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
finding a job that’s going to be a true fit for
your teen’s needs and your family’s needs.

Consider their strengths
— and interests
When people picture individuals with
32 Washington FAMILY OCTOBER 2020
autism in the workplace, they may picture
jobs that are routine based and entry level.

While jobs like these 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. The list goes on
and on. 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 find 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
fulfilling, can encourage creativity and
can inspire them to dream big and take
ownership of their future.

Play out several mock
interview scenarios
In anticipation of the unpredictable nature
of interviews, run a few different scenarios
with a mix of questions so that you can
talk through potential responses with your
teen and prepare them for the uncertainty.

This allows them the opportunity to
work through those challenges in an
environment where they feel safe and
comfortable and with someone they
know and trust. It can even be helpful to
MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Set clear expectations
for the job-hunt process



ask another friend or family member to
conduct one of the mock scenarios so that
they can practice with different interview
styles and generalize their skills.

Provide a toolkit for
self-advocacy As your teen explores job opportunities,
it’s important to be both realistic and
supportive. We know all too well the
harsh realities of this world and how cruel
people can be. There’s a possibility your
teen will face disrespect, discrimination
and rejection along the way. Consider
how you can equip your teen to face
those circumstances when they arise,
whether it’s during the hiring process
or once they’ve landed the job. This can
include educating them about the types of
interview questions that employers legally
should or shouldn’t be asking as well as
sharing ideas for how they can message
their strengths and skills.

Look for community
education opportunities
See the process as an opportunity to
advocate for your son or daughter
while you educate your community in
the process. Take time throughout the
year to reach out to a few businesses in
your community to see if they would
be interested in inclusion training or
a workshop. This can be a unique way
to raise awareness and create more
opportunities not only for your teen, but
also for other individuals with autism.

Remember that while individuals with
autism certainly face a unique set of
challenges, rejection is a universal feeling.

You can remind your teen that they are
not alone by sharing stories of individuals
with all different types of backgrounds who
faced rejection before they found success.

As parents, though we want to protect
our kids from facing hurt and rejection,
we need to give them the opportunity
to explore their independence. And as a
community, it’s important that we continue
to advocate for inclusive hiring practices
and workplace policies for our children and
future generations. n
Dana Reinhardt is the education director of HASA,
a Baltimore nonprofit that provides health, speech-
language, education, language access and inclusion
programs to people of all ages, and oversees
Gateway School, a nonpublic school for children
with autism and other communication-related
disorders. WashingtonFAMILY.com 33