Some employers find those with autism especially suited for jobs
The Autism News | English
Finding steady work in this economy isn’t easy. The challenge is magnified for individuals with disabilities such as autism, who often have difficulty with social interaction.
Experts and parents are trying to change that by helping employers understand what this population has to offer.
“There’s an untapped pool of potential workers available in the special needs community that can really do a great job for many employers,” said Naperville resident Karen Thomas, whose 19-year-old son, Eric, is autistic.
A graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, Eric works part time as a janitor at Brookdale Music in Naperville and a greeter at Still Middle School in Aurora. Thomas credits the vocational coordinator at Waubonsie for helping her son find those jobs.
Reaching out
Some employers also are reaching out to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Turning Pointe Autism Foundation recently launched a career development program that involves partnering with Fortune 500 companies, such as Walgreens, to develop career opportunities for people with communication disorders.
Chris Simler, director of career development services at Turning Pointe, said the program includes courses that address career and life skills. Individuals will be able to learn in a mock environment before transitioning into an actual workplace.
The goal is to “create new opportunities for people with disabilities and give them a career in the community,” Simler said.
He stressed there is no typical job for a person with autism. He knows of people working in jobs as varied as retail, data entry, accounting and social work.
“I don’t see the walls,” Simler said. “The more we can put people with autism in different places the more awareness we can create.”
One place is Aspiritech, a nonprofit in Highland Park that hires high-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum to test software. The organization’s name combines the words Asperger’s, spirit and technology.
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