Finding a great career path is one of the many things that come with becoming an adult. It is no different for a teenager with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By paying attention to what they enjoy and what piques their interest, a rewarding career path could be around the corner.
Transition to Employment programs are valuable services available to those with disabilities. Adults with autism require a different type of attention to their unique needs. Some may have sensory challenges, while others have anxiety in an office space. By working with them to address their condition and find their interest early, they will find a job that easily suits them.
Lexington offers an Adult Day Program and Transition to Employment program. The Adult Day Program allows members to participate in center-based programs to receive specialized coaching and work on areas such as vocational skills, volunteering, paid employment, and more.
Transition To Employment is an employment service for individuals with disabilities designed to provide training and support to promote the development of integrated and competitive employment skills. Through a Transition to Employment program, an individual with autism can expand their employment horizons and work toward a career that incorporates their interests and unique skill sets.
Once these unique skill sets are known, they can then maximize their strength and find the position that works best for them. Here are a few more great career paths for people with autism to consider:
- Software Development/Tester
- Many successful and talented software developers and testers have been diagnosed with autism. This career path is perfect for those who excel with computers, in mathematics, and understand complex systems. The best example would be Greg on Lexington’s IT Team. He helps keep all the computers and networks running smoothly.
- Data Entry
- Great for nonverbal or individuals with poor verbal skills, data entry allows a person to focus on one task and excel at this task.
- Print Shop Assistant/Specialist
- Copy shops are great environments for non-verbal people with autism. A common proficiency for those with autism is that they are visually oriented. They excel at intricate work. Printing jobs can become detailed as customers need specific measurements and number of copies.
- Library Science
- Library science is a great career path for non-visual thinkers. Here a person would do research to help them find information within the library for themselves or for guests. This is commonly known as a reference librarian.
- Photographer
- Photography comes with many options. A person can still do photography or video. They can work with a company or can become a freelancer. Great for visual thinkers, photography can be an avenue to many possibilities.
- Journalist
- Journalism is known to be factual and to be void of personal opinions and one’s emotions. People with autism are known to approach situations logically, making print journalism a great career path. This career path would include research, facts, and writing about particular interest topics to the individual.
- Bank Teller
- Playing to non-visual thinkers and better math skills, a bank teller is a less high-stress position than a cashier. As a bank teller, an individual must use less short-term memory and give more attention to the person they are assisting.
- Commercial Artist
- Someone keen to design and art would fit right into this career path. This path would focus on advertising and magazine layout and can be done with a company or freelancer.
Identifying and developing a teen’s skills is the key to a rewarding, fulfilling career. Lexington Services specializes in helping children with autism and other learning challenges reach their full potential inside and outside the classroom. Find out how Lexington Services can help your child or teen discover their skills and potential.
Curious about other possible jobs for people with autism? Click here to view our first blog on different career paths.
Disclaimer: This post attempts to publicize ideas and comments that we find would be useful for our community to know. Our post is by no means intended to prompt you to handle your challenges in any specific way. We desire to bring helpful information to all our audiences and shine a light on popular topics.