Autism-What employers need to know (Part 1)
An often-cited statistic regarding the autism community is its high unemployment or underemployment rate which ranges from 80% to 90%. Of all the categories of disabilities, autism stands out as…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Job Interview: Is autism a weakness?
I’ve been working with Brandon (not his real name) who is stuck working at a grocery store where he only gets two or three days a week. This is common…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Let’s Hire the People Who Want to Work
Prepare yourself for a very trying time this summer if you have any travel plans. I just returned from beautiful Beaufort, SC where my wife and I stayed at a…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
When problems arise, job coach steps in
There are many benefits to having a job coach, especially for someone cognitively challenged through autism or other intellectual disabilities. Finding a job these days requires navigating the internet, reading…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Hardest part of the job: it’s the people
What is the most common weakness among autistic adults who are fortunate to be a part of the workforce today? After interviewing a focus group of eight adults on the…
Autism and depression separate but often go hand-in-hand
Just to clarify one thing before going in depth: anxiety and depression are not symptoms of autism, but are often co-morbid with autism. In other words, when autistic individuals are…
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Friendships can be difficult for autistic adults
I have had both positive and negative experiences with relationships. I really struggled with making friends throughout high school and even spent time with “friends” that were not a good…
Memo to HR: Think outside the box
It’s interesting and so unfortunate how the cards are stacked against an autistic adult when it comes to getting a job and advancing in a career. It can start out…