Employment Skills
As a society, we may sometimes look at those with autism through their disability, forgetting that many of the traits of autism and Asperger's syndrome are great skills to have in the workplace. Reminding yourself, and your teen, about what they can offer to potential employers helps you focus on what your teen can bring to a job.
Seeing parts instead of the whole. Individuals with autism and AS often have a hard time seeing the "whole picture," instead they focus on each individual part. This trait is helpful in many different careers, such as computer or machine repair or medical/scientific research.
Preferring to be alone. There are many different careers that require individuals to work alone and be content to have minimal contact with the "public." Instead of seeing this as a weakness, think about the many jobs, such as gardening, animal care or writing, that focus more on skills than contact with others.
Being rule oriented. Many workplaces thrive because workers follow the rules and regulations while others require thinking outside the box. If your teen needs a structured environment that works within rules, look for opportunities that need people to follow steps and rules, such as working in a hospital, lab or assembling products.
Setting Goals
Before sitting down and listing possible opportunities for your teen, think about what you and your teen want to accomplish over the summer. Do you want to have him get a paycheck? Do you want him to build skills for later career choices? Do you want him to develop better social skills? Once you know what you want to accomplish, it is easier to focus on opportunities that will specifically address these issues. For example, if you are looking for your teen to develop social skills and a paycheck is not the most important issue, you can look into volunteer opportunities rather than only applying to paid positions.
Once you have set goals for what you want to accomplish, you can monitor the situation to make sure it is working. Sit down together after a week, a month and at the end of the summer to reevaluate the workplace and decide if it has met your goals. You can then determine if you need to make changes or if your teen wants to continue on the same path.
References
"Aspergers and Employment, Date Unknown, Adrienne Warber, LoveToKnow.com: Autism
"Teenagers with Autism: Want a Job?" 2009, April 2, Nancy Shute, U.S. News and World Report
"The Way I See It," 2011, Temple Grandin, Future Horizons
[1] "Transition to Employment and Independent Living for Individuals with Autism and Aspergers," Date Unknown, Temple Grandin, Grandin.com
