Please Help Tiffany Survive: Fired for Being Autistic

Hello! My name is Tiffany, and I’m autistic. I mentioned my autism because this is why I was unexpectedly fired from my job, and am now in need of help surviving. I was bullied, harassed, and eventually fired by the supervisor. I had zero write-ups, had great work performance, but was suddenly told by said supervisor that my abilities were in question once she discovered my diagnosis. I had given almost a year to this company by overachieving and mastering a role that I had zero experience in, prior to. I would’ve made a year with being at this company on April 22, if I had not been suddenly fired on April 11.

The supervisor was fairly new (just onboarded in January) and was not initially aware of my diagnosis. I felt it was necessary to share my diagnosis with her, as I do sometimes require additional details to process information when communicating. After I disclosed that I was autistic, she began targeting me with aggression and harassment. She eventually started creating unusual tasks for me exclusively, that did not initially align with my role. I began working even harder to accomplish my usual duties, but now with the additional tasks she assigned. The environment became extremely uncomfortable for me, and it was soon clear that I was being bullied/picked on by this supervisor. The company was private, and there also was not an HR representative for me to confide in or report to about what I was experiencing.

On the day that I was fired, she requested I complete a task that was (again) exclusively assigned to me and was outside of the duties I was hired for, stating that my “abilities” were in question. Despite this, I still began working on that task, whilst doing my own work and my coworker's work (she was out of the office). Before I could even provide my completed task to the supervisor, she handed me a separation notice (with a smirk on her face), stating that I was being terminated for insubordination. I was perplexed and genuinely in shock. I was fired before my shift was even over.

I applied for unemployment benefits shortly afterward, in addition to SNAP benefits. I also reached out to an employment attorney firm to receive a free consultation regarding what I had just experienced. I received confirmation that I had a solid case (wrongful termination, discrimination), but I could not afford to provide payment for the firm to handle my case. In the meantime, I have exhausted all of my funds in order to stay afloat while I search for work and wait to receive benefits.

Unfortunately, due to my termination being labeled as “insubordination,” my unemployment benefit claim was denied, due to my being “at fault.” I have of course filed an appeal, but I have been waiting for well over a month to receive confirmation of a scheduled hearing for the filed appeal. I have also been waiting for over a month to receive SNAP benefits, but I cannot get my caseworker to return my call.

I am out of money, hungry, and facing displacement. I have either been continuously rejected from jobs I’ve applied to, or simply can’t get a call back. I considered doing food delivery, but I recently found out that my vehicle has a power steering leak. I do not have access to public transportation. I even reached out to my local government workforce to apply for the WIA program, but was told that they currently are not accepting applications due to a lack of funding. I am completely clueless on what to do next. The goal amount I’m requesting is to help with food, shelter and car repairs.

If it is in your ability and heart to assist a stranger with surviving during a desperate and unexpected time of need, I would truly appreciate it I am happy to also provide updates in my journey, to show how far your contribution will go and the impact it will have.