All of the illustrators they employ are on the autism spectrum, and that got them thinking, if we can do this, others can, too. So in 2007,  Aviram and Blum  launched a new resource to help those on the spectrum find employment: Autism Job Placement.

Their theory is “if you can get on-line, you can get a job!”

The site is set up in forum-style, where employers  who are interested in quality of work, who are willing to look beyond  interview or interpersonal skills to a potential employee’s unique skills and abilities, post job openings.

Potential employees post information about themselves and about the type of job they’re seeking. Both groups can look over what has been posted in hopes of a match in location, skills and interest.

For those employers who might have doubts about hiring someone on the spectrum, basic information is offered about autism, including this list:

Good reasons to hire people with autism and Asperger’s

- Many have the ability to focus intently on projects.

- Others are very detailed and excel in any position requiring this skill.

- Some are excellent at finding imperfections and make top notch editors.

- With excellent research abilities, many make outstanding technical writers.

- Often they have a wealth of knowledge and have excellent computer skills.

- Some have excellent catalog and sorting skills.

- Others excel in routine work and never miss a beat.

- Typically people with autism are punctual, loyal and dedicated employees who prefer to remain in the same company for a long period of time.

This is a free service and it’s not limited to location. Please help spread the word!

Click here to go to the forum and get started posting jobs or job requests.

A guide written by Scott Standifer, clinical associate professor in the School of Health Professions at the University of Missouri, will help change that. The guide mainly addresses employment issues for people who have little or no communication skills, but “…what works for them should also be relevant for people with Asperger’s,” he said.

Standifer had previously helped write a guide called “The Handbook of Disabilities,” but realized it contained a lack of information on adults with autism spectrum disorders and their struggles in the workplace and so he wrote this one, “Adult Autism and Employment: A Guide for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals.” It mainly provides information for vocational rehabilitation agencies.

“Ultimately, the goal is to help the folks with autism get jobs and live out in the community,” Standifer said. “These folks want to work, and it’s our job to help them achieve that.”

Read the original article here.

One Write, a company that supplies churches with customized envelopes, software and accounting forms, recently developed the Cyrano Communicator, a software application that works with the HP iPAQ Mobile Media Companion. With an embedded HP Photosmart camera, the user can take photos of objects and can even attach prerecorded phases to the photos.

One person benefiting from the Cyrano Communicator is Alyson Brown, 22. Although she doesn’t speak and only reads a few words, she works two mornings a week at a Lexington, Kentucky dental office and will soon be expanding her work week to four mornings.

Using Cyrano Communicator software, coworkers arrange on the screen photographs of Aly doing certain tasks in the order in which they need to be done. In turn, Aly takes photographs of things she wants to point out to her coworkers.

It was because of a suggestion by Ray Schmidt, vice president of One Write, that the Cyrano Communicator was developed. Ray’s son has autism and for years Schmidt had worked with him on the HP iPAQ Pocket PC. However, his son didn’t recognize many of the icons, so Schmidt had to replace them with photographs, a cumbersome task. He suggested One Write incorporate the features he needed into a simple-to-use product.

Now the product is helping Aly and others have more success at work and less dependence on their work coaches.

Find out more about the Cyrano Communicator…read the original article here.

(Posted by Lauren on Job4Autism’s Facebook page. Does anyone have any suggestions for Lauren on how to overcome this fear or deal with a manager like this?)

John is 24 years old. He lives in Austin, Texas with his mom, dad, sister, brother, and dog. John finished high school in 2007 and now spends his time having fun and helping people. His favorite job is washing sheets because he gets paid. He also helps his mom around the house and in the community. For exercise, John likes to walk, bike ride, and roller skate. He also enjoys the computer, sports on TV, and movies. John is nonverbal but communicates pretty well by writing and typing.

Men with Mops, the result of a brainstorming session between the parent of a man with autism and the Rutgers’ Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center for the Disabled, only hires part-time autistic workers who are paid minimum wage for their work, which includes cleaning, shoveling snow and mowing lawns. According to the original article, the company now has about 80 customers and is manned by 23 men with mostly severe disabilities. Each worker is accompanied by a job coach at all times.

Read the original article by Michael Rispoli here.