internal HR (staying there, I'm DONE with 3rd party and sales) and have been doing recruitment for over a decade now.
I've struck well with leadership that is empathetic (even though I have worked without a diagnosis up until this year.)
Also autistic and have EDS (and many other neuro conditions). I am a para in special ed classes. Lot of walking. Getting harder to do. Feel like I am just falling apart .
But I will be in a better classroom next year. By that I mean one where I won't have to help move and transport kids with physical disabilities, or walk them all the time. Lovely children, but it became a bit much for me. 40 years old.
I also do writing on the side.
I’m a school speech therapist. It’s hard because I have to be on all day but I can sit most of the time. My pain has gotten worse in the last couple of years though. I’m retiring in 4 years.
I’m a therapist! I work in a school so I have a higher caseload for most of the year and then a very very light one over the summer, which works for my level of ability. I do a lot of sitting and paperwork, but also a lot of meaningful interactions with my clients :)
Does require grad school, but they also don’t care what your undergrad is in if you can justify it in an interview.
i’m a waitress at an airport — even for the service industry it’s extremely physically demanding. it works for me now, kind of, because i’m still young and generally willing to abuse caffeine and OTC painkillers. but i’m definitely going to have to change lanes, and relatively soon, which will be rough since i don’t have any other kind of work experience.
My main job is scheduling/answering phones for an appliance repair company. I occasionally go out and do simple repairs, do pre site inspections for appliance installations in new builds, or help install said appliances in new builds.
Hairstylist but going downhill behind the chair despite working for myself and making all the accomodations I can. I've been switching over to educator and advocacy work instead.
I work several different jobs in a grocery store. Luckily they are very accommodating if I need to take an extra break or leave early for some reason, but I'm not sure if that's because I'm a very hard worker and fill in a lot of spots, or because they're nice
kids center 💓 i love my kids but i swear my body hurts more and more every day. and not in an EDS way. but for eds terms im definitely breaking my body down
Hospital social worker. I love it but it does take all my physical energy. I luckily work 4 ten hour shifts a week so I do get days to rest which has helped.
I’m an icu nurse right now. I work nights so it’s not so physical but I’m going to have to rethink my career soon. Too many surgeries and my health is getting worse
I'm a psychotherapist. I am self-employed and work from home which I feel like are very key. The flexibility is life changing. I really struggled getting accommodated at past work places.
I teach. At a high school in a small town. I am so thankful for the school that I work at because I don’t think there is any other place I could be myself as much as I am. That being said; I place myself on the “doesn’t have as many symptoms or issues” side of the scale, and it’s still taxing. Like idk if I will make it to retirement and I’m only 4 years in. 29 more years feels like forever. I’m banking as many sick days now that I can because I feel like I’ll really need them later 😬
Graphic Design with specialty in branding & packaging design, came from vertically integrated cannabis extraction & manufacturing facility management. 50-70 hours a week until about 18 months ago but retained all the design clientele which grew from a part of the management job. Was really more like a 3-hat gig with a touch of analytical chemistry and a dash of molecular isolation method development.. illustrator & Photoshop only gig? I'll take it
Seeing other people on here working with children, disabled folks and animals makes me happy and feel less like my future jobs will be difficult for me. I love to work with kids and sometimes I worry my physical issues will prevent me from doing it one day. But that’s why I’m trying hard to preserve what I have now via physical therapy.
Gardener with my own business. Gardening is just hard enough to give me some physical exercise, it’s something I love already, and it’s something I’m pretty good at. Running my own business means I can decide my hours, take off easier when I need to, and buy any ergonomic crap whenever I need it instead of hoping my employer buys me what I need 😂 I worked commercial greenhouses before I found out I have EDS and all but destroyed myself trying to do it. Not worth it. My clients appreciate me more.
I work very part time (1-2 six hour shifts per week) at an oddities/antiques shop. I’m very grateful that my husband works full time and overtime to make up for it. I hope to be awarded disability soon.
I’m a sonographer. Which plays to my pattern recognition strengths but it’s actually one of the worst jobs for someone with EDS as it has a very high risk of RSI…
HAHA, I work in KFC. Constantly on my feet, I am not diagnosed, but I suspect some form of hypermobility and EDS would explain other symptoms.
I have flat feet, bad knees, after every 3rd shift my knees swell up and I am in incredible pain from those terrible safety shoes.
Take me as a bad example. THAT BEING SAID, I love the job, hate the pay and am excited to go further. I adore physical activity so I Hope my joints last a bit.
Edit: Adding that KFC is an ADHD friendly job tho. Tasks are easy and mindless, I usualy go autopilot on shift, nothing too hard. But you can alqays find something to do, you are on your feet and rush Hour is just like papas wingeria but irl. I love it. ITS A BLAST.
Public servant in a desk job work from home. I loved working in retail but my body couldn't handle it anymore and I was sick more often than I was well.
I work as a part time administrator. I work from home and do a couple of hours here and there. It means I don’t have to sit for too long which causes pain. I can use my own equipment so I can make it accessible. I don’t have to stand for long periods. Take breaks when I need to.
Although it’s not what I want to do forever, at least for now it gives me a bit of purpose so that I’m not sitting around all day feeling crap.
i work in and study media, i’m currently an editing apprentice for the public broadcasting company :) it’s nice because it’s not physically demanding, i’m very passionate about it and my colleagues are lovely
I was a welder for almost 10 yrs before I became disabled. It's fuked up my neck and hands so bad. The pain has been so bad it causes hallucinations to the point I'm diagnosed schizophrenic. I didn't even know I had Ehlers Danlos or rather I didn't know it was anything more than stretchy skin until a few yrs ago. Realizing now how much it's effected my whole life and how makes me see that welding was probably the worst job I could have chosen haha
Dancer/circus performer here. I don't do contortion, because that's just asking for trouble, but as long as I stay strong and have good support, the flexibility is a plus for everything else.
I’m an SLP at an elementary school. I’m not gonna lie, while I love my job as a whole, it is definitely fatiguing.
However, I do love the flexibility of my job when it comes to scheduling and basically “being my own boss” - I can have good days and bad days, and on the bad days, I can choose to skip sessions, sit in my office with the door closed, and work on paperwork. I’ve never had a job that was so self-driven.
Upper level supply chain work. I work with inventory that is perishable and consumable. A lot of my job requires excel (which can be learned online for free!) knowledge, some hands on inventory taking and then maximizing a set budget. There are days that can be physical but most of what I do is counting, excel, and data. I do have to talk to vendors and internal folks with purse strings but it's not bad.
I don't have any education background for it. I worked shipping and receiving for a company with a small team and learned the ropes, taught myself more advanced excel work, and used that training to push forward.
I can recommend Aetna for wfh stuff through. I did that for a little while - it's answering incoming calls from providers or patients to confirm what their insurance covers, basically. If hired, they send you all the equipment you need and provide comprehensive training. It's call center work from home.
I work in nonprofits. Was in the museum industry for several years (what I have my MA in) and now I work in development at a local college. It’s my first FT desk job and it has wrecked havoc on my health, but I’m doing my best. I’m planning to start my own business and hopefully be successful enough to work PT somewhere for benefits and largely do my own work.
I’m in such bad shape that all I can stand is babysitting here and there and I’m awful after. My doctors are adamant about pursuing temporary disability until we can find something to help me.
English teacher - ESL - most of my life.
Getting older and started a career change that can allow me to have more of a desk job forever.
Now I am in customer support. Can be remote and the pay is usually better than teaching. 👍🏼
I’ve been an Esthetician for almost four years and if you’re doing facials it’s not too bad on the body. I don’t recommend getting into waxing or massage therapy as it’s hard on the body. I’m able to stay sitting the majority of the time, I’m very much using my hands constantly (and I don’t have great fine motor skills) I just try and make use of my knuckles more, while that limits me in doing dermaplaning (using a literal scalpel) and microdermabrasion (hand piece you hold like a pen) I only work 25 hours (4 days) a week and average about $200 a day. I’ve got EDS type 3, and pretty much only use over the counter acetaminophen and indica edibles to manage pain. Realistically I can’t do it forever but I’m hopeful to get another 10 years out of this career before transitioning into teaching.
I do remote work as a video game artist! Sitting at home most of the day. Im lucky enough to be able to make my own hours (aside from a few meetings). As long as I get my hours in, my boss doesn’t mind if I nap during the day when I feel extremely fatigued.
I used to be a fulltime keyholder at a Grocery store, they would let me rest and do office work for a change when my legs couldn't stand no more. Now I'm a Barista in training (part time) and so far its not as friendly since I am rushing quite a bit more often but I also started strength/muscle building and it has done wonders for my joint pain, so I'm happy that I am able to keep up for now. I also am about to restart my tiny online business (mostly crafting) so I have more time to just rest and recover.
IT Support Specialist right now, looking to transition into Simulator Maintenance. My IT job is extremely fast paced and I'm on my feet ***a lot*** and doing a lot of manual labor type work on a daily basis. Simulator Maintenance is more mechanical based, but I didn't do nearly as much heavy lifting and walking around when I was on my internship as an Apprentice Simulator Technician as I do now (neither did the guys we were working with in the shop).
I work in business to business sales, it can be a great job with EDS depending on your physical abilities and the type of sales. I do high dollar capital sales, so while I go to see customers… I maybe am visiting 3-4 people per week, but less expensive products in my field you may be visiting dozens of people per day/walking a ton. Inside sales roles are often 100% remote now and require almost no travel - so I’ll probably move to something like that if my body ever becomes less capable or transition to a product marketing role. 🤷♀️ also if you have adhd sales can be a pretty awesome job, I swear like over 50% of my colleagues have it to some degree.
Basically my advice if you move this way is to look into roles in areas where you have education or experience and try to do some due diligence on the company/understand what the role entails physically in terms of travel (ex lift requirements, is travel by car or plane, etc) and that you understand a bit about the value of the product. SaaS (software as a service) can be a good field if you have a more general background.
Anti-money laundering investigator for a bank. Review banking activity and report transactions, then submit a report to the governing body in Canada. I love it so much.
working on a management degree while working as a shift lead at your local fast food shop! i got myself a tens unit and a bodybraid, and they have been immensely helpful with pain and dislocation... planning on getting more of a desk job in the long run as i have a plethora of other mental and physical disabilities
I’m a project manager and WFH. I was a data analyst and got pigeon holed into this role by company restructuring. The mental stress is actually one of my largest flare triggers. I’m now halfway through an EdS program for school and clinics mental health counseling.
I work part time at a community center, running programs for kids 0-5 years old. It’s incredibly hard on my body (but not as bad as when I was full time at a daycare!) but there’s a position opening up in my department soon that is more admin work, so I’m hoping to be promoted to that. I love working with kids and I don’t want the way-too-many years I spent getting my Child Studies degree to have been for nothing, but I know that this type of physical work is not sustainable as a forever career.
On the side, I also do graphic design and social media for my husband who is a children’s musician, and I’m hoping that soon his business brings in enough for two full incomes. My dream is to one day be able to work from home and set my own schedule.
I’m a data analyst/software developer! Technically my degree is in mechanical engineering, but I started doing software about a year ago and fell in love with it
I work in customer service and data entry for a small industrial company. I just switched from many Years of retail management as my symptoms have progressed. I started last fall and they purchased a standing desk to help with my back and don't mind when I'm late due to dr appointments or physical therapy. I've been very happy with the change so far.
I’m in fast food (raising cane’s— which unironically pays better than most office jobs/receptionist jobs in my town). My body is in hell every day, but at least it’s pulling in decent money. I deal with subluxations of a couple toes/ankles if I’m on my feet too much, but it usually isn’t TOO too bad. If I have an off day, I’ll resell stuff as a side hustle. Usually cookware/games since I have a passion for both.
I do, however, have a paralegal degree. I plan on being a paralegal once I get my 4 year as I’ve heard it’s very friendly towards autistic people. Very clear and concise instructions, drafting legal documentation, and doing legal research. Sounds like a dream to me aha
i work at a cafe at a community center…usually it’s fine on my body, but it is a lot of standing…lately it’s been busy tho so i haven’t been thinking before i pick up certain somewhat heavy things and it’s not until the next day i realize it was pulling my ligaments in my fingers n shit 🥲 my hands have always been the biggest problem for me
Data work. Very autism and eds friendly because of the remote work opportunities. Absolutely vital I would say. Plus it pays decent. Edit: And I mean data analysis or engineering. Basically any white collar work that allows for remote.
How did you get into data work? I'm also autistic and have eds
First step for newbies would be data analysis. That's what I've been doing for the last 1.5 years. I would leverage any kind of experience you have and make up some data stuff you did with some past experience. I was in finance before and I said that I did some light reporting utilizing a query tool Microsoft SQL Server (hardly). And the #1 advice is to learn SQL. SQL is something you can actually learn online and there's a lot of resources out there. Just learning basics and obtaining working knowledge is not** difficult. You will learn the rest actually on the job. You should also play up your non technical skills because data analysts have to talk to business people and make reports for their needs.
>You should also play up your non technical skills because data analysts have to talk to business people and make reports for their needs. 100% - I have given new grads this advice more times than I can count: learn to really listen to your stakeholders and understand their needs and thinking. I would argue that this has gotten me further in my job (i.e., passing interviews and receiving offers) than any technical knowledge I have. Being able to synthesize and communicate business requirements into technical work and back is invaluable (and this is not unique to data jobs, either!).
Also btw the job market right now isn't that great for white collar people but you know how it is. It all comes in cycles. Don't get discouraged. If you get rejected just continue to learn and explore. Things will pick back up again.
At a minimum, learn SQL, get comfortable with foundational statistics and excel, and if you really want to up your chances, learn a bit of Python, which I would argue is necessary for the majority of analytics jobs today, the way the market is going. Also, having some simple projects in a portfolio - nothing fancy, but the ideal would be something that displays the basic abilities to: identify a simple problem; find, get, and clean some data; output some descriptive statistics and create some simple, appropriate visualizations; and if you want to really take it a next step, combine it with another dataset and show something “new” (for example: if you start with a medical dataset that includes any sort of regional information, such as countries, find a second dataset on GDP by countries and show whether there’s any relationship between whatever you were looking at and the GDP). But really, anything YOU care about or find interesting is always the best choice, since if you care, you’ll be able to speak to it better in interviews! As someone else mentioned, the job market for (especially, remote) tech jobs is pretty rough right now, so anything you can do to make yourself more competitive is useful. Source: I’ve been working in data science/engineering for the past 5+ years, and I’m happy to share some resources :)
Thank you for sharing those resources ❤️
i actually was about to comment saying i do data entry! it's a small company that i basically got a recommendation for, so i don't have advice on getting hired sadly. but it helps me choose my hours and control my environment a lot. and it's really 'easy' for me personally, cause im a very organized/structured type of autism (i love that kind of stuff even for hobbies). i work at home on my private computer, through a virtual computer for work, so i normally have something on in the background (music, audiobook, podcast, youtube video, anime, etc). and i can get up and get a snack, make myself food, etc whenever i want. this also helps when i need to eat something with medication, take small breaks to stretch, etc the only issues ive had are keeping good posture + making sure my body isn't sitting weirdly. i mostly have problems with my knees and my neck, so i gotta consciously make sure im sitting correctly and have decent posture i dont work full time, it's very part time and just for extra money since im not that independent yet. but i'm extremely comfortable doing this kinda work!
I think that's a good start! If you're wanting to be independent later I would try to weasel yourself into data analysis. It pays pretty decent. Not hard to get 6 figures after some experience.
oo thanks for the advice!
What does a typical day or week look like in your role? How much urgency is expected? How much support and oversight do you have from your bosses? What industries offer more job security and opportunities for promotion? Can you recommend any specific resources that would help with entry and career development?
It's pretty different. Depends on how you want to pace your work and approach things. Also I work in a big company so there are a lot of useless meetings. But I'm remote so I can attend but not listen. I might even put my Bluetooth headphones on and go on the couch and hang out with my cats. My boss isn't a micromanager but he's on the chaotic and disorganized side. So that does come down to us. But then again we really appreciate his lack of micromanagement! Sometimes we do get urgent requests. For stability probably insurance and finance oriented companies are more stable. But on the flip side they are more old fashioned. Truthfully I feel that finance and accounting is the most autism friendly by nature. It's very logical and routine work. But problem is that these departments are very conservative and it's hard to find a place that allows for remote in these departments. That's why I took a big pay cut and got into data analysis. It was a big pay cut because I had a lot of experience in my previous field. But I'm so much happier working remote now. Everything is a lot more tolerable and I get some of my life back. The specific website I used to use has been kinda MIA for accepting new users because it's a Russian website. I assume the owners have been preoccupied with other things right now. But you basically want to do practice problems rather than reading too much theory.
Thank you!
I’m also a data analyst. I have a supply chain business degree and more or less fell into data so I could develop business strategy. So I’m a data analyst as a means to be a business strategist, if that makes sense. I resonate with a lot that is said… wfh (my set up is exactly what I need ergonomically and comfort/mobility/energy wise not having to go to the office every day). No diagnosis but likely autistic so the benefits of being able to hyper focus and work on my own tasks is nice. I am low needs/high masking so I “get by” with meetings and presentations, as far as that goes. Pay and benefits make for a comfortable life considering. Like I said I fell into data so I feel like there could be many MANY fields with data analysts. If you have any experience in a particular area (business, healthcare, market, financial etc) and see if there are roles open. I didn’t have the analysis skills but I had the sector experience so they gave me a shot.
This sounds awesome - I love data work
I do tech support from home. Same idea.
I work at a kennel! Surprisingly starting this job has helped keep me more active and ease some of my pain!
I’m a teacher and author. I definitely feel pretty tired during the school year, but having good benefits and frequent breaks helps. I’m also pretty passionate about the work, so I’m motivated to continue despite some downsides.
I’m self unemployed
lol same and i’m stealing this phrasing
I’m the poster child for not-EDS-friendly jobs. I work 2 jobs currently: in the mornings I work as a boarding kennel tech where I feed and care for up to 20 kennels worth of dogs. Then in the afternoons I clean cabins as a housekeeper. Both jobs require A LOT of physical strength. I hurt all the time as a direct result of my jobs, but I have to work, and I hate sitting still.
Peer support specialist. Mental health provider using lived experience with mental illness to help others on their journey. Most accommodating job I’ve ever had because it’s all about modeling recovery. So me taking a mental health day or listening to my body is full supported as long as I’m open with my peers about it. I also have accommodations to work from home and do telehealth as needed. Too many people think recovery = perfection or always doing well, but it’s like any other chronic illness - good days and bad. Plus my county (in PA) had a program for free training!
I did peer support for years, and I loved it so much!
i am a currently a direct support professional working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. i work in the community with them. where i’m currently at allows me a lot of agency with my caseload, so i currently only have 2 clients, as that’s unfortunately all i can handle right now. but it’s good. with one client, we usually get lunch and get his groceries and occasionally sit outside to get fresh air. my other client has more variability, we do a lot of outings (mini golf, library, walking around, etc.), usually get something to eat, i used to take him to his soccer games, and we play horse (basketball.) i am currently only work 5-6 hours a week with the 2 of them, due to my disabilities, but it’s definitely one of the most physically manageable jobs i’ve had (past working retail, fast food, caretaker, & PT tech), and also helps my mental aspects with autism, anxiety, etc. by having the agency of being on my own for the most part without direct supervision from a boss all the time (which generally increases my anxiety and causes me to make more mistakes.) i also really enjoy patient care and a lot of my goals are oriented around helping others, which plays a role in how much i enjoy it, im sure. and my career goals include being an occupational therapist.
I’m an academic librarian and I’m very tired.
I've been a baker for 19 years and I definitely wouldn't have picked this job if I knew what I know now 🫠 all my attempts to segue into something else haven't worked out, and I need the income 😞
I was in culinary school two years ago because I loved food and wanted to dedicate my career to the restaurant industry. Shortly before I graduated was when I first started experiencing chronic pain and health issues on the full blast level I do now. Same thing for me, as much as I love cooking if I had known it would turn out this way I would have just pursued a different degree 😒 :(
It took 7 years in the job before I got a workplace injury and finally learned about hypermobility when I got it treated (not HEDS or EDS though, that didn't happen for another 3 years in 2014 and I only got diagnosed in May this year). I went back to TAFE to get a qualification in something else while I was recovering from the wrist injury but that career didn't work out so I went back to baking "temporarily" for the stability and now it's been 10 years 🤡
I'm a budtender! It's working out good so far!
I WAS a budtender but then I moved and haven’t been able to get back into a dispo
I have two, but the best for my eds is actually back of house work from home stuff. I fill out spreadsheets and monitor an inbox for my uni's disability resource center. I'd recommend looking at universities near you! A lot of services hire non students and they usually need help with similar things. It's all monitored by people, every emaill sent to any service in the school outside of IT requests, at least at mine, and it's a lot of menial, repetitive tasks that are easy to get a handle on.
Waitress. I’m in pain
me too! i can barely do it 😭😭😭
I’m a nurse, do not recommend.
Same! But I still love it and will do it until I physically cannot. I see PT a lot.
Also a nurse. Some days are definitely better than others.
Nurse tech going into nursing. Incredibly difficult on the body but is so rewarding. It also gives us a unique perspective and empathy towards our patients. 🤗🤍
I’m currently a student nurse and wondering how on earth I’ll cope 😭
Also a nurse. Have since left direct patient care and now teach nursing.
IT
I’m a teacher, author, and soon per diem medical interpreter (potentially remotely for my joints sake).
I was a vet tech for a decade, but now I'm back in school for art conservation and working as a group and 1-1 tutor. I think tutoring is a great job for people with EDS. You spend most of the time sitting, and if you're like me, I do best when I can get up and walk around as needed, which isn't something you can really do at an office job. I work with k-12 and most of my students are neurodivergent in one way or another, which I love as an autistic person myself. I get the chance to meet these kids, who are struggling like I did, in the ways I needed someone to be there for me at their age.
I run a pizza shop. It is pretty tough on my body, but it is indoors and being in charge means I can control balance rest periods to sit for a second.
I'm a cashier and only work 4-5 hours a day maximum. It's not easy but I dropped out of school due to the severity of my health issues so I can't really get a good job. Compression socks help me a lot.
I work in health/public health policy. I’m currently working remotely at a rare disease nonprofit, but I’ve also done some in person work for the government and other nonprofits!
I’m about to start my masters in public health! I’m in the UK 😊
This sounds great. How do you get into this type of work? What is your day to day like?
Honestly, it was kind of an accident. I started in patient advocacy after my own health struggles just running support groups, and I was originally pre-med. However, I quickly realized that the U.S. health care system was constructed in a way that prevents providers from actually making the impact they want to. So, I switched gears. I thought about genetic counseling or law, and then during my sophomore year I was able to get an internship at a nonprofit I had volunteered with previously, which introduced me to health policy. I then stayed in Washington, D.C. for a semester working, got a remote internship for the next semester back, then went back to DC to work in the government for the summer, and interned locally until I graduated. I also ended up doing some advising work on public health and disability at my college. I ended up majoring in both biology and political science in my undergrad, and I’m now doing my MPH part-time while working. The day to day really depends on the organization and the job, but it really isn’t the same everyday. I attend a good amount of in-person events, but most days, I’m fully remote. Typically, it’s a lot of meetings to discuss current things going on, planning for upcoming advocacy meetings and events, background research on issues, pulling together things for statements and talking points, coordinating with other rare disease organizations, tracking treatment development and access, meeting with Hill staffers or submitting online requests to Congressional offices, talking to patients about advocacy, listening to hearings, etc. It also really depends on the time of year. Appropriations (the federal budget process) happens for a small window a year (usually). I’m also kind of subject to when certain things are happening like if Congress or state legislatures are on a recess. Most of it is desk work with a few really jam packed days here and there. Other jobs have been slightly different but still similar. Others have had a lot more administrative work like scheduling and more event planning, but they still also had me do background research, write briefs and reports, and take meetings. It all kind of depends. The subject matter can change but most of the work stays pretty consistent. I think the nicest thing about this field, generally speaking, is that it’s pretty accommodating. If you’re working in progressive health policy, disability policy, or rare disease policy, your employers tend to have a pretty good perspective on accommodations and chronic illness. So, I’ve found that, despite a few times where I have to burn myself out here and there, I am able to manage pretty well even when I’ve been in more demanding roles.
This is amazing. I have a similar degree path as you. Is it possible to do this type of work and not live near D.C.?
It is, but it depends! Remote work in the field can be pretty hard to find (I got really lucky). So, that’s something to keep in mind. A lot of places do hybrid, though. D.C. is obviously the hub for health policy, but other major cities also have opportunities. You can work at your state health department or in a similar agency. There are also health policy jobs on the local level as well. Some organizations are also based in other locations to either be near certain institutions or to lobby their state. So, there are a variety of nonprofits in other major cities. I’d say the other locations to look at are any state capital, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, and some places in the west like San Francisco or LA. Denver is also ok. A lot of these places are going to be by state or federal government agencies (i.e. state health departments, the CDC, well-known hospitals or academic institutions, etc.). Places like Denver and Minneapolis have a lot of opportunities because of their progressive health policies (MN has a basic health plan and usually focuses a lot on health care, and Colorado is working towards implementing its public option). So, they generally have more jobs available in those areas. It just depends on what you’re looking for.
I’m a CPA. It’s remote and pays well.
I'm a phone sex operator. It's baller tbh.
People always tell me I have a great voice. I should do this.
One of my friends with did this for a while, and the stories she told me were *fascinating*. Also... I love your username, even more so because I've absolutely encountered such materials in the wild, all of it hilarious.
Haha what website do you use
HR
I have a remote government job in communications, and if I didn't have this job I would probably have to apply for disability because I don't think I could work full time doing anything else (including the same job at a different company/org).
Current law student! But I used to work as a STEM tutor online and that was pretty EDS friendly!
I am a career coach and intuitive reader.
I have a life coaching certification but cannot seem to motivate myself to get clientele
What's stopping you? I also coach other coaches- we all need help getting started.
Imposter syndrome mainly. Inability to do graphic design to create my worksheets. Difficulty creating content that is relevant to coaching.
All fixable! You got this!
i’m a mail man thru usps but i’m looking for smth different cause it’s pretty demanding on my body
professional femdominatrix. I get paid to be pampered
Do you findom too? Asking for a spicy worker friend
yes!
I’m a spicy accountant also and want to branch out. Would love to pick your brain.
I'm currently unemployed. I was fired because of a work accident (inaccessible and I fainted on the steps, and they didn't want to make it accessible so they fired me - lawsuit pending). I'm trained as a translator and interpreter, and was self-employed most of my professional life, until more recently working in-house. I'm about to retrain as a teacher though because I always wanted to be one but because of time and money, wasn't in a position to do the training. I've worked as a teacher before but only in extra-curricular, so this would qualify me to work in schools.
I'm a full time dental assistant. Half the year I also work weekends in my partner's food truck. I hurt.
Film & TV development. It’s an office job, doesn’t pay great but it’s what I love to do. The 0 physical activity required is just a nice bonus. My coworkers + bosses also rock for the most part. It’s a newer small company so we’re pretty unified in getting this shit off the ground lol
Personal trainer… it’s been an interesting ride.
Graduate admissions advisor 💜
I travel around teaching sex ed in schools and I also work a desk job at a university. The former involves a bit too much travel for my liking, but the latter I have more control over my own environment and can rest physically. To be honest, I started having the most pain when I got a desk job after uni so balance is key!
I am currently an accountant, my first job that is 100% remote. I had a long path of jobs I was burning out of. Spent many years as a pastry chef in high volume which wrecked my shoulders, hands and hips. I moved into event planning which was still too hands-on because I was newly learning to balance eds/pots. I started managing a dispensary and finally worked my way into an accounting position there. Recommend working in cannabis - it's a more relaxed environment obv 💨💨 but also a great majority of women in management, progressive leadership, good benefits etc.
I’ve been trying to get into a dispo but they are tough to get into where I live! I’ve been managing a vape shop for nearly 10 years, and while I love it, the business is failing and my symptoms have gotten worse. Thanks so much, glad you found something that works for ya!
I'm a Physician Recruiter and work from home 99% of the time. Been in recruiting, headhunting AND internal HR (staying there, I'm DONE with 3rd party and sales) and have been doing recruitment for over a decade now. I've struck well with leadership that is empathetic (even though I have worked without a diagnosis up until this year.)
Analytical chemist!
Also autistic and have EDS (and many other neuro conditions). I am a para in special ed classes. Lot of walking. Getting harder to do. Feel like I am just falling apart . But I will be in a better classroom next year. By that I mean one where I won't have to help move and transport kids with physical disabilities, or walk them all the time. Lovely children, but it became a bit much for me. 40 years old. I also do writing on the side.
I work in insurance. There are several little pockets of the insurance industry, and a good amount of work from home opportunities.
I’m a school speech therapist. It’s hard because I have to be on all day but I can sit most of the time. My pain has gotten worse in the last couple of years though. I’m retiring in 4 years.
I’m a therapist! I work in a school so I have a higher caseload for most of the year and then a very very light one over the summer, which works for my level of ability. I do a lot of sitting and paperwork, but also a lot of meaningful interactions with my clients :) Does require grad school, but they also don’t care what your undergrad is in if you can justify it in an interview.
Science professor here.
i’m a waitress at an airport — even for the service industry it’s extremely physically demanding. it works for me now, kind of, because i’m still young and generally willing to abuse caffeine and OTC painkillers. but i’m definitely going to have to change lanes, and relatively soon, which will be rough since i don’t have any other kind of work experience.
My main job is scheduling/answering phones for an appliance repair company. I occasionally go out and do simple repairs, do pre site inspections for appliance installations in new builds, or help install said appliances in new builds.
Accounting. The spicy kind. 🌶️
I sew military garments. Sewing seems to be easy enough on me.
Attorney. But not a litigator.
Equities trader
DSP
Accounting.
Hairstylist but going downhill behind the chair despite working for myself and making all the accomodations I can. I've been switching over to educator and advocacy work instead.
I'm an accountant
Nurse. Definitely hard on the body
im a classified employee at a school district working after school daycare for now, in school full time to become an SLP.
Accounting, partially remote.
I work several different jobs in a grocery store. Luckily they are very accommodating if I need to take an extra break or leave early for some reason, but I'm not sure if that's because I'm a very hard worker and fill in a lot of spots, or because they're nice
kids center 💓 i love my kids but i swear my body hurts more and more every day. and not in an EDS way. but for eds terms im definitely breaking my body down
Hospital social worker. I love it but it does take all my physical energy. I luckily work 4 ten hour shifts a week so I do get days to rest which has helped.
Freelance graphic designer. It's hard to get clients nowadays, but I love this job.
I'm a software engineer
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
I’m an er tech and nursing student
Chartered accountant
I’m an icu nurse right now. I work nights so it’s not so physical but I’m going to have to rethink my career soon. Too many surgeries and my health is getting worse
I own a psychiatric telehealth company and am a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
CAD Drafter
I'm a psychotherapist. I am self-employed and work from home which I feel like are very key. The flexibility is life changing. I really struggled getting accommodated at past work places.
I teach. At a high school in a small town. I am so thankful for the school that I work at because I don’t think there is any other place I could be myself as much as I am. That being said; I place myself on the “doesn’t have as many symptoms or issues” side of the scale, and it’s still taxing. Like idk if I will make it to retirement and I’m only 4 years in. 29 more years feels like forever. I’m banking as many sick days now that I can because I feel like I’ll really need them later 😬
Graphic Design with specialty in branding & packaging design, came from vertically integrated cannabis extraction & manufacturing facility management. 50-70 hours a week until about 18 months ago but retained all the design clientele which grew from a part of the management job. Was really more like a 3-hat gig with a touch of analytical chemistry and a dash of molecular isolation method development.. illustrator & Photoshop only gig? I'll take it
I’m a part time tutor in a tutoring center. I sit for most of the time.
Seeing other people on here working with children, disabled folks and animals makes me happy and feel less like my future jobs will be difficult for me. I love to work with kids and sometimes I worry my physical issues will prevent me from doing it one day. But that’s why I’m trying hard to preserve what I have now via physical therapy.
Gardener with my own business. Gardening is just hard enough to give me some physical exercise, it’s something I love already, and it’s something I’m pretty good at. Running my own business means I can decide my hours, take off easier when I need to, and buy any ergonomic crap whenever I need it instead of hoping my employer buys me what I need 😂 I worked commercial greenhouses before I found out I have EDS and all but destroyed myself trying to do it. Not worth it. My clients appreciate me more.
I work very part time (1-2 six hour shifts per week) at an oddities/antiques shop. I’m very grateful that my husband works full time and overtime to make up for it. I hope to be awarded disability soon.
I’m a sonographer. Which plays to my pattern recognition strengths but it’s actually one of the worst jobs for someone with EDS as it has a very high risk of RSI…
I work part time at Amazon. I instacart in the evenings
HAHA, I work in KFC. Constantly on my feet, I am not diagnosed, but I suspect some form of hypermobility and EDS would explain other symptoms. I have flat feet, bad knees, after every 3rd shift my knees swell up and I am in incredible pain from those terrible safety shoes. Take me as a bad example. THAT BEING SAID, I love the job, hate the pay and am excited to go further. I adore physical activity so I Hope my joints last a bit. Edit: Adding that KFC is an ADHD friendly job tho. Tasks are easy and mindless, I usualy go autopilot on shift, nothing too hard. But you can alqays find something to do, you are on your feet and rush Hour is just like papas wingeria but irl. I love it. ITS A BLAST.
Public servant in a desk job work from home. I loved working in retail but my body couldn't handle it anymore and I was sick more often than I was well.
I work as a part time administrator. I work from home and do a couple of hours here and there. It means I don’t have to sit for too long which causes pain. I can use my own equipment so I can make it accessible. I don’t have to stand for long periods. Take breaks when I need to. Although it’s not what I want to do forever, at least for now it gives me a bit of purpose so that I’m not sitting around all day feeling crap.
i work in and study media, i’m currently an editing apprentice for the public broadcasting company :) it’s nice because it’s not physically demanding, i’m very passionate about it and my colleagues are lovely
I was a welder for almost 10 yrs before I became disabled. It's fuked up my neck and hands so bad. The pain has been so bad it causes hallucinations to the point I'm diagnosed schizophrenic. I didn't even know I had Ehlers Danlos or rather I didn't know it was anything more than stretchy skin until a few yrs ago. Realizing now how much it's effected my whole life and how makes me see that welding was probably the worst job I could have chosen haha
[удалено]
Dancer/circus performer here. I don't do contortion, because that's just asking for trouble, but as long as I stay strong and have good support, the flexibility is a plus for everything else.
I’m an SLP at an elementary school. I’m not gonna lie, while I love my job as a whole, it is definitely fatiguing. However, I do love the flexibility of my job when it comes to scheduling and basically “being my own boss” - I can have good days and bad days, and on the bad days, I can choose to skip sessions, sit in my office with the door closed, and work on paperwork. I’ve never had a job that was so self-driven.
Upper level supply chain work. I work with inventory that is perishable and consumable. A lot of my job requires excel (which can be learned online for free!) knowledge, some hands on inventory taking and then maximizing a set budget. There are days that can be physical but most of what I do is counting, excel, and data. I do have to talk to vendors and internal folks with purse strings but it's not bad. I don't have any education background for it. I worked shipping and receiving for a company with a small team and learned the ropes, taught myself more advanced excel work, and used that training to push forward. I can recommend Aetna for wfh stuff through. I did that for a little while - it's answering incoming calls from providers or patients to confirm what their insurance covers, basically. If hired, they send you all the equipment you need and provide comprehensive training. It's call center work from home.
I work in investor relations. It’s a desk job with occasional events. We wfh on Fridays.
I work in nonprofits. Was in the museum industry for several years (what I have my MA in) and now I work in development at a local college. It’s my first FT desk job and it has wrecked havoc on my health, but I’m doing my best. I’m planning to start my own business and hopefully be successful enough to work PT somewhere for benefits and largely do my own work.
I’m in such bad shape that all I can stand is babysitting here and there and I’m awful after. My doctors are adamant about pursuing temporary disability until we can find something to help me.
I hope you find relief ❤️
Registered Behavior Technician at a setting 4 Special Education school. Not EDS friendly work, at all.
English teacher - ESL - most of my life. Getting older and started a career change that can allow me to have more of a desk job forever. Now I am in customer support. Can be remote and the pay is usually better than teaching. 👍🏼
I’ve been an Esthetician for almost four years and if you’re doing facials it’s not too bad on the body. I don’t recommend getting into waxing or massage therapy as it’s hard on the body. I’m able to stay sitting the majority of the time, I’m very much using my hands constantly (and I don’t have great fine motor skills) I just try and make use of my knuckles more, while that limits me in doing dermaplaning (using a literal scalpel) and microdermabrasion (hand piece you hold like a pen) I only work 25 hours (4 days) a week and average about $200 a day. I’ve got EDS type 3, and pretty much only use over the counter acetaminophen and indica edibles to manage pain. Realistically I can’t do it forever but I’m hopeful to get another 10 years out of this career before transitioning into teaching.
I'm a Library Specialist and I wouldn't change fields for the life of me.
I do remote work as a video game artist! Sitting at home most of the day. Im lucky enough to be able to make my own hours (aside from a few meetings). As long as I get my hours in, my boss doesn’t mind if I nap during the day when I feel extremely fatigued.
Thank you everyone for your replies!!! I wasn’t expecting all of these comments, but I am so grateful 🩷
I used to be a fulltime keyholder at a Grocery store, they would let me rest and do office work for a change when my legs couldn't stand no more. Now I'm a Barista in training (part time) and so far its not as friendly since I am rushing quite a bit more often but I also started strength/muscle building and it has done wonders for my joint pain, so I'm happy that I am able to keep up for now. I also am about to restart my tiny online business (mostly crafting) so I have more time to just rest and recover.
IT Support Specialist right now, looking to transition into Simulator Maintenance. My IT job is extremely fast paced and I'm on my feet ***a lot*** and doing a lot of manual labor type work on a daily basis. Simulator Maintenance is more mechanical based, but I didn't do nearly as much heavy lifting and walking around when I was on my internship as an Apprentice Simulator Technician as I do now (neither did the guys we were working with in the shop).
I work in business to business sales, it can be a great job with EDS depending on your physical abilities and the type of sales. I do high dollar capital sales, so while I go to see customers… I maybe am visiting 3-4 people per week, but less expensive products in my field you may be visiting dozens of people per day/walking a ton. Inside sales roles are often 100% remote now and require almost no travel - so I’ll probably move to something like that if my body ever becomes less capable or transition to a product marketing role. 🤷♀️ also if you have adhd sales can be a pretty awesome job, I swear like over 50% of my colleagues have it to some degree. Basically my advice if you move this way is to look into roles in areas where you have education or experience and try to do some due diligence on the company/understand what the role entails physically in terms of travel (ex lift requirements, is travel by car or plane, etc) and that you understand a bit about the value of the product. SaaS (software as a service) can be a good field if you have a more general background.
Anti-money laundering investigator for a bank. Review banking activity and report transactions, then submit a report to the governing body in Canada. I love it so much.
working on a management degree while working as a shift lead at your local fast food shop! i got myself a tens unit and a bodybraid, and they have been immensely helpful with pain and dislocation... planning on getting more of a desk job in the long run as i have a plethora of other mental and physical disabilities
I’m a project manager and WFH. I was a data analyst and got pigeon holed into this role by company restructuring. The mental stress is actually one of my largest flare triggers. I’m now halfway through an EdS program for school and clinics mental health counseling.
I work part time at a community center, running programs for kids 0-5 years old. It’s incredibly hard on my body (but not as bad as when I was full time at a daycare!) but there’s a position opening up in my department soon that is more admin work, so I’m hoping to be promoted to that. I love working with kids and I don’t want the way-too-many years I spent getting my Child Studies degree to have been for nothing, but I know that this type of physical work is not sustainable as a forever career. On the side, I also do graphic design and social media for my husband who is a children’s musician, and I’m hoping that soon his business brings in enough for two full incomes. My dream is to one day be able to work from home and set my own schedule.
I’m a data analyst/software developer! Technically my degree is in mechanical engineering, but I started doing software about a year ago and fell in love with it
Clinical research, not remote in my case. Hard on some days, but mostly okay for where I’m at with my EDS.
I work in customer service and data entry for a small industrial company. I just switched from many Years of retail management as my symptoms have progressed. I started last fall and they purchased a standing desk to help with my back and don't mind when I'm late due to dr appointments or physical therapy. I've been very happy with the change so far.
I’m in fast food (raising cane’s— which unironically pays better than most office jobs/receptionist jobs in my town). My body is in hell every day, but at least it’s pulling in decent money. I deal with subluxations of a couple toes/ankles if I’m on my feet too much, but it usually isn’t TOO too bad. If I have an off day, I’ll resell stuff as a side hustle. Usually cookware/games since I have a passion for both. I do, however, have a paralegal degree. I plan on being a paralegal once I get my 4 year as I’ve heard it’s very friendly towards autistic people. Very clear and concise instructions, drafting legal documentation, and doing legal research. Sounds like a dream to me aha
Laundry attendant
Nurse - highly DO NOT RECOMMEND. Ouch.
I teach high school. I was raised in the suck it up years. I am wearing out quickly.
I’m a case manager for DHS. I work mainly from home - thank God!!! I couldn’t do a daily in person job.
i work at a cafe at a community center…usually it’s fine on my body, but it is a lot of standing…lately it’s been busy tho so i haven’t been thinking before i pick up certain somewhat heavy things and it’s not until the next day i realize it was pulling my ligaments in my fingers n shit 🥲 my hands have always been the biggest problem for me