Give Work Skills a Chance

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-05-22 10:17:00 UTC
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close up of the edge of a black leather portfolio, including the claspAutistic high school senior gets the job done from Two Rivers (WI) includes a lot of really great points about (respectful journalism!) autism, disability, attitudes, and employment. Including this point,

Jane Pribek said her son has "tremendous skills" in accounting and math, but his lack of social skills due to the autism stands in the way of people discovering his abilities. The work experience program gives him an opportunity to show what he can do.

This idea of showing, rather than telling, one's competence and skills can be pretty key for us. In the section on Application Strategies and Accommodations in Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Quality Employment Practices, this idea is listed,

Asking for alternatives to traditional interviews
     * Less formal (e.g., tours)
     * Use of portfolios
     * Job try-outs

In the case of the teen in the article, job try-outs lead not just to work the teen loves and excels at, but an employer with new appreciation for the type of work an autistic teen might be capable of. It's great for a person's health, happiness, and self esteem to do work they are good at and enjoy. It's also great for employers and supporters to learn about alternatives to employment stereotypes that even people who should know better sometimes have.

Initially, he [the financial analyst where Pribek works] thought he'd have Pribek audit inventory at the company's plants, but he soon discovered the teen's computer skills. Pribek's abilities "far exceeded our expectations," he said.

The idea of "show-don't-tell my job skills"--either through job try outs or a portfolio--is very close to my heart as it's the strategy that has worked for me. Others millage may, of course, vary.

The take-away message for self-advocates: There are alternatives to traditional job application processes; alternatives that may enable us to really show an employer our true capabilities.

The take-away message for employers and supporters: Give autistic people a chance to show what they can do, and don't limit the possibilities before those possibilities been explored--you might be pleasantly surprised.

Dora Raymaker
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