The Autism College Connection

We want our kids to be employed. A job isn’t just a way to earn money to pay the rent. A workplace can be a haven for people with poor social skills. It’s an island of routine for those that crave it. Jobs are good for their mental health. 

Some are afraid to let their students work, even for a few hours at the supermarket, because they fear that the income will make them ineligible for government benefits. But there are ways to safeguard government disability payments and services. A disabled adult can work and still retain many of their benefits. 

But, as we said in the beginning, employment doesn’t come easily to people with autism. To beat the odds, your autistic student needs to focus on choosing majors and schools that have a good track record for employing its graduates. They need to choose careers that have the reputation of being autism-friendly. They need to gain practice with employment with the help of VR departments. 

Although the barriers to employment are high for our kids with autism, we can get them on the right path with strategic decisions and partnerships with state agencies.

• Alternatives to College