“He who enjoys doing and enjoys what he has done is happy.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
There has been a lot of discussion in the last week or so concerning adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and employment. With the recent publication of data showing that approximately 1 in 3 adults diagnosed with Autism are not gainfully employed (see http://ow.ly/aYxPq) and the latest CDC rates of Autism diagnoses at 1 in 88, I can understand why people were alarmed. And while the discussion may have died down for some people, it is one that has been ongoing for the staff members of Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC (BDS) and the families that we serve.
It is not difficult to grasp that people need to be able to pay their bills and provide a living for themselves. Regardless of ability level this is true. However, I think that people can sometimes forget that work needs to be meaningful to the person performing the task. It is not fair to relegate persons diagnosed with an intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities to do the jobs that no one else wants to do. It is fair to teach people to do jobs that are important to them and that they will enjoy on a daily basis.
Honestly, if you told me that I had to bag groceries on a daily basis (and I have been a cashier at a supermarket), I would lose my mind. I am not a person who is really into spaceships, so working at NASA would probably not the best job for me either. In contrast, there are those students that I work with that love spaceships and space exploration. They can tell you all kinds of facts about the space program. For them, working at NASA might be the perfect job. I have students that are fascinated by languages. Then why can’t we guide them towards being Interpreters or Linguist?
We need to stop limiting students based on what we see them as right now and start thinking about what they could be in the future. There are any number of positions that students regardless of their ability could fulfill, but we need to be providing them with job experience that meets their individual needs just as we do with therapeutic services.
When I look back over the years at the things that I have learned through classes, internships, and employment, I can see how my community supported me. When I look at what brought me to BDS, I can see the encouragement that I received from those that were around me. I want those things for my students too. I want them to be able to live as independently as possible. I want them to have a community of support and encouragement. I want them be able to having a job that is meaningful to them and that they enjoy going to everyday as much as I enjoy what I do every day.
Barbara Erby
President
Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC
Would you like to speak with a BDS representative? Our caring staff will work with you to help your child master skills and move towards greater independence. http://ow.ly/b2HnE
About BDS
We help families, schools, and individuals achieve big results by helping them discover their strengths, develop interests, prioritize their focus, and teach them what to do with their children to get them on the path towards success. Breakthrough Developmental Services’ goal is to provide affordable home and community based services to families in need. Programs are designed to meet the needs of the individual and aim to increase learning as well as foster a student’s greater future independence in society.