Monday, 11 January 2010
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Finding Jobs and Autism
The train is on the tracks. We see the light. And it is heading our way. Adulthood. Now for most parents, that’s a wonderful thing. Thoughts of college, marriage and grandchildren come to mind, right? Well, that’s on the horizon for our youngest (fingers crossed). For our oldest son, no matter how much effort we have put into his autism education and autism therapy (and trust me, we have), he and his peers face a bleak future.Going back to an article written earlier this decade, CNN cited that 70% of developmentally disabled adults were unemployed.
http://money.cnn.com/2000/03/23/career/q_disability/
Think about that for a moment. Seventy percent of a minority population. Where, if properly trained, could become productive members of society. Could become tax payers. Some….could live independently or with assistance. Right now, a great many of them are getting no autism education to assist them in the effort to become independent. No autism therapy to learn a job skill. No help at all.
There is a glimmer of hope.
Groups like “Men with Mops” in New Jersey are popping up all over the country in an effort to employ the ever growing population of teens and adults with autism.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/nj_adults_with_autism_undertak.html
What do you think? What types of autism education curriculum should schools be teaching to prepare the kids for the workplace? What autism information needs to be “out there” in order to educate the public about this problem? And what types of autism therapy do our kids need to help prepare them for a future in the workplace? I’d like to hear your opinion because this will affect all of our kids at some point. Our train is coming full steam ahead.
Blessings-
Deb
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About the Author
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- From: askdebaboutautism
- About Me: I’m a homebody. I love being with my guys and having friends over. There’s nothing better. I am so blessed with the most incredible friends! Old and new! And our “autism family” as well. One person shouldn’t be so blessed, but I am so thankful! And my strong belief in the Lord has gotten me through so many difficult times in my life! He is everything, He has given me so much!
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Comments (2)
In the UK the National Autism Society has a scheme called Prospects (I think) for helping adults with autism with employment issues and a Campaign called "Don't Write Me Off!" to encourage the system to employ adults with Autism
I'm really disappointed with the services here in VA. I'm not "autistic enough" to qualify for most and the government makes it a disaster to try to get a case worker or "try" working. If I "try" working on my own, I could lose my only medical insurance and I'd have no medication.
One place that's been recommended has a 2 year waiting list.
I think there needs to be more funding to job skills training for people on the spectrum, because I think all of us could contribute more to our communities if we got a little help to get started.