Adequate educational and employment supports are crucial for many people with ASDs, as well as a major factor in their ability to achieve success.
Some examples of educational supports may include:
- Providing a tutor and/or teacher’s aide, along with a school counsellor for learning assistance and social skills training
- An alternate program with its own classroom(s) within a public school, which would allow the option to integrate into mainstream classes with any necessary accommodations – I strongly believe that segregation is NOT the answer, as we all need to learn to accept and get along with different kinds of people
- Allowing additional time on tests/exams
- Providing a note-taker for class lectures
- Assistance with career and personal planning (transitioning to adulthood, as well as from school to the workforce), finding a good mentor for guidance
Sadly, a high number of people with ASDs are unemployed, underemployed, or employed in jobs below their skill level. This very well could be due to ASD related challenges along with inadequate vocational support. I have found that even a lot of employment services for people with disabilities do not seem well equipped to offer the type (nor degree) of assistance people with ASDs often need. It is not uncommon for someone with an ASD to require a fair amount of support around many areas of the job search process, including getting past interviews. Ideally, a job coach would help someone with an ASD find and retain suitable employment, making good use of strengths/skills and working around (with, not against) challenges. The goal should be to attain the type of employment that would provide a challenge, not a struggle (while recognizing the difference).