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Employment Problems for Young Adults with Asperger's and HFA

“Is it common for young adults on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum to have a hard time finding employment and to struggle in the workplace when they do get a job? My 22 year old son who is still living at home basically floats from one job to the next, separated by lengthy periods of unemployment. Do you have any advice regarding how he can find the right job for him and stick with it?”

I wouldn’t say it’s “common,” but it’s true that some grown-ups with Asperger’s (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) fail to meet entry requirements for jobs in their area of training, or fail to attain a job because of their poor interview skills, social skills deficits, eccentricities, or anxiety attacks.



Having failed to secure skilled employment that is commensurate with their level of training, some of these AS or HFA adults are helped by well-meaning family members or friends to find a manual job. But as a result of their typically poor visual-motor skills, they may once again fail, leading to demoralizing emotional implications.

Thus, it’s crucial that these folks are trained for - and placed in - jobs where they (a) are not neuro-psychologically impaired, (b) will enjoy a certain degree of support and shelter, and (c) are not required to deal with intensive social demands.

In helping adults on the autism spectrum to obtain employment, there is a great need to foster the development of existent talents and special interests in a way as to transform them into marketable skills. However, this is only part of the task to secure and maintain a good job.

Equal attention should be paid to the social demands defined by the nature of the job (e.g., what to do during meal breaks, contact with the public or co-workers, any other unstructured activity requiring social adjustment or improvisation). 

Launching Adult Children with Aspergers and HFA: How to Promote Self-Reliance


Comments:

Anonymous said... Executive functioning in the Asperger's/HFA brain is, by definition, significantly altered when compared to the neuro-typical brain. Impulse control, hypersensitivity to one's surroundings, perfectionism, hyper-obsessive pursuit of one's own interests as a coping mechanism, and the corresponding low self-esteem and depression that results from repeated failure can significantly impede one's goals in life. Family members and loved ones with HFA and Asperger's Syndrome need to educate themselves about executive dysfunction in the brains of children and young adults on the high functioning end of the spectrum BEFORE they leave high school. Many problems can be alleviated through education. We aspies need to know our weaknesses as well as our strengths, and our loved ones need to know the biology and neurology of our 'difference'.
Anonymous said... I have had a massive problem keeping employment, It has driven me nuts. I have had jobs for 4 years but prior to that was sacked after 6 months or less repeatedly. It has almost broken me. ARe his problems due to interpersonal skills ? if so try to do solo work such as gardening, driving, caretaking, cleaning, home working. I am so depressed about my work situation #I cannot bear to look for another job at the moment, I am a part time cleaner and don't do enough hours to support myself. you should ask the manager for feedback as to why he lost his job and get a AS counseller for him. General counsellors don't know about AS so they are pointless. It is hard to find AS counsellors typically. you can get them online and they talk via Skype. I would love to share my experiences with him and Rhonda Cline Nickel. one of my main problems is saying what I think too bluntly and directly and to the wrong person. Get into trouble that way. it is very hard to shut up. Perhaps #I should be self employed.
Anonymous said... I'm 52 and have had this problem all my life. Still looking for ways to get past it and do better.

Please post your comment below...

The Best Academic Curriculum for Homeschooling an Asperger's Child

“I need some advice on what academic curriculum would best fit a home-schooled child (6 y.o.) with Asperger syndrome. We had a bad year last year in regular school, and I’ve vowed to pull him out of the mainstream and start homeschooling after summer break. Please help!”

The curriculum content for a child with Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism should be decided based on long-term goals, so that the utility of each item is evaluated in terms of its long-term benefits for the child’s socialization skills, vocational potential, and quality of life.



Emphasis should be placed on skills that correspond to relative strengths for your child as well as skills that may be viewed as central for his future vocational life (e.g., writing skills, computer skills, science, etc.). If your child has an area of special interest that is not so unusual that it would prohibit him from using it for possible future employment, such an interest should be cultivated in a systematic fashion (e.g., library, computerized data bases, Internet, etc.).

Specific projects can be set as part of your child’s credit gathering, and specific mentorships (topic-related) can be established with individuals in the community. It is often useful to emphasize the utilization of computer resources, with a view to: (a) foster motivation in self-taught strategies of learning, including the use of online resources; (b) establish contact via email with other children who share some interests (a less threatening form of social contact); and (c) compensate for typical difficulties in grapho-motor skills.

A homeschool curriculum varies in cost, so the initial price may seem prohibitive. However, homeschooling is much less expensive than private school. There are ways to save money on books with other homeschooling families, where you can swap books that you are no longer using. If you are ready to begin this adventure with your child, find other moms and dads in your area that are homeschooling. They can be a great resource to help you get started.

Below are some resources that will help you in the initial stages of this venture (these can all be found on Amazon.com):
  • Autism and Flexischooling: A Shared Classroom and Homeschooling Approach
  • Choosing Home: Deciding to Homeschool With Asperger's Syndrome
  • Homeschooling the Child with Asperger Syndrome: Real Help for Parents Anywhere and On Any Budget
  • Homeschooling the Child with Autism: Answers to the Top Questions Parents and Professionals Ask
  • How to Set Up a Work Area At Home for a Child with Autism


 COMMENTS:

•    Anonymous said... A lot of families have success starting off with a k12.com school.
•    Anonymous said... do you live in Indiana. I was thinking about having my 14 yr old start Connections Academy.
•    Anonymous said... Does your district offer alternative schools, we have had great success
•    Anonymous said... I pulled my son out of public school and enrolled him in one of the free online public schools available in my state, Connections Academy. It's the same education without the stress of being around mean kids, loud noises, strict schedules, etc. I'm glad you are doing this for your son early on...I waited until 7th grade and I wish I would have done it sooner.
•    Anonymous said... Just schooling at home vs. brick and mortar has made a big difference for our kiddo. Considered a public school through K12 Inc..
•    Anonymous said... My 10 year old uses a mix of abeka, teaching textbooks, science fusion and mystery of history. He actually skipped 5th grade entirely.
•    Anonymous said... Read aloud together, go to museums, play games, watch movies. Let him be comfortable as much as possible. Let him find books that interest him from the library. He'll learn more than from a set curriculum.
•    Anonymous said... We did the same thing-cyber school through Connections Academy. It has been a huge success!
•    Anonymous said... We have used Switched On Schoolhouse for two years. It is a Christian based virtual learning program, all online. It has been wonderful for us.

Please post your comment below…

Crucial Behavior-Management Techniques for Children with Asperger’s and HFA

Children with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism (HFA) often exhibit different forms of challenging behavior. It's imperative that these behaviors are not seen as willful or malicious; more accurately, they should be viewed as connected to the child’s disorder. Parents and teachers need to recognize the difficulties that the youngster on the autism spectrum brings to each situation as a result of his or her neurologically-based disorder.

In this post, we will discuss the following:
  • Symptoms that cause behavioral problems 
  • Instructional intervention
  • Positive reinforcement 
  • Negative reinforcement
  • Supportive intervention 
  • Sticking to a routine
  • Encouraging the child’s special interest
  • Issuing rewards for positive behavior 
  • Using visual schedules

Click here for the full article...



Your Asperger’s or HFA Child Is Not a Loner By Choice

Most children with Asperger’s and HFA are not loners by choice, and there is a tendency (as these young people develop towards adolescence) for despondency, negativism, and depression as a result of the child's increasing awareness of personal inadequacy in social situations and repeated experiences of failure to make and/or maintain relationships.

In this post, we will discuss the following:
  • teaching your child to monitor her or his own speech style
  • helping your child to recognize and use a range of different means to disagree, discuss, interact, mediate, negotiate, and persuade through verbal means
  • helping him or her to develop the ability to anticipate multiple outcomes, to explain motivation, to make inferences, and to predict
  • managing social situations
  • how to interpret other people's social behavior
  • training of the child's expressive skills

Click here for the full article...





    Understanding Theory of Mind Deficits in Autistic Children: Misbehavior or Misunderstanding?

    The concept of "theory of mind" refers to the ability to understand that others have their own beliefs, desires, and intentions, w...