Models of Employment: Different ways of Looking at the World of Work

What comes to mind when you picture employment?  A full-time position with health and other benefits such as a retirement plan?  A situation where seniority and hard work is rewarded with advancement and greater responsibility?  Maybe a steady paycheck is part of this model as well.  These are goals within reach of a majority of the population as is seen by employment rates in the general population exceeding 90-95% most of the time.  However, the tables are turned for those of us on the autism spectrum.  According to the National Autistic Society the combined under and unemployment rate of those of us on the autism spectrum approaches 90%.  The good news is that with creativity, there are solid solutions for obtaining meaningful and productive employment for people on the autism spectrum.

In her books and presentations Chantal Sicile-Kiri mentions a number of different employment structures available to people with autism (and others as well!).  Taking into person’s characteristics into account, employment situations can be found to match their skill set and to navigate around their challenges.  Some of the many structures include employment that is:

•              Competitive                                                                                  •              Supported

•              Full-time                                                                                        •              Short term

•              Part-time                                                                                      •              Seasonal

•              Permanent                                                                                    •              Self-employment/Micro-enterprise

Additionally, employment situations may cover two or more of these structures, such as a permanent part-time job morphing into a full-time position or a short-term situation becoming permanent because the employer likes the work a person does.

For example, many on the autism spectrum engage in competitive self-employment.  Here are some examples:

•              A 58 year-old man on the spectrum who stims on bright shiny objects.  A successful numismatist he has a family and a son with autism as well.  He has been working in this field for over 30 years so one could say that his employment is permanent.

•              As a college student in my late teens and early 20’s I engaged bicycle repair to help pay for tuition.  At this point my self-employment consists of writing books about autism, consulting and lecturing internationally about the subject, and giving music lessons to children on the autism spectrum – it’s a living.  Shortly, I shall add traditional employment as faculty in special education at a university to what may termed as a “composite” career.

Office politics and other subtle social interactions in the workplace often present significant challenges to successful employment of people with autism.  Self-employment and micro-enterprise can provide a solution for people is main interest is in doing the job well – and getting out before office politics take their toll.

Short-term and seasonal jobs are another possibility.  For example, many people with autism enjoy working in landscaping, other yard work, or in a creative area.

•              A 40 year-old woman with autism is an artist.  Her challenges with navigating through standard office interactions preclude her from finding a typical employment situation.  Through a micro-enterprise structure, which might be considered as semi-competitive she successfully sells her paintings, post cards, and other artwork at conferences and other events.

Supported employment often gets a bad rap because it brings to mind unfulfilling piecemeal work in sheltered workshops.  However, by taking an example from Keyaki no Soto of Japan, it is possible for people with autism and other conditions to live and work in a supported environment with dignity and fulfillment.  Started by a mother of a child with autism now in his 40’s, a number of severely affected, nonverbal people with autism Wearing ear-protectors these autistic adults handle noisy, dangerous saws and nail guns along with other equipment as they engage in teamwork building shipping pallets.  Keyaki no Soto of Japan demonstrates that it is possible for people with autism live and work in a supported environment with dignity, fulfillment, and productivity.

Businesses and other organizations are beginning to understand that people on the autism spectrum have significant strengths to contribute to the employment sector.  For example Thorkil Sonne, who has a son with autism, has started a new organization in Denmark called Specialisterne.  Rather appealing to an employer’s sense of charity, Specialisterne offers the strengths of people with autism at industry competitive wages in the regular marketplace.

As mentioned above, I shall start teaching courses in special education and autism at the University level in the near future.  A very encouraging aspect of this position is that the school had clearly done their homework and hired me “while” autistic rather than my having to go through a careful disclosure process and justification as to why they should hire someone on the autism spectrum.  Perhaps this indicates that we are starting to move from where employers must be educated about the potential of persons with autism to where those on the autism spectrum are actively pursued in recognition of their ability to contribute

Summary

We have explored different models of employment for people on the autism spectrum.  Especially with today’s economic climate, it is more important then ever to think outside of the proverbial “box” to find solutions for bring the considerable strengths and potential contributions of people on the autism spectrum to the workplace.