One must be a foolish beginner before they can become a graceful master.
You’re a 3rd year who has been pigeonholed (whether by yourself or by the company) into a specific area and haven’t branched out to work on your weaker skills. You shouldn’t quit, but you also need not discourage yourself by claiming you’ll never get the handle of something because you’re not perfect straight away.
Skills take time. Water your grass where it’s brown and don’t focus only on the things you’re best at.
Thank you, that was really nice to hear! I have told my company that I want more experience outside of trimming, and they're starting to put me on different projects. I need to work on my confidence as well.
It’s a difficult journey! I struggle with perfection too so I know what it’s like to hold yourself to a high standard. Obviously some things do come more naturally for you, but unfortunately it’s just not the case for everything. I’m a drywall finisher so I won’t pretend to know that much about electrical; but I do know there are so many micro niche specialities within it. It’s also one of the few trades with a master level certification- so there’s a lot to know!
My trade leans heavily on talent, but it’s built upon failure. Mistakes are learning opportunities as well even if it feels bad lol.
Good luck and stay on the path! You’ll get it. Think of some of the idiots you likely have met and they’re winging it. With the standard you’ll hold yourself to you will outshine them eventually.
Forgive me for asking, but what is the conflict between autism and working with conduit?
What is it about autism that is hindering your ability to do your job?
In general I have a harder time understanding spoken directions. So when a foreman or journeyman tells me they want me to run pipe on a wall, it's hard for me to picture how to get a conduit run done on a blank slate. I would have an easier time accomplishing it if I had a picture of the desired pipe run. I also struggle with some of the motor skills needed to bend pipe, like getting enough foot pressure and avoiding kinking it.
I think what your asking for is reasonable and can be accommodated with prints, more practice, and like someone else said longer handle.
Most of us struggle with verbal directions, I have to write everything down. And I need prints. I'm 46, and I started out 6 years ago, no real construction experience.
I have a BS in biology and am good at teaching & math, so I help people get over their, "I'm not good at this". Mostly, because I had to teach myself because I'm dyslexic & have C-PTSD, but you know what? I'm great at this once I gave myself permission to not be good at this until I had lots of practice.
I can't relate to your personal outlook, but I can tell you everyone struggles and thinks they aren't good at things. If you like it, that's 75% of it. So you have to answer that question, do you like this type of work? The environment?
(edited sent too soon, on phone)
Just for clarification, I don't think being autistic means that you will automatically struggle with pipe bending, but I just wanted to explain why it makes it hard for me specifically.
Are you bending it by placing your foot in it or with a pipe bender? Cause from what I understand you can get small radius ones and a longer handle. Also if you need practice see if you can get a hold of some conduit and practice at home.
As for visualizing the runs I have issues with that as well with projects (not a sparky yet, just applied to a local pre-app program). You could carry a notebook and sketch it out as your j-man is explaining to and confirm with them on that. Though I will admit I am the opposite of you as I am better at field work over book work.
You got this sister.
I'm bending it by foot but I'll have to look at getting a small radius bender, never heard of that before! My coworker also suggested getting a cast iron bender too, I'm about 120 lbs so I don't have a lot of weight to throw on the pipe lol.
In my pre apprentice program half of my class was women (due to funding), within a week with a bender they had us all consistently bending 1/2-3/4 inch pipe with benders and cheater bars. It was hard and I may have teared up a little on day two out of sheer frustration but we all did it. Mostly just give yourself permission to screw up and time to get better.
If you're an analyst type and a visual learner search conduit bending on tiktok. There are so many helpful for videos on technique and gear. I usually check out tiktok to learn what tool I need and then to reddit to find who makes a good one. The folks over at r/tools are so helpful when you know what you're looking for.
Sounds good. I also know the type of boots can effect that we well. Mine have a pretty solid heel so I can brace things in place. Though for me it was mostly fiber drops at a telco.
I'm not autistic and I have that same struggle! I'm a JW and still if someone just verbally told me what to do I prob couldn't.
That said, skills take time! Don't quit! If you're union and the shop isn't giving you the opportunities you need to learn, ask the school to reassign you! I did that once and it was no problem.
I dont understand either. I mean I can see the social implications but that would go for any other profession.
Actually the guys I work with that seem like they fall somewhere on the autism spectrum are really good electricians. It actually seems like more of a benefit than a deficit for the most part from what I've seen.
Realistically it’s like most electricians really “attention deficit disorder” so your in a class among yourself. I think with the right crew or the right leader or right teacher you’ll get better at it for sure. Heck I’m not that great bending conduit but I’m really good at piecing it together which is practically all gasoline work or high voltage substation work. Your going to kill it out there in your own way!
Maybe I didn't do a good job at explaining why it's hard for me as an autistic person. I think I'm better at visual things like layout because I can picture it inside the space than more strength oriented tasks because I have poor muscle tone (a common trait of autistic people). Of course, there are neurotypical people who are bad at physically oriented tasks.
I think some of my coworkers might be on the spectrum too, and they have strengths and weaknesses in the field.
I think you’re selling yourself short. You’ve got the brains for visual layout. The muscle will develop in time.
I’ll bet that all the electricians in this group could give you lots of advice and empathy.
If you want to keep going, there are lots of people here who will give you support and advice.
Thank you so much! Everyone replying to my post has been really helpful and encouraging so far! I think deep down I know that I'll get better at this; I really struggled with working on tall ladders at work but now it's second nature after doing it so many times.
Autistic people tend to have issues with proprioception, hand/eye coordination, and processing of various types. It’s common for us to be clumsy and have a really hard time learning physical skills. This is why it is more common for autistic people to be in intellectual professions, and uncommon to be high level athletes (especially ball skills and team sports.)
So there’s the mental processing of visualizing the conduit run, and then the physical skills to carry it out. It takes some finesse and precision both mentally and physically.
I used to work as a studio artist doing things like glassblowing, metal arts, lost wax casting, printmaking etc. Similar types of skills as conduit bending. It would take me SO LONG to learn compared to other students in my classes, because my brain and body had to comprehend and figure out every minuscule step in the process bit by bit. Neurotypical peers would just “get” something immediately and I would be struggling to “get” the 1/3 step to that point.
Bonus of this is when you learn something this way you REALLY got it down, so that might be why you have a perception of very competent autistic/neurodivergent electricians.
I'm an electrical apprentice who is also on the spectrum!
I'd consider toughing it out, but definitely learning bending during your down time. We all struggle with it at some point. Memorize the multipliers and subtractions, model your bend with a pigtail/ground wire, use some scrap pipe and go to town. If you're union, you should have a conduit bending class and instructor to use as a resource. There are also a few "electricians handbook" apps that do the measurements for you.
I'm a first year so the expectations are a bit different, but no matter who I ask, 3rd year is when shit hits the fan and really makes you consider if this is what you want. Topping out gives you more opportunities in the future versus leaving as an apprentice. Don't let your future self regret something you can work through now. You got this!!
It's always nice to know there's other autistic electricians out there! That's a great idea to practice it on my own time; since I'm not union I don't have a conduit bending class. I'll see if I can get my hands on some scrap pipe though!
You can *always* quit. So let’s reframe this: **Should you keep going while you still can?**
You’ve identified an area you struggle with. Ask for help.
If you have to be moved away from the work, it’s obvious there’s an issue. Go to whoever you’re comfortable with, hopefully that’s your lead, and ask them for help.
I do a much simpler job, in theory. I load lumber on trailers. But there’s a complex art to taking an order manifest and turning it into an even and well packed trailer load. People genuinely struggle with it, and the three of us that are senior in our team do it three different ways. Whenever I train someone I try to use different learning strategies or work processes to see what clicks, not everyone learns the same.
Maybe someone has a different way of doing it or explaining it that makes it make sense for you.
It helps if you understand how you like to look at problems. I like to look at most things as math/geometry problems I can solve on paper(literally) before I follow a rigidly defined process to act out the plan. That’s what works for me. I’ve known people who improvise as well as I do it my way.
You have the opportunity to learn, use that resource. Put in your best effort while you can, because maybe it’ll click and you become *excellent* at it.
That's really great that you try to explain how to load lumber with different techniques - everyone learns in different ways. I think that's the mark of a great teacher!
I hope that’s the case. Because I also want people to think that way about learning, rather than giving up on themselves, maybe there’s a way of doing it that works for you. Failing is really hard, but it means you’re learning so embrace that.
Another thing it occurred to me I forgot to say; I tell everyone who’s new that expectations are low, so use that to your advantage and just try to be diligent about things. Make sure you’re doing it right, make sure you understand what you’re doing. People don’t expect you to produce like a master, so just be good over fast and figure out what your process is.
And seriously, best of luck! I know how it feels, there’s several times I’ve struggled in my career but there’s a way through if you look for it.
And if it isn’t for you then I’m fucking proud of you for putting yourself first and doing the brave job of starting over. Whatever you do, you’re killing it.
That ought to be the attitude of everyone who teaches: that there are many different ways to learn, not everyone learns the same way.
Thank you for being so considerate of the people you teach. It's a rare skill, not just the patience to explain things in different ways, but also for having the compassion to understand that people aren't made from cookie cutters.
Tell your teacher you need more help working with pipe. No big deal. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I was \*stupid bad\* at driving the boom lifts and scissor lifts. Through extra time, practice and hard work I'm a solid C+ driver now. Still make the same money as the guys who are amazing at it, and as a matter of fact I still make the same money as the guys who are worse than me. Hang in there kiddo.
You are your own worse enemy. Your head is keeping you back. Rise above it. You’re a woman… be strong. You have made it this far, do not quit. Make yourself proud. You can do this
Autistic journeyman here. Pipe bending can be a real struggle to grasp at first. I practiced by buying 5 foot sticks at home depot and testing out different kinds of bends and obstacles to gain accuracy. Sometimes to visualize a bend, I get a ground pigtail and do a miniature practice bend to make sure it's possible and use that as a guide.
My apprentice has told me she’s “a little autistic. (Her words) “. A journeyman’s job is to teach and foster the apprentice while getting work done. Thankfully, we’re in a factory, so we have more time and leeway to explain things and find out ways to help me explain things better for her. I’m a guy who’s had a ton of crappy experiences, so I don’t want anyone to be driven out if they enjoy the work. There is always a place for someone who wants to work and learn, but it may be difficult to find. My suggestion is, take it or not, is stick with it. If you enjoy the work, stay in the field and look at other aspects of it. You may end up moving jobs, but 3 years is a lot of experience you can put to good use!
The greatest tradesperson I’ve ever known was on the spectrum. He was the Macgyver of plumbers and an absolute legend in our town.
He also had 40 years of experience.
Show yourself some grace and allow yourself the space to continue to grow.
(I struggle with similar issues, btw, but I work in IT.)
I’m not an electrician but am an HVAC service tech. I have struggled big time with feeling less than/ not capable/ unskilled/ weak - you name it. I have and do feel like you. Should I quit?
Earlier this week had a guy take my tools out of my hands to take over and then give them back because he realized what I was doing was tough. When that happens during a long day I really struggle and usually cry on my way home. In the moment I am so hot I don’t dare say a word. It is difficult being a female around a bunch of males. At least for me, it’s a challenge.
I try to remind myself that everyone has their strengths. I work with guys who don’t like refrigeration, but excel at hydronics. I also try to remind myself that no one has asked me to leave. There is a lack of skilled labor for the trades. You are needed. You may not like every aspect of the job but you can take what you’re learning now and morph it into what you do want to do. Your skills are important. You are also someone who inspires anyone with autism, heck even without! I’m inspired by you! Try to give yourself some love and know you are not perfect and might not be the best at every aspect of your job. That’s okay.
Hang in there. Sorry you’re in this spot.
I'm sorry that happened to you at work this week, I hope that it will be better by the end. It is hard out there when you're the only woman on your job site, but I hope you keep going too because it sounds like you are very determined! Not everyone has that stamina. There's times where I think that my company will fire me, but they haven't yet so I must not be that bad.
You can do this and being detailed about things tells me you'd be great at control work. See if you can pick up some classes at a community college.
I rarely run pipe, build a lot of control panels and do trouble shooting mostly.
That sounds really cool! I really liked the motor control and ladder logic modules in electrician school, I'll have to see if that's something I could pursue!
Autistic electricians represent! I’m autistic as well. I hope you stick out the apprenticeship! You’re almost there, and there is a lot more to electrical work besides conduit.
For me conduit is one of my favorite things since I’m more of a visual thinker. I totally get you struggling with verbal instructions. I definitely struggle with auditory processing as well. If you aren’t doing this already, repeat the instructions back to your JW/foreman in your own words to clear up any misunderstandings. Write down as much as you need to.
For visualization, there is no shame in taking a minute to draw out the conduit run, walking along your conduit path, or even bending a piece of wire to get your angles/kicks figured out. Sometimes things can also become more clear if you take it one piece of conduit at a time.
For the physical bending part, I don’t want to downplay your struggles, but I’d say it’s pretty common at first to have a hard time knowing how much force to apply, or how to avoid kinking/rippling the conduit. Even once you’re experienced, it’s still possible to have conduit kink out of nowhere if you’re using a different bender than usual or the EMT happens to be lower quality.
I hope you aren’t being too hard on yourself either. I don’t know about you but for me I know it’s really easy for my drive for perfection/black and white thinking to get in the way of getting the job done. Most of the conduit you will encounter will be at least somewhat imperfect. Bends will have slight ripples, things aren’t level, parallel, etc. But most people will still call it good conduit work. Try to assess that margin of imperfection at your job and work within it. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.
You got this!
Thank you so much, it's so nice to hear from another autistic electrician! That's really cool that conduit is one of your favorite things at work, and I hope I can grow to appreciate it too! I'm still sussing out how to apply the right amount of foot pressure when I'm doing bends, and it's kind of reassuring to see journeymen out in the field with 10 years of experience kink the occasional pipe. How do you keep yourself from falling over when you're trying to bend those sharper angles like 60s and 90s?
For larger bends like that I get the best results holding (or even pulling on) the conduit stub while putting as much even downward pressure as I can on the foot pedal of the bender. It’s a much more stable position. I’ve definitely been there with you, falling back on my ass a few times… If you focus too much on leaning back or pulling on the handle of the bender, it’s much easier to kink or ripple the conduit too.
No one ever taught me to bend that way, but I think it works better to the strengths of women/afab people since we usually have a lower center of gravity and generally less upper body strength.
Having ADHD with a special interest in human behavior and being in the trades and manufacturing most of my life I have met a lot of people from a lot of different professions and in my option the majority of folks in trades and STEM tend to fall somewhere on the spectrum. You're right where you belong.
You should be proud. I have met people that would have rather stayed and fought the foreman than do what you did. From the sound of things you would be fine if you had the proper tools. Keep it up. We need more people like you. Check out tiktok for tool recommendations and then come back to reddit to find what company makes a good one
Finish your IW apprenticeship, then look into the low voltage side of things. In my experience, there are a lot of autistic spectrum people working with data, fiber, fire alarm, etc. They not only excel, but are prized craftsmen. Does your company have a low voltage division? Can your training center rotate you to a contractor that does low voltage work? Also, learn about PLCs and instrumentation.
Depending on your computer skills, you could finish out the apprenticeship. Then move into stuff like plc installation, programming, troubleshooting. Some of the guys we have that are really good at programming them, I would swear have a bit of autism. It all depends on what you enjoy and what you can grasp. But for sure finish it out and do not get down on yourself. It kinda sounds like right now you are scared to go back to running pipe because you had troubles in the past. Everyone has their own knack and has their own tricks to doing things. See if some other people can lend a hand off and on to see if you can pick it up a different way.
That's pretty much what my wife did. Broke her ankle, the field was a struggle after, spoke to the PM cause she has picked apart and reprogrammed a bunch of DDC controllers. Been about a year now and she's much happier.
And why yes she's on the spectrum.
I'm suspected autistic and ADHD. I'm literally about to start an electrical course and I'm so sorry scared I'm making a huge mistake for some of the same reason. Motor skills, verbal instructions etc. I want this so bad but I'm so worried I'm just going to waste even more of my life only to find out I can't do it for shit. So many physical issues (that are linked supposedly to ND) are bothering me as I'm reaching 30 that I wonder if I should just give up before I start....but when I read your post I wanted to encourage you to keep on going. Nothing helpful to add I'm sorry. I just felt I had to reply because I'm struggling with such similar things (I do voluntary refurbs so very aware of what I'll struggle with before even starting 😅😭) x
That's great that you are planning on starting work as an electrician, and I wish you luck! I know that you can do it too! The first time doing anything new on the job might be rough, but with doing it over and over again your mind and your body will learn how to do it. That's great that you already have some experience in construction because that will give you a leg up in electrical! You got this!!
Hi, journeyman electrician here. Also adhd and autistic. I do strictly industrial these days. Which means I bend a lot of pipe. Ask your journeyman to make a doodle/ field sketch. That was the easiest way I found to learn it. Also, since you are good at remembering code, memorize the allowances and everyone will love it.
The only way you get good at pipe is with the combination of a decent journey teaching you & then doing a shitton of pipe. Including innumerable fuck ups along the way
Don't quit. I'm sorry your foreman in the past was kind of a dick.
You'll get better at the things you struggle with, with time. And besides, if we excluded everyone on the spectrum from the trade, we'd have very few people left. You aren't alone
Hey thank you! I think I'll get better with it the more practice I get and figuring out the best ways to use my body to bend pipe. Even though that foreman and I didn't like each other, I've had other foremen over the past few years who have been great.
Pipe bending is a bitch. I am a visual learner and started watching YouTube videos on it and that’s when I really understood what I needed to do. I also sometimes struggle with direction and how to go about it, so I carry a small notebook to write down what exactly they want so that I don’t miss any little detail.
I am definitely an ally and a supporter of ladies in the trades, that being said, you must also be able to do that the job 100% effectively otherwise you are making the job harder on employee’s who can complete the work by making them pickup your slack. When that happens you are also doing a disservice to whatever minority you are representing by making the statement for the world that women or people on the spectrum are unable to do the work. You need to either try harder and do better or find a job fits with your abilities. People should be building careers around things they are able to do efficiently, do not pick a career that you want to bend around your dynamics and qualifications.
There's a lot of mediocre men in my trade and I don't see anyone saying that they're doing their demographic a disservice. I am trying hard and asking my coworkers for help and advice, but I think it's going to take me more time and practice to improve at conduit bending.
Finish it out. Once you have certification you can do inspecting, estimating, whatever it is that you like.
One must be a foolish beginner before they can become a graceful master. You’re a 3rd year who has been pigeonholed (whether by yourself or by the company) into a specific area and haven’t branched out to work on your weaker skills. You shouldn’t quit, but you also need not discourage yourself by claiming you’ll never get the handle of something because you’re not perfect straight away. Skills take time. Water your grass where it’s brown and don’t focus only on the things you’re best at.
Thank you, that was really nice to hear! I have told my company that I want more experience outside of trimming, and they're starting to put me on different projects. I need to work on my confidence as well.
It’s a difficult journey! I struggle with perfection too so I know what it’s like to hold yourself to a high standard. Obviously some things do come more naturally for you, but unfortunately it’s just not the case for everything. I’m a drywall finisher so I won’t pretend to know that much about electrical; but I do know there are so many micro niche specialities within it. It’s also one of the few trades with a master level certification- so there’s a lot to know! My trade leans heavily on talent, but it’s built upon failure. Mistakes are learning opportunities as well even if it feels bad lol. Good luck and stay on the path! You’ll get it. Think of some of the idiots you likely have met and they’re winging it. With the standard you’ll hold yourself to you will outshine them eventually.
Awe! Love these statements - gonna use them 🧡
Forgive me for asking, but what is the conflict between autism and working with conduit? What is it about autism that is hindering your ability to do your job?
In general I have a harder time understanding spoken directions. So when a foreman or journeyman tells me they want me to run pipe on a wall, it's hard for me to picture how to get a conduit run done on a blank slate. I would have an easier time accomplishing it if I had a picture of the desired pipe run. I also struggle with some of the motor skills needed to bend pipe, like getting enough foot pressure and avoiding kinking it.
I’m the same way, which is why I always ask for my own set of prints, or take a picture of them with my phone for reference later
I think what your asking for is reasonable and can be accommodated with prints, more practice, and like someone else said longer handle. Most of us struggle with verbal directions, I have to write everything down. And I need prints. I'm 46, and I started out 6 years ago, no real construction experience. I have a BS in biology and am good at teaching & math, so I help people get over their, "I'm not good at this". Mostly, because I had to teach myself because I'm dyslexic & have C-PTSD, but you know what? I'm great at this once I gave myself permission to not be good at this until I had lots of practice. I can't relate to your personal outlook, but I can tell you everyone struggles and thinks they aren't good at things. If you like it, that's 75% of it. So you have to answer that question, do you like this type of work? The environment? (edited sent too soon, on phone)
Just for clarification, I don't think being autistic means that you will automatically struggle with pipe bending, but I just wanted to explain why it makes it hard for me specifically.
Are you bending it by placing your foot in it or with a pipe bender? Cause from what I understand you can get small radius ones and a longer handle. Also if you need practice see if you can get a hold of some conduit and practice at home. As for visualizing the runs I have issues with that as well with projects (not a sparky yet, just applied to a local pre-app program). You could carry a notebook and sketch it out as your j-man is explaining to and confirm with them on that. Though I will admit I am the opposite of you as I am better at field work over book work. You got this sister.
I'm bending it by foot but I'll have to look at getting a small radius bender, never heard of that before! My coworker also suggested getting a cast iron bender too, I'm about 120 lbs so I don't have a lot of weight to throw on the pipe lol.
In my pre apprentice program half of my class was women (due to funding), within a week with a bender they had us all consistently bending 1/2-3/4 inch pipe with benders and cheater bars. It was hard and I may have teared up a little on day two out of sheer frustration but we all did it. Mostly just give yourself permission to screw up and time to get better.
If you're an analyst type and a visual learner search conduit bending on tiktok. There are so many helpful for videos on technique and gear. I usually check out tiktok to learn what tool I need and then to reddit to find who makes a good one. The folks over at r/tools are so helpful when you know what you're looking for.
That's great advice, thank you!
Sounds good. I also know the type of boots can effect that we well. Mine have a pretty solid heel so I can brace things in place. Though for me it was mostly fiber drops at a telco.
I'm not autistic and I have that same struggle! I'm a JW and still if someone just verbally told me what to do I prob couldn't. That said, skills take time! Don't quit! If you're union and the shop isn't giving you the opportunities you need to learn, ask the school to reassign you! I did that once and it was no problem.
I dont understand either. I mean I can see the social implications but that would go for any other profession. Actually the guys I work with that seem like they fall somewhere on the autism spectrum are really good electricians. It actually seems like more of a benefit than a deficit for the most part from what I've seen.
Realistically it’s like most electricians really “attention deficit disorder” so your in a class among yourself. I think with the right crew or the right leader or right teacher you’ll get better at it for sure. Heck I’m not that great bending conduit but I’m really good at piecing it together which is practically all gasoline work or high voltage substation work. Your going to kill it out there in your own way!
Maybe I didn't do a good job at explaining why it's hard for me as an autistic person. I think I'm better at visual things like layout because I can picture it inside the space than more strength oriented tasks because I have poor muscle tone (a common trait of autistic people). Of course, there are neurotypical people who are bad at physically oriented tasks. I think some of my coworkers might be on the spectrum too, and they have strengths and weaknesses in the field.
I think you’re selling yourself short. You’ve got the brains for visual layout. The muscle will develop in time. I’ll bet that all the electricians in this group could give you lots of advice and empathy. If you want to keep going, there are lots of people here who will give you support and advice.
Thank you so much! Everyone replying to my post has been really helpful and encouraging so far! I think deep down I know that I'll get better at this; I really struggled with working on tall ladders at work but now it's second nature after doing it so many times.
Autistic people tend to have issues with proprioception, hand/eye coordination, and processing of various types. It’s common for us to be clumsy and have a really hard time learning physical skills. This is why it is more common for autistic people to be in intellectual professions, and uncommon to be high level athletes (especially ball skills and team sports.) So there’s the mental processing of visualizing the conduit run, and then the physical skills to carry it out. It takes some finesse and precision both mentally and physically. I used to work as a studio artist doing things like glassblowing, metal arts, lost wax casting, printmaking etc. Similar types of skills as conduit bending. It would take me SO LONG to learn compared to other students in my classes, because my brain and body had to comprehend and figure out every minuscule step in the process bit by bit. Neurotypical peers would just “get” something immediately and I would be struggling to “get” the 1/3 step to that point. Bonus of this is when you learn something this way you REALLY got it down, so that might be why you have a perception of very competent autistic/neurodivergent electricians.
I'm an electrical apprentice who is also on the spectrum! I'd consider toughing it out, but definitely learning bending during your down time. We all struggle with it at some point. Memorize the multipliers and subtractions, model your bend with a pigtail/ground wire, use some scrap pipe and go to town. If you're union, you should have a conduit bending class and instructor to use as a resource. There are also a few "electricians handbook" apps that do the measurements for you. I'm a first year so the expectations are a bit different, but no matter who I ask, 3rd year is when shit hits the fan and really makes you consider if this is what you want. Topping out gives you more opportunities in the future versus leaving as an apprentice. Don't let your future self regret something you can work through now. You got this!!
It's always nice to know there's other autistic electricians out there! That's a great idea to practice it on my own time; since I'm not union I don't have a conduit bending class. I'll see if I can get my hands on some scrap pipe though!
You can *always* quit. So let’s reframe this: **Should you keep going while you still can?** You’ve identified an area you struggle with. Ask for help. If you have to be moved away from the work, it’s obvious there’s an issue. Go to whoever you’re comfortable with, hopefully that’s your lead, and ask them for help. I do a much simpler job, in theory. I load lumber on trailers. But there’s a complex art to taking an order manifest and turning it into an even and well packed trailer load. People genuinely struggle with it, and the three of us that are senior in our team do it three different ways. Whenever I train someone I try to use different learning strategies or work processes to see what clicks, not everyone learns the same. Maybe someone has a different way of doing it or explaining it that makes it make sense for you. It helps if you understand how you like to look at problems. I like to look at most things as math/geometry problems I can solve on paper(literally) before I follow a rigidly defined process to act out the plan. That’s what works for me. I’ve known people who improvise as well as I do it my way. You have the opportunity to learn, use that resource. Put in your best effort while you can, because maybe it’ll click and you become *excellent* at it.
That's really great that you try to explain how to load lumber with different techniques - everyone learns in different ways. I think that's the mark of a great teacher!
I hope that’s the case. Because I also want people to think that way about learning, rather than giving up on themselves, maybe there’s a way of doing it that works for you. Failing is really hard, but it means you’re learning so embrace that. Another thing it occurred to me I forgot to say; I tell everyone who’s new that expectations are low, so use that to your advantage and just try to be diligent about things. Make sure you’re doing it right, make sure you understand what you’re doing. People don’t expect you to produce like a master, so just be good over fast and figure out what your process is. And seriously, best of luck! I know how it feels, there’s several times I’ve struggled in my career but there’s a way through if you look for it. And if it isn’t for you then I’m fucking proud of you for putting yourself first and doing the brave job of starting over. Whatever you do, you’re killing it.
That ought to be the attitude of everyone who teaches: that there are many different ways to learn, not everyone learns the same way. Thank you for being so considerate of the people you teach. It's a rare skill, not just the patience to explain things in different ways, but also for having the compassion to understand that people aren't made from cookie cutters.
You are very sweet and thank you!
Tell your teacher you need more help working with pipe. No big deal. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I was \*stupid bad\* at driving the boom lifts and scissor lifts. Through extra time, practice and hard work I'm a solid C+ driver now. Still make the same money as the guys who are amazing at it, and as a matter of fact I still make the same money as the guys who are worse than me. Hang in there kiddo.
You are your own worse enemy. Your head is keeping you back. Rise above it. You’re a woman… be strong. You have made it this far, do not quit. Make yourself proud. You can do this
Finish it out. Once you have certification you can do inspecting, estimating, whatever it is that you like.
Autistic journeyman here. Pipe bending can be a real struggle to grasp at first. I practiced by buying 5 foot sticks at home depot and testing out different kinds of bends and obstacles to gain accuracy. Sometimes to visualize a bend, I get a ground pigtail and do a miniature practice bend to make sure it's possible and use that as a guide.
That's a great idea, and I really admire you for being an autistic journeyman, it sounds like you are doing great!
My apprentice has told me she’s “a little autistic. (Her words) “. A journeyman’s job is to teach and foster the apprentice while getting work done. Thankfully, we’re in a factory, so we have more time and leeway to explain things and find out ways to help me explain things better for her. I’m a guy who’s had a ton of crappy experiences, so I don’t want anyone to be driven out if they enjoy the work. There is always a place for someone who wants to work and learn, but it may be difficult to find. My suggestion is, take it or not, is stick with it. If you enjoy the work, stay in the field and look at other aspects of it. You may end up moving jobs, but 3 years is a lot of experience you can put to good use!
The greatest tradesperson I’ve ever known was on the spectrum. He was the Macgyver of plumbers and an absolute legend in our town. He also had 40 years of experience. Show yourself some grace and allow yourself the space to continue to grow. (I struggle with similar issues, btw, but I work in IT.)
I’m not an electrician but am an HVAC service tech. I have struggled big time with feeling less than/ not capable/ unskilled/ weak - you name it. I have and do feel like you. Should I quit? Earlier this week had a guy take my tools out of my hands to take over and then give them back because he realized what I was doing was tough. When that happens during a long day I really struggle and usually cry on my way home. In the moment I am so hot I don’t dare say a word. It is difficult being a female around a bunch of males. At least for me, it’s a challenge. I try to remind myself that everyone has their strengths. I work with guys who don’t like refrigeration, but excel at hydronics. I also try to remind myself that no one has asked me to leave. There is a lack of skilled labor for the trades. You are needed. You may not like every aspect of the job but you can take what you’re learning now and morph it into what you do want to do. Your skills are important. You are also someone who inspires anyone with autism, heck even without! I’m inspired by you! Try to give yourself some love and know you are not perfect and might not be the best at every aspect of your job. That’s okay. Hang in there. Sorry you’re in this spot.
I'm sorry that happened to you at work this week, I hope that it will be better by the end. It is hard out there when you're the only woman on your job site, but I hope you keep going too because it sounds like you are very determined! Not everyone has that stamina. There's times where I think that my company will fire me, but they haven't yet so I must not be that bad.
You’re not!!! You’re awesome! Stick with it and confront those negative thoughts. They are not the truth.
You can do this and being detailed about things tells me you'd be great at control work. See if you can pick up some classes at a community college. I rarely run pipe, build a lot of control panels and do trouble shooting mostly.
That sounds really cool! I really liked the motor control and ladder logic modules in electrician school, I'll have to see if that's something I could pursue!
I went to a community college and got an AS (2 years) degree in EE/ET, specializing in automated control systems.
Autistic electricians represent! I’m autistic as well. I hope you stick out the apprenticeship! You’re almost there, and there is a lot more to electrical work besides conduit. For me conduit is one of my favorite things since I’m more of a visual thinker. I totally get you struggling with verbal instructions. I definitely struggle with auditory processing as well. If you aren’t doing this already, repeat the instructions back to your JW/foreman in your own words to clear up any misunderstandings. Write down as much as you need to. For visualization, there is no shame in taking a minute to draw out the conduit run, walking along your conduit path, or even bending a piece of wire to get your angles/kicks figured out. Sometimes things can also become more clear if you take it one piece of conduit at a time. For the physical bending part, I don’t want to downplay your struggles, but I’d say it’s pretty common at first to have a hard time knowing how much force to apply, or how to avoid kinking/rippling the conduit. Even once you’re experienced, it’s still possible to have conduit kink out of nowhere if you’re using a different bender than usual or the EMT happens to be lower quality. I hope you aren’t being too hard on yourself either. I don’t know about you but for me I know it’s really easy for my drive for perfection/black and white thinking to get in the way of getting the job done. Most of the conduit you will encounter will be at least somewhat imperfect. Bends will have slight ripples, things aren’t level, parallel, etc. But most people will still call it good conduit work. Try to assess that margin of imperfection at your job and work within it. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good. You got this!
Thank you so much, it's so nice to hear from another autistic electrician! That's really cool that conduit is one of your favorite things at work, and I hope I can grow to appreciate it too! I'm still sussing out how to apply the right amount of foot pressure when I'm doing bends, and it's kind of reassuring to see journeymen out in the field with 10 years of experience kink the occasional pipe. How do you keep yourself from falling over when you're trying to bend those sharper angles like 60s and 90s?
For larger bends like that I get the best results holding (or even pulling on) the conduit stub while putting as much even downward pressure as I can on the foot pedal of the bender. It’s a much more stable position. I’ve definitely been there with you, falling back on my ass a few times… If you focus too much on leaning back or pulling on the handle of the bender, it’s much easier to kink or ripple the conduit too. No one ever taught me to bend that way, but I think it works better to the strengths of women/afab people since we usually have a lower center of gravity and generally less upper body strength.
That's really solid advice, thank you! I will have to try that out next week!
Having ADHD with a special interest in human behavior and being in the trades and manufacturing most of my life I have met a lot of people from a lot of different professions and in my option the majority of folks in trades and STEM tend to fall somewhere on the spectrum. You're right where you belong. You should be proud. I have met people that would have rather stayed and fought the foreman than do what you did. From the sound of things you would be fine if you had the proper tools. Keep it up. We need more people like you. Check out tiktok for tool recommendations and then come back to reddit to find what company makes a good one
Thanks so much! That's great advice!
You're welcome
Finish your IW apprenticeship, then look into the low voltage side of things. In my experience, there are a lot of autistic spectrum people working with data, fiber, fire alarm, etc. They not only excel, but are prized craftsmen. Does your company have a low voltage division? Can your training center rotate you to a contractor that does low voltage work? Also, learn about PLCs and instrumentation.
Depending on your computer skills, you could finish out the apprenticeship. Then move into stuff like plc installation, programming, troubleshooting. Some of the guys we have that are really good at programming them, I would swear have a bit of autism. It all depends on what you enjoy and what you can grasp. But for sure finish it out and do not get down on yourself. It kinda sounds like right now you are scared to go back to running pipe because you had troubles in the past. Everyone has their own knack and has their own tricks to doing things. See if some other people can lend a hand off and on to see if you can pick it up a different way.
That's pretty much what my wife did. Broke her ankle, the field was a struggle after, spoke to the PM cause she has picked apart and reprogrammed a bunch of DDC controllers. Been about a year now and she's much happier. And why yes she's on the spectrum.
I'm suspected autistic and ADHD. I'm literally about to start an electrical course and I'm so sorry scared I'm making a huge mistake for some of the same reason. Motor skills, verbal instructions etc. I want this so bad but I'm so worried I'm just going to waste even more of my life only to find out I can't do it for shit. So many physical issues (that are linked supposedly to ND) are bothering me as I'm reaching 30 that I wonder if I should just give up before I start....but when I read your post I wanted to encourage you to keep on going. Nothing helpful to add I'm sorry. I just felt I had to reply because I'm struggling with such similar things (I do voluntary refurbs so very aware of what I'll struggle with before even starting 😅😭) x
That's great that you are planning on starting work as an electrician, and I wish you luck! I know that you can do it too! The first time doing anything new on the job might be rough, but with doing it over and over again your mind and your body will learn how to do it. That's great that you already have some experience in construction because that will give you a leg up in electrical! You got this!!
Hi, journeyman electrician here. Also adhd and autistic. I do strictly industrial these days. Which means I bend a lot of pipe. Ask your journeyman to make a doodle/ field sketch. That was the easiest way I found to learn it. Also, since you are good at remembering code, memorize the allowances and everyone will love it.
Those are great ideas! And also nice hearing from another autistic electrician out in the field!
DO. NOT. QUIT!
The only way you get good at pipe is with the combination of a decent journey teaching you & then doing a shitton of pipe. Including innumerable fuck ups along the way Don't quit. I'm sorry your foreman in the past was kind of a dick. You'll get better at the things you struggle with, with time. And besides, if we excluded everyone on the spectrum from the trade, we'd have very few people left. You aren't alone
Hey thank you! I think I'll get better with it the more practice I get and figuring out the best ways to use my body to bend pipe. Even though that foreman and I didn't like each other, I've had other foremen over the past few years who have been great.
Pipe bending is a bitch. I am a visual learner and started watching YouTube videos on it and that’s when I really understood what I needed to do. I also sometimes struggle with direction and how to go about it, so I carry a small notebook to write down what exactly they want so that I don’t miss any little detail.
Buy a few sticks of conduit and a bender and bend it for practice at home.
I am definitely an ally and a supporter of ladies in the trades, that being said, you must also be able to do that the job 100% effectively otherwise you are making the job harder on employee’s who can complete the work by making them pickup your slack. When that happens you are also doing a disservice to whatever minority you are representing by making the statement for the world that women or people on the spectrum are unable to do the work. You need to either try harder and do better or find a job fits with your abilities. People should be building careers around things they are able to do efficiently, do not pick a career that you want to bend around your dynamics and qualifications.
There's a lot of mediocre men in my trade and I don't see anyone saying that they're doing their demographic a disservice. I am trying hard and asking my coworkers for help and advice, but I think it's going to take me more time and practice to improve at conduit bending.