Employers were blown away when they read the cover letter that Ryan Lowry posted on LinkedIn recently.
Due to its unusual nature, it immediately started going viral.
Lowry doesn’t beat around the bush — he has autism and wants potential companies to be aware of that fact upfront.
It’s a story of hope and embracing the natural differences among people.
According to Lowry, some of us simply learn differently than others. However, that doesn’t mean one way is better than another method. There are all sorts of strengths and weaknesses to every approach and there is certainly variability too.
Variability is the keyword here, but we’ll let you read the letter and then decide for yourself what you think.
For starters, the letter wasn’t typed up on a computer like most of the cover letters that we are used to seeing.
Lowry’s was neatly penned on a sheet of notebook paper in black ink. Some would say that it’s a great way to stand out. Others that it’s simply a good way to get your letter thrown in the bin. However, Lowry already realized that his letter was not typical. He also doesn’t consider himself typical.
“I realize that someone like you will have to take a chance on me, I don’t learn like typical people do,” wrote Lowry.
Living with autism, we imagine that Lowry is no stranger to overcoming challenges.
Yet, at 19-years-old and about to enter the job market during one of the most difficult economic times in recent history, landing a position wasn’t going to be easy for him.
He explained that hiring him might require a different approach than the company is accustomed to, while also promising that it will be well worth the effort.
“I would need a mentor to teach me, but I learn quickly, once you explain it, I get it. I promise that if you hire me and teach me, you’ll be glad that you did. I will show up every day, do what you tell me to do, and work really hard.”
Lowry also explained that he is gifted at math and technology, and has a love for IT and animation.
They are two fields that he believes he would excel in. However, he also realized that simply stating that sounds pretty good, but employers aren’t just in the habit of dishing out jobs willy-nilly. Ultimately, he is hoping that someone takes a flyer on him and gives him a chance.
Aren’t we all though? Is Lowry really unique in that regard?
One commenter from LinkedIn who also is on the spectrum summed it all up quite nicely:
“The unemployment rate for people with autism is upwards of 85%. The reason is simple — they have the skills to do the jobs, but employers screen them out, either with ‘personality tests’, which have a heavy preference to neurotypicals, or with BS interview practices,” said Tyler Cameron.
An 85% unemployment rate is a shocking number for any group, so we had to confirm it for ourselves.
This report elaborates a little bit further. It turns out, 85% is the figure for unemployment among autistic individuals who have graduated from university. They might have held a job at some point in the past, but don’t hold one now.
In addition, for those just entering adulthood, the situation is equally grim.
Based on the research done by A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, almost 42% of young adults on the autism spectrum never worked for pay at all during their early 20s. Of the portion that had worked a job between 21 and 25 years old, it was likely to be low paying and part-time.
That doesn’t mean that individuals with disabilities are not working by choice though. Far from it. Lowry’s parents elaborated on the situation in an interview with TODAY.
“Ryan is capable of so much,” explained Lowry’s dad. “The goal here for Ryan is independence. He can live in our basement for the rest of his life. We’d love it. But Tracy and I are going to die someday, and he needs to be able to live independently. We’re cautiously optimistic.”
Check out the viral post showing the man with autism’s full cover letter below.
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