Making the leap from school to a career or job
Probably the best advice that can be given regarding helping your child to make the leap from school to a career or
job is to take it slowly. In fact, this is the advice that Temple Grandin, Ph.D., an extremely successful adult
with autism, gives. Dr. Grandin offers the following tips to help people with autism find the
right employment for them:
1. Slow transition: Allow the child to begin working while still at school. This could be part-time
work or a few hours of volunteering each week.
2. Find employers who are supportive:
Locate people who are prepared to work with your child and who can accept and incorporate his or her unique
abilities and interests into the workplace.
3. Look for a mentor: A mentor might be someone who works in the career field your child is interested
in. The mentor should be someone who can help your child learn important social skills as well as career-specific
ones.
4. Take the time to help employers and other employees learn about autism: Employers and employees need
to be given the opportunity to learn more about autism and your child’s special needs in terms of the labor force.
They should also be assisted in understanding how autistic people interact socially and what your child’s specific
limitations are. Helping others to understand autism and your child will avoid situations that could get your child
fired.
5. Consider freelance work: Freelance work provides your child the opportunity to have meaningful
employment while avoiding difficult social situations.
6. Create a skills portfolio: In a normal employment situation, the interview process is largely about
personality, the ability to effectively communicate, and being able to work with others. Because of the unique
social aspects of autism, it’s important that your child learns to sell his or her skills instead. If possible,
avoid the personnel department altogether and try to get directly to those in charge of the area he or she would
work in – they are more likely to respect your child’s skills.
Making the leap from school to a career or
job
Planning a future
Home, Education, Leisure, Work,
Independence & Planning a Future
Asperger's Syndrome in Laymens Terms. Aspergers Checklist
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