Can young adults on the autism spectrum be able to find "real jobs"?

[ktsai91]

<p>Just wondering, is it possible that young adults who just graduated out of college be able to find “real jobs” after they graduate despite their social and behavioral challenges? What I mean by a “real job” is a job that is full time, pays a salary that can support a decent lifestyle, and requires a college degree. I don’t mean jobs that are for high school students and that pays minimum wage. Is it even possible for young adults on the autism spectrum to even find jobs or careers not suitable for people on the autism spectrum?</p>

[dyiu13]

<p>Yes. So many factors would impact which jobs, however. ASD is not one size fits all.</p>

[baktrax]

<p>Of course, it is. Whether it happens or not for any one individual, however, depends on a lot of different factors.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p><a href=“http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html”>http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

@Steve Silberman in Wired

It’s a familiar joke in the industry that many of the hardcore programmers in IT strongholds like Intel, Adobe, and Silicon Graphics - coming to work early, leaving late, sucking down Big Gulps in their cubicles while they code for hours - are residing somewhere in Asperger’s domain. Kathryn Stewart, director of the Orion Academy, a high school for high-functioning kids in Moraga, California, calls Asperger’s syndrome “the engineers’ disorder.” Bill Gates is regularly diagnosed in the press: His single-minded focus on technical minutiae, rocking motions, and flat tone of voice are all suggestive of an adult with some trace of the disorder. Dov’s father told me that his friends in the Valley say many of their coworkers “could be diagnosed with ODD - they’re odd.” In Microserfs, novelist Douglas Coupland observes, “I think all tech people are slightly autistic.”</p>

<p>Though no one has tried to convince the Valley’s best and brightest to sign up for batteries of tests, the culture of the area has subtly evolved to meet the social needs of adults in high-functioning regions of the spectrum. In the geek warrens of engineering and R&D, social graces are beside the point. You can be as off-the-wall as you want to be, but if your code is bulletproof, no one’s going to point out that you’ve been wearing the same shirt for two weeks. Autistic people have a hard time multitasking - particularly when one of the channels is face-to-face communication. Replacing the hubbub of the traditional office with a screen and an email address inserts a controllable interface between a programmer and the chaos of everyday life. Flattened workplace hierarchies are more comfortable for those who find it hard to read social cues. A WYSIWYG world, where respect and rewards are based strictly on merit, is an Asperger’s dream.</p>

<p>Obviously, this kind of accommodation is not unique to the Valley. The halls of academe have long been a forgiving environment for absentminded professors. Temple Grandin - the inspiring and accomplished autistic woman profiled in Oliver Sacks’ An Anthropologist on Mars - calls NASA the largest sheltered workshop in the world.

</p>

[scansmom]

<p>It can definitely be much more difficult for people with autism to find employment (not to sound too pessimistic, but most adults on the spectrum including those with college degrees are unemployed/underemployed) so you really need to prepare yourself as much as possible in order to land a job–which of course is often easier said than done! However, there are many resources available that provide tips and advice to individuals on the spectrum who are seeking employment; you may want to seek out resources. If you have not already done so, you should take advantage of whatever career counseling services your school offers to acquire or improve your skills and practice with interviewing, writing resumes and cover letters that will “sell” you based on your strengths and interests, etc.</p>

<p>My Aspie S has been out of college for a few years now, it took him well over a year to find a permanent position doing a job he likes that is more or less related to his degee, even if not exactly what he may have envisioned when he was in college (he has a degree in Chem Eng’g and is working as a chemist at a large hospital); however, he also did co-ops (internships) throughout college and did contract work after graduating until he found a permanent job (temp/contract work can be a good way to acquire work experience, explore different types of jobs, and it may be easier for someone on the spectrum to find temp jobs. And of course, temp jobs can often lead to full time employment). </p>

<p>In S’s case he had a little additional help, the father of his girlfriend (now, fiance) helped him find his current job. Many jobs are located through networking, so you should also contact professors, friends, others you may know in the field you are interested in to see if they know of job openings or can give you suggestions on where to apply.</p>

<p>Finally, you may want to contact a local autism agency to see whether they can provide any services or advice.</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

[cptofthehouse]

<p>Yes, they can. Depends on the severity of the autism and other issues the person can have. Many of those who needed so much accommodation due to autism had other handicaps as well, sometimes multiple and the mix is often the issue more than any one of the diagnoses. Cognitive ability and executive function, organizational skills are come into play as well. Those without autism but who are challenged greatly in any of these other issues are going to have trouble finding jobs, or even living independently. </p>

[TempeMom]

<p>I just finished Temple Grandin’s book and she specifically addressses and names which professions are best for ASD kids depending on their bents/interests. </p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p>Well, there is this list referring to Grandin’s list:
<a href=“How to Find Your Career on the Autism Spectrum | Psychology Today”>http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spectrum-solutions/201007/how-find-your-career-the-autism-spectrum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[TempeMom]

<p>One area in which Grandin seems to have expanded in her new book is to now divide visual persons into those who are more spatiially oriented (think architectual drawings) and those who are more photorealist visuals (who picture a real specific NYC tunnel for example when you see the word tunnel). They test very differently and have different skill sets. Also she has included persons who are pattern oriented. </p>