Today’s guest post is by Laura, a 23-year-old psychology student with Asperger syndrome. Learn more about Laura by visiting her blog, Touched By an Alien: Life as I Know It.

Some people with ASDs can excel at jobs requiring high levels of focus and an excellent memory.

Imagine a job description that said “Wanted: Person with intense ability to focus, combined with passion for a particular subject matter, strong ability to pay attention to detail and good memory skills.”

Although it is more difficult for individuals with Asperger syndrome to find work than people in the general population, there are jobs out there that capitalize on the strengths that many people with AS have.

One young man had a strong interest in his city’s transit system and had an excellent memory for all the routes in the city. He was able to use this passion and strength to help thousands of people in his city plan their routes to their destination and he loved his job. He was even able to purchase better living arrangements for his family.

Temple Grandin’s strong visualization abilities along with an intense interest in cattle chutes led to a PhD in animal science and her becoming a world renowned expert on the humane treatment of cattle being processed for food.

I’m optimistic that my strong memory, good writing skills, creativity for research ideas, attention to detail and strong interest in children with special needs will allow me to be successful as a future researcher in educational psychology.

It may take longer and be harder for individuals with AS to find their place in the world, but the wait is worth it.