With this in mind,  Autism Speaks  launched the Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit, a unique guide and roadmap to help families on the journey from adolescence to adult life, in February 2011.

Autism Speaks gathered information and input from professionals and parents to develop the free Tool Kit.

According to the article on the Autism Speaks website (HERE), the kit “identifies opportunities and resources to develop these skills with the goal of enabling the adolescent or young adult to participate to the greatest extent possible in their own transition plan.”

Topics include:

• Transition Planning and the IEP process
• community life
• employment
• housing
• post secondary educational opportunities
• health
• internet safety
• issues surrounding sexuality
• a timeline and other organizational tools for the transition process

For more information, read the complete article here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/autism-speaks-launches-transition-tool-kit-providing-practical-information-a

“Autism doesn’t qualitatively change when you hit adulthood. You’ve got the same issue with reading social signals, with understanding instructions,” said Scott Standifer, a clinical associate professor at the University of Missouri’s School of Health Professions.  ”We forget how important social relationships are in maintaining employment.”

Standifer’s  office provides training and consultation to State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies.

According to a fact sheet compiled by Standifer based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, less than one-third of people with a disability aged 16 to 65 were working in 2010, compared with about two-thirds of people without a disability. And people with autism were only about half as likely to be working as people with disabilities in general (33 percent compared with 59 percent).

Families of people with autism as well as employers and co-workers can all help to make the employment experience a positive one for these individuals. Here are some tips:

• Families should start preparing for their teens’ transition into adulthood and the work force well in advance, perhaps even as much as two or three years before graduation. “People with autism are often so anchored in routines that it is important to have new, productive routines in place for them well before they hit graduation and leave school behind,” Standifer said.
• Find a job that matches their more general abilities and strengths. Although it’s hard to generalize, people with autism often do well doing gardening, simple bookkeeping, merchandising (such as folding or organizing clothes in a department store), as well as in library and school settings, said Charles Archer, CEO of the Evelyn Douglin Center for Serving People in Need, in Brooklyn, N.Y., an organization that helps people with disabilities live independently.
• Take advantage of local vocational rehabilitation counselors, more of whom are cropping up all over the country, Standifer said.
• Find jobs with consistent routines. “Individuals with autism need a workplace that is structured, that’s non-judgmental, that provides ongoing training and very, very strong levels of consistency either in work and/or communication,” said Archer.
• Create accessible work environments. This might include providing written instructions for a task rather than verbal ones.

Now Garry has written a book about the challenges and difficulties he faced growing up, attending college and finding employment so that others can learn from his experience. I Want to Work – an Asperger Story relates Garry’s story, includes a foreword by Dr. Attwood, and offers strategies to help adults on the spectrum find employment.

Topics include:

• Leaving school and finding a career path
• Dealing with disclosure of an Autism Spectrum diagnosis
• Finding employment support
• Training managers to be more aware of Autism in the workplace
• How to overcome bullying and discrimination
• Employers who specifically employ adults on the Autism Spectrum

“My transition into employment was not an easy process.  My first real job was working casually in a Brisbane supermarket but not really being well understood and I was dismissed for no reason.  I know some people work in supermarkets and are able to survive in them but for me, the experience was not much fun.  I experienced some bullying and intimidation while working in them as well as being under ineffective managers.  My first real job was in 1999, just after I graduated from the University of New England.  As I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 1998 by Dr Tony Attwood, I joined a disability employment agency and was successful in being placed into the Queensland Parliamentary Library.  I really enjoyed my time here as I could feel like a human being and was valued in the job I carried out.  I was under a supportive supervisor who knew of my strengths and having worked hard within the Queensland Parliamentary Library, I was offered a further 4 months to work within it.

After I completed my placement at the Queensland Parliamentary Library, I then went through the musical chairs process of finding a disability employment agency which I hoped would assist me in finding employment.  After repeated attempts I find the right one and submitting employment applications, I was to land employment in a state government department.  It was here that I worked for 12 months in a traineeship and I successfully completed a Certificate III in Business and Office Administration.  It was after I completed this qualification that I went to the United Kingdom.  Despite trying to obtain employment, nothing was available so I thought I would make use of the time and go to the United Kingdom.

Upon my return in 2001, from a four week holiday, I was to find the search for employment difficult.  I did not know whether or not I should reveal my diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome to prospective employers.  Added to this, I just was disability employment agency hopping as I just could not find an employment consultant who could assist me in successfully being placed into employment.  I undertook volunteer work, I submitted job application after job application but found my attempts unsuccessful and my time totally wasted.  One of my more successful work experience attempts was working in the library of a Brisbane private school.  It was here that I worked for 12 months as a volunteer. Despite my knowing and the vague promise of me obtaining a position in the middle school library, I was to later find my application unsuccessful. Despite this, I was also contacting the school myself instead of the disability employment consultant.  I then had a breakdown and it took me a few months to join the disability employment agency bandwagon again.  I worked part time after perseverance and finding a helpful employment consultant with a disability service provider.  It was with success that I found then another supportive disability employment consultant who assisted me in obtaining my current position within the University of Queensland Library.  Within this position I mainly shelve and sort library items and ensure they are shelved in accordance with the Library of Congress (American Classification System).  I am also involved in some other library duties where required.”

Garry’s website is full of information, links to resources and advice, including “Strategies in finding employment for adults on the Autism Spectrum”  (Click HERE to read.)

For information on how to purchase his book, click HERE.

In 1975 members of the Autism Society of Los Angeles established Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. (JNCS), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, providing care for people with autism and other disabilities in group settings.

But in 1992, JNCS  closed their group homes. In their place, they began providing individualized support to people, helping them  live in their own homes, have jobs, and participate in other community activities.

Today, the mission of JNCS is to enable individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities to live fulfilling lives as members of the community by providing support services customized to their individual needs.

The leading provider of personalized support services in California,  most of its clients are concentrated in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, Santa Clara and surrounding counties.

What do they do? They offer…

Supported Employment and Personalized Day Support programs (meant to be a compliment to employment, not a substitute.)  ”Personalized Day Support would provide services around the hours of employment and then assist the person to find volunteer work, attend school, and considering opening up their own business.”

Customized services and tools for each individual, including training and companionship.

Professional webinars and training across a wide spectrum of issues to help people with autism and other disabilities achieve their life goals.

Family support services, geared toward providing the assistance that a family may need, or desire in order to ensure that the family remains together.

For more information about Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc., visit their website: http://jaynolan.org

Rob Cutler is the first President of AutCom to have autism.

Steven Gersten, J.D.,  has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor (law) degree.  Many years after law school, Steve was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.

Johnny Seitz is an educator and an adult with autism. He is also a published author, presents at autism conferences, serves as a resident faculty member at the Ryokan College of Psychology teaching his bio-typing technique, and has a private practice as a life coach.

These are just a few of the speakers scheduled at Autism Without Limits,  the upcoming 2011 Annual Conference sponsored by the Autism National Committee (AUTCOM) to be held on October 21 and 22 in Burbank, California.

The conference will present “respectful and state-of-the-art information by and about individuals with autism and related differences.”

For more information on the conference, including how to register, click HERE.

For a complete list of speakers and their inspiring biographies, click HERE.

 I am a high functioning Autistic individual who is seeking a job in the Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Texas area. What would you suggest to do in my job search?

I am already signed up with DARS agency and have a job coach, but I am still having trouble finding a job.

What kind of advice would you have to give me on getting a job?

Laura 

Does anyone have any information or advice for Laura? Please leave them here in the comments or email them to me.  I’ll make sure she gets them.

Thank you!