Jobs

Introduction

Finding and keeping employment is a continued challenge with adults on the Autism Spectrum. A small percentage of high-functioning adults are able to work successfully in jobs, but the jobs do not reflect their true potential. Employers should take advantage of the individual's strengths and abilities. The three types of work that people with disabilities enter are called competitive, supported, and secure or sheltered.

Competitive employment is the most independent, with no offered support in the work environment. Some have even managed self-employment. Individuals on the Autism Spectrum would benefit from routine jobs involving technology with fewer social interactions that can be misinterpreted. Supported employment is a system of support that allows individuals to have paid employment within the community with a support from a job coach. In secure or sheltered employment the individuals are at a center where the work is brought to them with other adults to support in finishing the work and helping manage behaviors.

Related Sites

Picasso Einstein Academy
Description: Provides self-employment help for people with disabilities.

Job Accommodation Network
Description: The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

Books

The Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People With Asperger's Syndrome: Find the Right Career and Get Hired by Barbara Bissonnette
Description: This guidebook is an absolute necessity for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome seeking employment. Job searching, selling yourself, positive interview coaching, and goal setting are enhanced with a variety of checklists, transcript examples, and effective teaching models.

Asperger's on the Job: Must-have Advice for People with Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and their Employers, Educators, and Advocates by Rudy Simone and Temple Grandin
Description: Created by a person who has Asperger’s Syndrome, this source yields a great supply of information to aid in obtaining job placement for those affected.

Tools

Job Interview Training
Description: This site provides a simulated interview process to help people on the Autism Spectrum to prepare for interviews.

Helping People With the Autism Find Jobs in Tech
Description: A three minute clip from the BBC shows how companies are creating jobs and seeking individuals with Autism to employ.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name: Wrong Planet – Jobs
Description: This blog discusses jobs and other autism topics.

Forum/Blog Name: Jobs4Autism
Description: The Jobs4Autism mission is to become a key resource to individuals with autism, their family members, job coaches and caregivers for sharing job ideas and hopefully finding long-term employment opportunities.

Consumer Corner

Autism Job Board
Description: Autism Job Board is the one job resource board linking employers to willing and qualified employees with ASD and developmental disabilities. Whether its a large retail or grocery store to a small local restaurant or pet store, Autism Job Board is designed to connect these employers to this unique and very capable workforce. Autism Job Board also features information for employers on best practices in hiring people with ASD such as on-the-job supports and accommodations that may need to be made. It also features tips and help for job seekers on how to find appropriate jobs.

Job Coach
Description: This website discusses job coaching and related information.

Community Library

Choosing the Right Job for People with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome
Description: This article lists jobs that adults with Autism perform well at and jobs that are hard for people with Autism depending on the personality of the person looking for a job (High Functioning, Visual and Non-visual Thinkers, Nonverbal skills).

Ford to Launch Program Aimed at Hiring People on the Autism Spectrum
Description: Ford Motor Company, in partnership with the Autism Alliance of Michigan, is launching a program designed to help people on the autism spectrum gain on-the-job work experience with Ford. The program, called FordInclusiveWorks, is set to launch on June 1, 2016, and will match people with roles in Ford’s product development division.

(coming soon)