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Providing Opportunities for Employment
Integrated work experiences enhance the quality of life for those living with ASD, reduce financial strain on aging parents, and contribute to the economic development of communities. A lack of supports and low expectations can result in sheltered work experiences, unemployment, and underemployment...
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Presenting Yourself at the Interview
The employer liked your resume! You have been selected for an interview. You are excited but nervous because you know that often it’s often the candidate who interviews best, not the one with the best qualifications, who gets the job offer. Your goal is to persuade the buyer that you are the best...
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Finding Positive Vocational Opportunities for Young Adults on the Spectrum
Each year 50,000 students on the autism spectrum reach 18 years of age. They are at a crossroads. Should they continue their education at their high school? Is pursuing a two or four-year college degree an appropriate pathway to the world of work and independent living? Or should they enroll in a...
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When Your Grandchild Has Autism
I’m always struck at the number of grandparents who turn up at the public reading I have been doing since publishing my book. During the discussion afterwards they usually ask similar questions; “I have a granddaughter with autism. What should I do when she flaps her hands?” or, “Why do...
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Autism in the Workplace: Identifying Opportunities and Providing Support
Between 1997 and 2011, the unemployment rate of those diagnosed with disabilities has ranged from 72% to 88%. This is an astounding number of persons with disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), specifically, without a job. Despite the enthusiasm, motivation, and dependability so many job...
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My Journey to Independence
My name is Jay Mikush, and I am 23 years old. When I was first diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) at the age of six, I had many challenges interacting with other children. Over the years, I have learned how to be more social with all sorts of people. I am proud to have been born and...
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Jobs That Teach Employers and Employees
Jewish Child Care Association’s Compass Project helps young adults with special needs identify career and educational directions and foster friendships through socialization programs. It also encourages participants to pursue their dreams. Compass staff helps clients develop job readiness skills,...
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Integrating Special Interests and Passions for Successful Employment
As the 1 in 88 age out of the public school system in the US, autism service providers and organizations are questioning how to best meet the workplace needs of adults of all ages with autism spectrum disorders. As a journalist diagnosed on the autism spectrum myself, I have had my fair share of...
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Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Autism
In 2013, a study published by Professor Paul Shattuck, then at Washington University, reported on the outcomes for young adults on the autism spectrum. From Shattuck’s study, we learned that just over half (53.4 percent) of the young adults on the autism spectrum surveyed had ever worked for pay...
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How (and How Not) to Work with Employees with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
Imagine that you are a young person with Asperger's Syndrome. You leave home and go off to college. Happily, you find that your new school is quite able to accommodate your needs (provided you advocate for yourself, of course). Whether it is an alternative location and extra time for testing, a...
