college work independance transition

[christo]

Does anyone have any useful suggestions/knowledge about helping a young person ( my 19 yrs old daughter) with Asperger's make a successful transition from college to work and independant living?

She has studied animal care & management for 3 years, has had lots of work experience but has real problems with forms and has never had paid work i.e. a summer job. She does not interview well. She can mimic eye contact and chat well one to one but reverts to eye avoidance and comes across as painfully shy when under pressure. Sadly she would make a great employee and has really good skills. She would love to train as a vet nurse but any job wth animals. We are trying to find help , some kind of transition plan but college seem uninterested in her recent DX. We fear she will slide into long term unemployment. Any ideas, tips gratefully received.So many jobs do not reply or wave inclusion policy forms at her.

[Kathryn]

Hi Christo,

 

Welcome.

 

My daughter is 20 and about to finish a college course in ICT. I have similar worries about her job prospects. The college should be supporting your daughter - does she have a connexions advisor?

 

What is her attitude to her diagnosis - does she want people to know about it?

 

K x

[alanm]

Hi Christo and welcome.

 

Wish I could be posting with ideas or tips, but sadly only to say "Join the club" as I'm an adult with AS in the same boat. Long term unemployment because of not interviewing well, or not even getting interviews, is a common plight among adults with AS, with "good" and "excellent communication skills" spewed over job adverts left right and centre. It is a constant feeling of

 

Here's another thread I posted about frustration in a recent interview, that the employer hadn't prepared having missed sentences in my covering letter.

 

Would just like to wish your daughter the very best of luck, as I could do with that luck too.

 

Alan

[pearl]

Don't know if this would be helpful but we found that an apprenticeship has worked for JP, as it involves close supervision & instruction. Not been without its problems, but even if he's not taken on permanently at the end of it, its given him a wealth of experience to take forward.

[something_different]

Practice what to say at an interview, what questions are likely to be asked and suitable answers.

 

I was lucky, as my mum knew someone who had just been for an interview for the same job, so she was able to go through a practice interview with me, and told me what sort of things I could say.

 

Fill in applications together. So you can help/suggest things to write. Include work experience and references where possible.

 

Would a bit of voluntary work also help?? That can often lead to employment if a vacancy becomes available, but will also offer experience. People are more likely to employ someone who is making an effort, doing volontary work.

 

I would not go for independant living and a job at the same time.

 

First concentrate on getting work, so that she has support at home, and not having to worry about all the stuff that comes with independant living.

 

good luck

[christo]

Practice what to say at an interview, what questions are likely to be asked and suitable answers.

 

I was lucky, as my mum knew someone who had just been for an interview for the same job, so she was able to go through a practice interview with me, and told me what sort of things I could say.

 

Fill in applications together. So you can help/suggest things to write. Include work experience and references where possible.

 

Would a bit of voluntary work also help?? That can often lead to employment if a vacancy becomes available, but will also offer experience. People are more likely to employ someone who is making an effort, doing volontary work.

 

I would not go for independant living and a job at the same time.

 

First concentrate on getting work, so that she has support at home, and not having to worry about all the stuff that comes with independant living.

 

good luck

 

Thanks to all re my post. Will chase up Connexions and Prospect. We live in rural Gloucestershire so her mobility is an issue although she will see if she can learn to drive soon. She has done lots of voluntary work but that is also an option while she looks for paid work. I know aid work is such a boost to confidence and self-esteem. Good luck to all of you too. It is so good to find others either with AS or supporting loved ones with AS. Cannot praise the Autism Diagnosis & Research Centre (ADRC) Southampton University, enough - with our great GP we got PCT to fund out of county assessment. ADRC specialize in adult AS-& Asperger's.

 

[Kazzen161]

My son goes to a specialist college in Nailsworth, Nr Stroud. The Connexions person who works with the students there is good with people with AS, so it might be worth trying to speak to them.

[Kinda]

I agree with the advice not to go independant and new job at the same time, my son tried it and found it too much. I think the difficulty for AS people if they have a job is the difficult area of relationships again.

 

I think its Tally (?) who would be able to help here or search her name and you will see posts regarding work relationships which maybe able to "prime" your daughter for help.

 

Good luck and don't give up enen though it can be difficult.

 

We are presently trying to help our son in this difficult area and its not easy and there are unfortunately no quick solutions.

 

Kinda

[christo]

I agree with the advice not to go independant and new job at the same time, my son tried it and found it too much. I think the difficulty for AS people if they have a job is the difficult area of relationships again.

 

I think its Tally (?) who would be able to help here or search her name and you will see posts regarding work relationships which maybe able to "prime" your daughter for help.

 

Good luck and don't give up enen though it can be difficult.

 

We are presently trying to help our son in this difficult area and its not easy and there are unfortunately no quick solutions.

 

Kinda

 

Thanks again- update have just had a long chat with Gloucestershire Connexions who say they have an advisor in Forest of Dean who serves the college our daughter goes to and is very good. The person I spoke with seemed to understand our daughter's position and AS. They had information on her and thought she was 'eminently ' employable. They are going to set up a meeting for our daughter at her college and sort out a transition plan and say they will support her up to 25 years of age. They also brought up advocacy for her and said they would look into that for us and her. So looks good but will see how it goes.

Fingers crossed eh?