Newsletter Archive

APRIL 2010

Autism Awareness: It Ain't Just for Kids Anymore

Every day I work with clients (most have Asperger's Syndrome and some have Nonverbal Learning Disorder) who want to be successful at work. Some don't know what kind of career would be suitable. Others can't land a job or stay employed for very long. For the ones who manage steady employment, it often takes a tremendous amount of energy to make it though the demands of the day. Even the individuals who are in more senior level positions can at times find themselves lost and overwhelmed by office politics, vague performance objectives (project evangelism, anyone?) and the need to work in groups.

My client base is made up of people with a wide range of abilities and challenges. What they all have in common is a desire to find work that matches their intellect and talents.

April is National Autism Awareness month, yet there doesn't seem to be very much focus on the topic of work. So I was delighted for the chance to speak at the 2nd annual Adult Autism Awareness Day, sponsored by AHEADD (www.aheadd.org). The theme was employment. Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg, the founders of Aspiritech, delivered the keynote address.

Aspiritech is an Illinois-based non-profit that trains individuals with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism to perform software testing. It is based on Specialisterne, the Danish company that first introduced the concept of creating jobs that utilize strengths of the autistic mind.1 This month, Aspiritech testers went to work for the organization's first client. The quality of their testing is so high, the client wants to expand the contract (learn more at www.aspiritech.org).

Better employment outcomes depend on several things. We need more Specialisternes and Aspiritechs, for sure. It is also essential to educate employers about utilizing the talents of autistic individuals. There are many jobs in many different industries where focus and attention to detail are assets. Leave the multi-tasking to the NTs (several studies suggest that it hurts productivity, anyway).

There are some encouraging signs. Young people are receiving the instruction in social skills, communication and organization that will make the transition to independence easier. People like Nick Dubin, Temple Grandin, Yvonna Fast and others with ASDs or NLD have shared their advice in excellent books about getting and staying employed. And the Webinar that I am presenting next month for vocational rehabilitation professionals sold out in one week.

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1To order the Harvard Business Review case study of Specialisterne, go to www.harvardbusinessonline.com and enter "Specialisterne: Sense and Details" in the search window. The cost is $6.95.

© 2010 by Barbara Bissonnette, Forward Motion Coaching