I am an autistic individual, and I consider myself between PDD-NOS and Aspergers Syndrome – right of the upper reaches of the dreaded spectrum. I with the mysterious disorder have interests that impede me from “proper living,” a normal life which neurotypical individuals (NTs) prefer over my “small world” one. Worst of all, I’m currently suspended from my higher education intuition, Southwest Florida College (SWFC) thanks to my own standard of life I live and am struggling out of.”

This is part of an essay written by Tiffany Alfonso and published on Socyberty. She describes her up and down journey through college – she’s currently suspended because of bad grades – as well as her interests and obsessions and struggles in trying to decide upon just the right career.

Currently she freelance writes for online publications such as Triond, Hubpages and Associated Content.  She also takes paid surveys but is seeking something with better pay.

While searching for jobs online recently, she came across our site and the story about J., a young man near her age who is experiencing the same difficulties. She writes “…the inspiration from several stories on the site impelled me to find help in finding employment, even when this economy is presently dismal.

Thanks to this site, I contacted vocational rehabilitation services and scheduled an appointment with them. While I’m at it, I will think of ways to better my studies in SWFC once reinstated this summer.”

We’re happy to know our site has helped Tiffany. We hope others will continue to share their knowledge, tips, experiences and stories, both positive and negative, so more can be helped.

Best of luck to you, Tiffany!

Read her complete essay “Jobs4autism.com: My Story and Insights” here.

So after graduation, his parents were surprised when a letter arrived from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, informing Ben that “Because of the severity of your disability, an employment outcome cannot be achieved. You are not eligible for rehabilitative services.”

Throughout high school, Sharon had supervised all of Ben’s pre-vocational experience, organized his work and kept him on task, but upon graduation, he had to leave her behind. Dan and his wife realized they were “unprepared for the magnitude of the challenges”  Ben  faced in the real world.

However, they have stepped up to the challenges, believing Ben deserves a place in this world. It also started Dan thinking about other young adults with autism and their job prospects.

To help others benefit from what they’ve learned, Dan wrote a book about their experiences, Saving Ben: A Father’s Story of Autism, published by the University of North Texas Press. It covers their journey together, starting with Ben’s regression as an infant, his diagnosis of autism at three and goes on into the challenges Ben is facing as a young adult.

In a post on the Texas A&M University Press Consortium blog, Dan offers a glimpse into some of those challenges and offers advice to others who are currently facing them (e.g. “Consider a summer job for your ASD child instead of summer school”), as well as ideas for a national agenda for living and learning with autism (e.g.”Create a service movement like Teach for America or AmeriCorps that employs young people as life coaches to work with ASD kids.”)

Click here to read more of Dan’s ideas and here for more information about Saving Ben: A Father’s Story of Autism.

Unfortunately, we don’t keep an organized database of employers. I’m going to gather up a list for him from my notes and previous posts, but I’m hoping you can help out. If you know of any California companies that employ those on the spectrum, or if you know of other pertinent resources we can provide to Assembly Member Beall, please share them here.

Thank you!

We live in a small town in Mississippi. I’m terrified thinking about what would happen to him when something happens to me. I am interested in trying to open a small group home with job coaching provided (specific to autism). I do not know how to get started or who to contact.

Can you help with suggestions?”

PathPoint,  a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in California in 1964, is dedicated to helping people with disabilities or disadvantages reach their fullest potential. They help them overcome barriers to employment by placing them in work environments that are compatible with their individual interests, talents and abilities.

PathPoint currently serves over 2,000 individuals with disabilities or disadvantages,  including people with physical or developmental disabilities (such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, or Down Syndrome), people with psychiatric disabilities (such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, or Anxiety Disorder), and people who are disadvantaged (such as low-income seniors or at-risk foster youth transitioning to independence).

The mission of PathPoint is “to provide comprehensive training and support services that empower people with disabilities or disadvantages to live and work as valued members of our communities.”  To accomplish this, they provide a wide range of employment, independent living, and community access services from building social skills, vocational skills, and independent living skills, to providing the support necessary to maintain true, personal independence for a lifetime.

PathPoint’s living services assist people with disabilities or disadvantages who desire to live more independently. Designed to fit the specific needs of each person, they include learning health and medication management as well as community living skills like nutritional cooking, personal hygiene, safety, banking and money management.

PathPoint also offers day programs where participants access community services and develop independent living skills (such as banking, budgeting, public transportation, safety and recreational planning) that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Hundreds of businesses, big and small, including  7-11, Pizza Hut, hospitals, schools and even the Social Security Administration, have partnered with PathPoint to provide employment opportunities to its participants. In return, the businesses receive customized staffing solutions to help meet all levels of employment needs with well-trained, motivated employees.  PathPoint staff provides consultation with businesses interested in diversifying their workforce.

Click here to visit their website and learn more about PathPoint.
(photo courtesy of PathPoint website)

When he was younger, and in his teen years, he was misdiagnosed as having ADHD. Medication did not help him, and discipline in the home – grounding and taking away video games- did not help either.

J is having a very hard time finding and keeping a job. He also cannot complete college. He suffers from an obsession with video games, and he cannot focus on doing school work or meeting job deadlines. Except for math, he failed all of his college courses – not because he does not understand the material but because he procrastinates in homework and simply does not comprehend the importance of meeting deadlines for an exam or for a job.

In the past, he did work as a stocking boy at Kroger’s, however, Kroger’s had to let him go because he stocked too slowly and too meticullously. I am a volunteer computer trainer. I have been teaching J how to build web sites, and he does learn programming lightening fast; however, when I give homework assignments or tasks for him to complete, barely anything gets done.

J’s mother and father divorced almost two years ago. The mother has basically given up on her son and claims that if he doesn’t “man up and get a job” – he’ll simply live on the street. His father has taken custody over him and is almost in a panic because he’s not sure how he can help his son.

J started seeing a therapist half a year ago; however, no one is seeing any improvement. And not only that, the bills are getting very tight, and the clamour for J to find work is reaching a critical point.

Where can we go for help?

Thank you!

M

If you have any suggestions for M on how to help J, please share them! I’m sure there are others having the same struggles. J is very fortunate to have someone like M on his side.

-Barbara