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COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
BY DANA REINHARDT
ll of us remember our fi rst
job. Whether it was helping
out with the family busi-
ness, serving sweet treats
at the local frozen
yogurt shop, mowing
lawns or working at a summer camp, it
was an experience that, for better or for
worse, you’ll always remember.

While fi rst jobs rarely launch your
career, they are an important step to estab-
lishing yourself in the workplace. They are
an opportunity to practice working as part
of a team, taking responsibility, conduct-
ing oneself professionally and interacting
with customers. All teens should have
access to these valuable experiences.

For parents of teens with autism, the
job search can be a daunting idea. Signif-
icant gaps in education, awareness and
inclusion continue to persist in the work-
place regarding individuals with autism.

This has resulted in a high unemployment
rate for those individuals. According to
Autism Speaks, nearly half of 25-year-olds
with autism have never held a paying job.

Here are a few tips as you consider job
opportunities for your teen, help them nav-
igate the interview process and equip them
to succeed once they’ve landed the job:
30 Washington FAMILY
OCTOBER 2019
Set clear expectations
for the job-hunt process
It’s important to have mutual guidelines
and parameters you and your teen can
agree on upfront before diving into the
job search. For example, how many hours
is your teen willing and able to work,
given other commitments? Will they need
help with transportation? What kind of
environment will be most conducive to
success? Consider lighting, noise level,
potential for crowds, etc. that could be
sensory triggers. This will help focus your
search and ensure that you invest time in
fi nding a job that’s going to be a true fi t for
your teen’s needs and your family’s needs.

Consider their strengths
— and interests
When people picture individuals with
autism in the workplace, they may pic-
ture jobs that are routine-based and
entry level. While jobs like this may be
an excellent fit for some individuals
with autism — especially in the summer
when the learning curve can be steep
and fast — individuals with autism are
a diverse group. Like all teens looking
for a job, individuals with autism have
a wide range of strengths that can be
valuable in a variety of settings, whether
that’s an excellent memory, attention to
detail, analytical abilities or high-level
math skills. It’s important to emphasize
and encourage these strengths in your
teen and explore opportunities for them
to leverage and build on those skills.

At the same time, it’s important to
encourage your teen to think about their
interests and passions. Some teens with
autism may fi nd themselves limited by
the box in which society has placed them.

But as with any young adult, taking a job
that they are excited about can be more