Hi there –

Welcome to this week’s blog post which is all about Aspergers and employment.

Also a quick note to let you know that I am just putting the finishing touches to my latest ebook “A Parents Guide to Emotions and Communication in Children with Aspergers” which will be available some time in the next 7 days for all members at http://www.ParentingAspergersCommunity.com

Here’s this week’s article –

Question

I want to help my son with Aspergers to get employment in the field that he does well at, but there is no one out there who will give him a chance-Help!

Answer

The job market can seem like a cold, cruel place.  So many people are competing for a hand full of jobs, hoping to break into their field of interest.  It truly is a rat race.  There are things you can do to help your son find his place in the battlefield of employment.

You’ve already given him a good start by encouraging him to find a career that is focused on one of his interests.  People with Asperger’s Syndrome can have very strong obsessions.  The amount of attention your son places on his obsessions guarantee that he will be extremely knowledgeable in that area.  Not only that, the personal involvement makes him intensely happy.

“Developing Talents:  Careers for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism-Updated and Expanded Edition” by Temple Grandin and Kate Duffy is an excellent resource to use while planning to help your son find the perfect opportunity.  This is a thorough account on employment prospects and opportunities available for people with Asperger’s.

An internship is a good way to get a foot in the door of a possible employer.  Many companies that are under hiring freeze still have work that another person could be doing.  By offering time as an intern, your son could receive valuable on-the-job training in his field of interest.  It’s true that he wouldn’t be a paid employee, but once that hiring freeze is lifted, he’ll be first in line for the job.

Volunteering is another option. Although not as structured, volunteering is similar to an internship, meaning no pay.  Volunteer opportunities can be found in every community.  They may not be directly related to his field of interest, but he could learn how to be a good employee in many different situations.  Not to mention, the volunteer hours will look really good on his resume.

Do not discredit the idea of your son accepting a job unrelated to his area of interest.  Sometimes you have to work up a little bit to that preferred position.   A company that does business in his area of interest may have openings in another department.  Lateral moves happen all the time.  And if it doesn’t, he will have solid work experience to add to his resume when he’s ready to make the jump into his desired field.

Finding employment based on your son’s interest will assure a successful and enjoyable career.  These tips and suggestions should get you started building your son’s resume and enabling him to secure the job of his dreams.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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Someone told me about service dogs for children with Aspergers. What are they for and how can I get one for my son?

Service dogs are available for people with Asperger’s Syndrome. A service dog for a child with Asperger’s can serve several different and important functions …

To read the full article go to: –

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/419.cfm

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How do I get daughter with Aspergers to accept help?

Getting your child to accept help is difficult for any parent, but can be especially problematic for the parent of a child with Asperger’s … To read the full article go to: –

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/418.cfm

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I have a 15 year old daughter who has Aspergers. We are having all sorts of trouble getting her to follow everyday rules, especially where school is concerned. She is already onto her third school in 3 years due to her resistance to following the rules regarding makeup, phone and basically the dress code that is required. Also a lot of her problem is her social inability which causes a lot of concern because we have been having major dramas with her making and maintaining friendships due to her high demand and control issues. Do you think that I should put her back on some sort of medication to try and de-stress her a bit as we are slowly running out of options?

Most parents want to try every behavior modification possible to try to change unwanted behavior before they turn to medication for their child. In this instance, it sounds as though your daughter is having a great deal of trouble dealing with the boundaries and rules of home and school … To read the full article go to: –

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/417.cfm

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