Can Autism Actually Be an Asset?
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Embracing Our Uniqueness
Autism can vary widely from severe, such as the inability to speak or communicate ideas to mild where they have the ability to interact with others, but are still socially awkward. Many parents wonder if their children that have autism are destined to a life of being cared for constantly or can they venture out on their own and make a life for themselves. Luckily, some forms of autism can actually be an asset to an employer and they can have a successful and rewarding career.
Have specialized skills
People that have a “normal” brain ignore the details, they look at the overall picture and may not notice all the small parts that make up the whole. They glance over what they perceive to be trivial things but are really important. People with autism have the ability to obsess over the minute details and focus on why things work. This allows them to obtain a laser like ability to do a task without distraction, unfortunately it has to be a task that they want to do.
Would rather work than talk
They often shy away from certain social situations and like to focus more on the task at hand. This can come in handy when those with autism want to focus more on work than socializing at work. Employers feel like they are getting more bang for their buck while working with a person that has a highly specialized focus. This can be a problem though when it comes to communicating ideas with others, people with autism often get frustrated when they have to explain things to people that don’t understand. As long as an employer is understanding of the situation they are usually good to work through the differences.
Several jobs that are appealing to those with autism are those that are based on routine and have little interaction with the public. Mailroom, gardening, museum specialist, research assistant, data entry, and warehouse work are jobs that are a good fit for autism. Just because a child is autistic doesn’t mean that they are not going to become successful, it just means that it's a little more work.
If you have a child that suffers from an autistic disorder please call New Directions for Young Adults at 877-763-5102 and speak with one of our specialists. We can help you choose the right program for your child to help get them on the right path to independent living.
