Close-up image of a brass padlock hanging loosely on a decorative, geometric-patterned metal gate, with warm light creating an intricate interplay of highlights and shadows on the surface. A luxurious door…if only one could enter it.

I didn’t always know I was a skilled writer. It wasn’t until I was around thirty that I realized I could craft marketable words, and my first published work didn’t come until I was about 32. But once I understood what I could do, I honed my craft and built a body of work I’m proud of. And yet, despite my ability to produce excellent writing, I keep getting shut out of jobs—not because I can’t do them, but because the job market wasn’t built for someone like me.

This is what it means to be a capable but disabled worker. This is what it means to be not failing, but failed by the system itself.

I Can Work—But Not in the Ways Employers Expect

I am autistic, I have ADHD, I have complex PTSD from childhood, and workplace PTSD from years of bullying. I have Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), which makes it difficult to process spoken language in real-time, especially in rooms with lots of ambient noise. I have sensory issues that make being around people all day an unbearable strain on my nervous system.

The short version: I cannot work with people. I can work with text.

When I’ve worked in traditional, on-site workplaces, the same thing happens every time. I get bullied. Employers don’t protect me. The stress builds until I have an autistic meltdown—not because I want to (I hate meltdowns and wish I never had them), but because my nervous system reaches a breaking point. And then, instead of support, I get fired. Even by employers who claim to understand autism. 

In one case, I was even threatened with a lawsuit if I ever told anyone how my employer had treated me. 

This cycle is not just exhausting—it’s completely unsustainable. And the two times I’ve visited Vocational Rehabilitation (in Kentucky and in Idaho) I was told I am too disabled to qualify for their assistance. The world has told me over and over again: “You are unemployable.” But that’s not true. The reality is that I have very specific ways I need to work, and the jobs that fit me are so rare and difficult to get that I am being forced to the margins.

The Devastation of Losing DoorDash

DoorDash wasn’t a great fit for me, but it was something and I was good at it. I was a conscientious worker who paid attention to detail and genuinely cared about getting hot, accurate, undamaged food to customers. I had platinum status for high volumes of high quality deliveries. I felt competent and the work allowed me to survive while only having brief contact with people, without having to navigate toxic workplaces or get stuck for hours with bullies.

Now, I’ve been deactivated because they claim I submitted false personal information (I did not. The system choked on my “mis-matched” name, face, and gender marker) and my survival is in question. That was my stopgap job, my safety job, my fallback, security job. And then, when it became clear to me that it’s just not safe for me to keep trying to do face-to-face work, it became the only job I could access.

Finding another job should be simple. I’m smart, I work hard, I can write at a high level, I’m a quick learner, I pay attention to details. But it’s not simple, because every direction I turn, I hit a wall:

Traditional on-site jobs? They put me in environments where I can’t function.

Freelancing? It’s overwhelming, requires constant marketing, and forces me to juggle projects in ways I can’t manage.

Gig work? Unreliable, inconsistent, and often exploitative.

I am highly capable, but in a narrow and specific way. That means I am severely limited in my ability to get work, even though I could be an incredible asset to the right employer.

What I Can Do (If I’m Given the Right Work Conditions)

If I were given the right conditions, I could be a phenomenal employee.

I am a strong, versatile writer with experience in:

✔ Academic writing

✔ Formal and technical writing

✔ Science and medical writing

✔ Accessible, public-facing content

✔ Lyrical and creative writing

I’ve been published by Beacon Press, The Modern Language Association, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and National Geographic. If an employer needs words, I can give them words precisely tailored to their needs.

I can also do light tech tasks like basic HTML, simple Excel/Google spreadsheets, updating managed WordPress blogs, and any work with clear guidelines. What I can’t do is deal with people all day, audio-heavy work, or chaotic multi-tasking.

What I Need From an Employer

For me to thrive in a job, I need:

✔ Remote work. I cannot work in an office.

✔ Clear guidelines. Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it done. I have failed at jobs where I was given vague guidance. Tell me what you want me to write about.

✔ Steady work. I can produce a high volume of writing if given structured/clear assignments. I would rather write every day, full- or part-time, for one employer than juggle five employers. 

✔ Text-based communication. I can’t handle prolonged voice work due to CAPD. (I can do short video meetings if needed, but honestly? I really hope they aren’t needed. You have no idea how much meetings drain my reserves, stealing energy I could be using to write.)

✔ A workplace that doesn’t expect me to “suck it up.” I can work brilliantly when I’m accommodated, but I shut down in environments that aren’t a good fit for my needs.

If an employer or company could offer me these conditions, they would get a dedicated, highly skilled writer who could produce outstanding work without the usual distractions of office politics.

Why Finding This Job Is So Hard

Job hunting and interviewing have always been massive barriers for me. People assume that because I write well, I must be able to navigate the social aspects of job searching just as easily. But I can’t.

  • Interviews overwhelm me.
  • Networking is inaccessible.
  • Self-promotion is exhausting.

It’s a huge contradiction—I can write you a flawless cover letter, but I can’t sell myself in an interview. I can explain complex topics in clear language, but I struggle to advocate for myself when I need accommodations. The system was designed for people who can “perform” for employers, not for people who can actually do the job.

Why Did I Tell You All This?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I know a job that fits Max’s needs,” here’s what you can do:

📩 If you’re an employer who needs a talented writer: Contact me at [email protected]. I am looking for steady, remote work where I can write and edit. You can look at my LinkedIn profile if you’d like.

🔎 If you know of a job opportunity that fits my needs: Please send leads my way. Even if it’s not a perfect fit, I appreciate the help.

💡 If you’re an autistic person reading my struggle and identifying hard with it, I want you to know: You are not failing. The system is failing you.

You are not broken for struggling in a world that refuses to accommodate you. You are not lazy or demanding for needing a different structure. And you are not alone in this fight.

I am still searching for the right place, the right fit, the right employer who sees my value. And if you’re someone who can help me find it, I hope you’ll reach out.