VIDEO. Autistic Asperger, he opens his own creperie

A few months ago, Samuel, 29, with autism, opened a creperie in a van of which he is the own boss and the sole employee. After a difficult professional integration and many refusals, he decides to start his own business.

“They just didn’t want me”

AT 17 years, Samuel is diagnosed with Asperger’s autism. His difference earned him teasing at school and later, the difficulty of finding a job. This one was looking for “first of all” a job where he could make a living. He had 151 job interviews. None lead to a potential position. “I told them that I had the right to an RQTH, which is normally all good since it is financial assistance for the company and even that was not enough for them to accept me” says Samuel. After an experience as a pancake turner in a bakery where his pace of work is deemed offbeat, Samuel decides to hire himself and become his own boss.

“I experience autism as a great strength”

For Sam, “France is far behind other countries where we already know about autism, where we already know how to take care of and help”. Since becoming boss, he has seen autism as a strength. His activity allows him to work on his sociability. Led by his dreams, he is pleased to have reached this stage, despite many hardships. Today, he carries a message for all autistic people: “Make sure to persevere, because you will always find people to refuse you a job or to get in the way of your dreams. Hang in there, persevere and never let yourself down”.