Article, must read..... | Autism PDD
Not only that but even if your child is speaking(as this child in the article is)and totally responsible(as this child is) the label of "Autism". will keep our children from getting ahead. Its a shame that even in the world of "disabilities" even those with disabilites are discriminated against by their own.
Good to hear your positive experience, Rainman.
Jeez -- how easy is it for Target to construct a test to elminate autistic applicants -- EASY! The article didn't say the boy identified himself as having any disability much less autism. Of course, it doesn't take long to figure out that someone is too "odd" to work. Back in the day, employment tests were constructed specifically to access cultural norms that were unfamiliar to minorities. Easy to keep the "undesirables" out back then, too. For anyone who doesn't think the bell tolls for them, too, this is a lesson.
I came across this article that all parents of Autism must read:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10 /29/AR2006102900544.html
Once you're done reading this, ask yourself this question....With all of the "Cure Autism" and Autism research funding out there, wouldn't the money be better spent funding programs to help those gain employment? I for one think that this issue is more demanding of money and time then finding a cure. If my son can grow up to gain employment without getting discriminated against because he's not "visibly handicapped" then he stands a much better chance then waiting 10, 20 maybe 30 more years for a "cure". Anyone else see the reason for this besides me?
I taught high school students with Autism this past year and really got first hand experience in the bleakness of the job market (I have an 11 yr old w/autism also). The front of the wave of autism is getting ready to hit adulthood and residential/job issues are really not being addressed. I agree, we have these foundations doing research on cures and drug treatments as well as origins, but who is doing the research on how our sons and daughters are going to live.
Check out www.walgreensoutreach.com, Walgreens is looking to employ people with autism and other Devel disabilities with cutting edge technology which could truly lead to a future for our sons and daughters. I have proposed building a community for those that would work for Walgreens. I feel that a large foundation which would fund research into how those with autism live and work is needed more then anything.
It is refreshing to hear that you and your husband "believe" in your son. If we have hope in employment and a "trusted" environment for them to live, they can have a life we never imagined.
Adam'sMom, in WI there are places that will hire Adam even with disabilities. You need to go through Job Development Serices. Or they have a sheltered workshop that's awesome in WisconsinRapids. McDonalds and Walmart are two places that hire people with disabilities of all kinds.
Were janitors from goodwill services Im the only Autistic there though My boss,s son has Aspergers and id bet its releving for him to know that he will be able to help him when he gets older. The job can be stressfull though sometimes it feels like im there forever (Im not sure what affect this would have on another aspie) 8 hours is long for me Im just lucky to have patient and kind supervisors who understand me and are Funny so that helps the time pass.
JMAC - thank you for posting the news on walgreens outreach program. It's great to hear someone is willing to help our kids.
Ah, Rainman, YES. Good Will is another!The dept of vocational rehabilitation can create jobs for the disabled. I have a friend whose daughter has been working with them to find out her strengths, her specific abilities and disabilities, how many hrs she can handle, what is she comfortable with etc. They just created one for her last month. It is a preschool art class. A few times a week to start. She has pretty moderate cerebal palsy. I think they deal with all disabilities. Might be a long waiting list like everthing else. Those of you with teens, wouldn't hurt to check into it.
So sad. :(I've already been bugging my husband, who has his own business and is expanding it next year, that he should open a job opportunity and seek out an adult with autism to fill it. God knows, he's in the right industry, stereotypically - computer programming.
It's too bad that all local autism chapters haven't developed some kind of registry of autism-friendly employers. I'm saddened to think that it might be because there are so few of them.
Computer jobs tend to be great for many Aspies, but they are not good for everyone with ASD. I could never handle it. I can barely turn my puter on and off. What they really need is more sheltered workshops. However, I think it's VERY altruistic to want your hub to hire an ASDer. Most run from us because we don't "fit in" even if we can do the work. Just some thoughts to think about, I am pretty much the last of the baby boomers, they say that by the time I should retire there will be nothing left in SS. With so many problems in society, gangs, meth use, whos left to work. And now you add our prescious children with autism, many of which may not be able to live on their own. And some of the adult foster homes leave a lot to be desired. I have heard there is a program in New Jersy, that house and help people with autism work at various jobs. I think there should be at least 1 in every state. I worry about my almost 9 yo grand daughter. I agree more of the money needs to be used on services for the kids NOW. But thats my 2 cents.
I guess my main beef with this whole situation, is that there are alot of Autistics out there who can do and are capable of doing a heck of alot more than janitorial, and department store work. If they are just given the chance and opportunity to show which areas that they excel in, they should be able to do anything from the low paying jobs on up to gov't work. And why the hell not? How many of your children are exceptionally bright in some areas? Just because they don't have the so called "social" skills, that doesn't mean they can't do a better job than any of us. IMO I think that they would do a much better job, because there focus is strictly on the task. They are not concerned with office politics and office social cliques. How many of us have been too chatty on a job to be told that we need to focus on the work more and social less?
I do not want to see my son or anybody else for that matter given a less opportunity just because of the "label" when I know that they are capable of doing so much more.
I have to agree with Chasesmom that we really need to find out why it is happening as our first priority....prevention in our culture usually takes the back seat. Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure can be prevented by exercise, rest, and nutrition yet we have these multi-billion dollar drug and insurance companies making lots of money off of "sick" people. It seems that Dentists are the only ones truly into prevention. It came to my realization that people with Autism are $billion dollar customers for the drug companies and that with the passing of Risperidol by the FDA as a treatment for autism, that will only increase.
I feel we really need to start thinking about services from birth to death for our sons and daughter. If there will be 4million people with Autism in the near future, that means there will be 8 million parents (add another 4 million step parents), that means there will be 16 million grandparents and then add another 6 million siblings (1.5 p/family) and that adds up to 38 million people affected. That is over 10% of the population in the US.....pretty powerful if we can find our voice.
One other thing, anyone notice how the beginning edge of the wave of babyboomers coincides with the beginning edge of the wave of autism. Another topic in itself.
Just for reference, sheltered workshops don't actually pay a living wage or anything. They're a way of getting super-cheap (far below minimum wage) labor out of disabled people (while also providing an excuse not to find us any other social outlets, often, and keeping people out of their houses or group homes in the daytime so that nobody has to pay staff for those hours). If I wanted to work for pretty much free, I'd volunteer somewhere. Real employment programs can do a hell of a lot better than sheltered workshops.
Both issues need to be considered. Taking money away from autism research will not provide jobs and training for our kids. Also, this cure may not help our children at all but it may help future generations. All of us are worried about the future for our children but autism research is really important when you look at the big picture.
Laurie
My dh is an operational manager for an in-home respiratory company. An admin assistant in his company has an 17 year old Senior High School student with autism. She asked my dh if there was ever a job that her son could do, she'd appreciate it. She knows that our son is autistic and that Dave wouldn't have a problem if the right job came up. There is a new job created cleaning equipment. Talking to my dh, he says that he is doing really well. The position was filled before and my dh fired the guy because he wasn't doing it right. He wasn't going to keep it open until he heard about this guy. Dave has talked to him a few times and he says that he will answer very politely in one word sentences. He will look at him and then look down. He also said that he is really smart and only has to be told something once and he gets it. (Pretty refreshing considering some of the loser NT people he has hired!) :lol Currently, this guy is a senior in high school part time, he is part time college student and part time worker! He is also the star on his soccer team, he apparently is obsessed with working out and according to dh, looks like The Rock! (must be all the sensory input he gets from weight lifting!)
I am very proud of my dh, but it doesn't surprise me. How could he not want to hire someone and give him/her a chance when our son may very well be in the same situation some day?
That said, I am tired of people not focusing on $$ issues associated with therapies for our children. I have written every person running for office and those not running this year. I am tired of fighting with insurance companies because Autism is not a curable disease, therefore they won't pay for therapy. UGH! We need to tell our govt officials that what is important is the children currently in need of services. No Child Left Behind is just lacking. After the age of 3, the school systems are stuck with services and most just aren't cutting it or giving all that they really should. For someone in the middle or lower class, it is extremely difficult affording private pay therapies. I don't think that there is really a "cure" to find. Perhaps find a reason why it is happening in the first place is a better research agenda. We need to prepare our children for the future as much as possible, because the children that can be helped now are important and honestly, it will be cheaper to address, treat and prepare these early issues than having most of them on Medicaid taxing the system when they are older and unable to take care of themselves.
i am in agreement with gtto. my son graduating at the end of this year. the plan is that he go into a sheltered workshop. he con not go into another type of employment because they don't think he will be able to let go of the job coach. state will only pay job coach for 6 months. i really don't care how much he gets paid would like him in a job where he gets some sort of enjoyment and feeling like he is contributing something to society.Copyright Autism-PDD.net